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The Border Network for Human Rights, founded in 1998, is one of the leading immigration reform and human rights advocacy organizations in the U.S. BNHR has over 7,000 members in West Texas and Southern New Mexico.
Wefeel very proud that we won this battle against racism and hatred and the agenda of antiimmigrant, anti-Hispanic Susana Martinez, said said Lourdes Cruz, BNHR Las Cruces Coordinator. We defeated hatred and that gives us pleasure. But much damage has been done. Martinez turned neighbors against each other and created fear where understanding and cooperation should reign. And Martinezs aggressive, fear-mongering tactics leave behind a divided state and an impression that many wont soon forget. She shamefully compared immigrants to terrorists, foolishly complained that her heritage was under attack, stifled dissent and abided racist language from her supporters. Its likely that the governor will have lost more than just her crusade against immigrants this session. We are happy today, but we feel disappointed to have a governor who is Hispanic and still tries to divide our communities, Cruz said. That is a big shame. Martinez is already feeling the cost of divisive political posturing. Her appearance at the conservative Hispanic Leadership Network meeting in Albuquerque this weekend was overshadowed by hundreds of protesters with one message: New Mexico is against antiimmigrant politics. In a dramatic gesture, a group of students interrupted her speech with chants and handed a basket to one of her aides, filling it with their drivers licenses. Give her what she wants! the students yelled. For the second time this year, the ugly and xenophobic politics of Arizona that have infected many state legislatures have been defeated. First, Texas did better and now in New Mexico, communities made a stand and lawmakers listened.
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The Border Network for Human Rights, founded in 1998, is one of the leading immigration reform and human rights advocacy organizations in the U.S. BNHR has over 7,000 members in West Texas and Southern New Mexico.