Protesters Say Johnston Sheriff Should Go
| More news stories on Bizarre Racism Charges |
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Kristin Collins, News & Observer (Raleigh), Sept. 29, 2008
Hispanic advocates have been asking Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell to resign for weeks. On Sunday, they took their request to the steps of the county courthouse.
A multiracial throng numbering more than 100 gathered to pray for an end to racism and voice their outrage over comments that they say denigrated Hispanic immigrants.
In a Sept. 7 story in The News & Observer, Bizzell referred to Mexicans as “trashy” and said Hispanics were “breeding like rabbits.” He said a growing Hispanic population was committing crimes, sapping social services and threatening traditional culture. Many of his statements encompassed both legal and illegal immigrants.
“I cannot believe that a smart man like that, in this time and age, would come out with comments like that,” said Vincent Martinez, a Mexican native and U.S. citizen who has lived in Smithfield for 30 years. “I believe they were pure racist comments.”
{snip}
During the event, a group of motorcycle riders circled the block wearing black T-shirts that read, “Support your local sheriff,” and gunning their engines to drown out the group’s prayers.
About a dozen other Bizzell supporters stood across the street, some holding a giant American flag and shouting messages about illegal immigrants. All declined to comment.
Bizzell issued a written apology on the day the story appeared. On Friday, he released a brief statement encouraging Johnston County residents to respect the participants’ right to assemble.
{snip}
Johnston County commissioners have remained firm in their support of the popular sheriff. The seven-member board released a statement last week saying that it would not ask for Bizzell’s resignation.
Bizzell faces re-election in 2010.
Sunday’s event was organized by the statewide Hispanic advocacy group El Pueblo. “We are here today to begin to heal,” said Director Tony Asion, before reiterating his call for the sheriff’s resignation.
Some of those who attended said Bizzell’s comments were evidence of racism that they already suspected.
{snip}
Bridgette Burge-Walz of Knightdale said she attended, along with her children, neighbors and sister, to show that many non-Hispanic people are upset by Bizzell’s comments.
“I think it’s particularly important for white people to be present,” she said, “to show that we’re in solidarity with people of color.”
Sunday’s protest was the latest in the reaction that Bizzell’s comments have caused. About two dozen groups, including the national Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, have called for Bizzell’s badge.
The state affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union has begun an investigation into whether Bizzell’s office has engaged in ethnic profiling of Hispanics.
And a group of Johnston County pastors plans to discuss racial tension caused by the sheriff’s comments.
[If you would like to express support for Sheriff Bizzell, you can reach him at info@jcso.org}
(Posted on September 30, 2008)
Tolerance Wears Thin
Kristin Collins, News & Observer (Raleigh), Sept. 7, 2008
Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell’s territory is one of country stores and fading tobacco barns; but increasingly his work—and his words—reach far beyond his rural county. Advocates and politicians across the state have come to know him as the lawman with the deep country twang who makes incendiary comments about “drunk Mexicans.”
“Look at that,” he says, pointing to tiendas that have cropped up amid the barbecue joints. “You can’t even read the durned sign. Everywhere you look, it’s like little Mexico around here.”
Bizzell is a farm boy so steeped in traditional American culture that he won’t even eat spaghetti, much less a taco. Since becoming sheriff a decade ago, he has watched a Hispanic influx change the rural landscape of his home county. Its population is now 11 percent Hispanic.
These mostly undocumented workers have helped build a new economy, fueling a construction boom and harvesting most of the county’s crops. But some residents of this once insular place see them as a threat, opening Spanish-speaking businesses, crowding hospitals and schools, even monopolizing aisles at Wal-Mart.
Bizzell has emerged as the face of the backlash.
But to travel with Bizzell is to understand not only the anger, but also the ambivalence that surrounds an intensifying crackdown on illegal immigrants.
In one breath, he condemns illegal immigrants for “breeding like rabbits” and spreading a culture of drunkenness and violence. In the next, he sympathizes with laborers who know the same calloused-hand work that he did as the son of a farmer.
One day he says immigrants take American jobs. The next he says there is work for anyone willing to pull his weight. He resents the increasingly Hispanic face of his county, but he acknowledges that immigrant workers have enriched many of his constituents.
Bizzell is, in many ways, the face of a state coping with a problem the federal government has failed to solve, struggling to reconcile long-held resentments with its essential humanity.
“Everywhere I go,” Bizzell says, “people say, ‘Sheriff, what are we going to do about all these Mexicans?’ “
{snip}
Bizzell thinks wistfully of a time when he didn’t have to deal with tricky matters of race and culture. He says without reservation that the Johnston County of his youth—where he left his door unlocked and never saw a taco stand—was a better place.
{snip}
Comments
Isn’t it curious that, just like blacks, when hispanics show up, people form opinions about them.
Racial awareness arises from experience, not ignorance. The more interaction you have with minorities, the less you want.
Posted by sbuffalonative at 5:31 PM on September 30
The only people that should go are the Hispanics. Whites should support this sheriff before we lose all our rights to these un-American thugs. And he should be unappologetic. I think these commies are trying to see just how far they could push and get away with. They should be stopped dead in their tracks by real Americans!
Posted by sandstorm at 6:44 PM on September 30
Sheriff Steve Bizzell’s favorite movie is “Walking Tall”. He needs to do just that and tell some of these illiterati (Tony Asion, El Pueblo, The Raleigh News & Observer, and La Raza can’t read the North Carolina State Constitution) that under no terms is he going to consider resigning over this matter. If he were up for re-election in 2008 it would be a landslide victory against any conceivable opponent. It is unfortunate that he succumbed initially to the groveling reflex, but I suppose that is something many of us Euro-Whites have been conditioned to do. That’s a bad evolutionary behavioral modality to adopt and every Steve Bizzell of the world who can be tracked into not adopting that reflex should be given support.
Posted by Flaxen-headed Strumpet at 6:50 PM on September 30
“Bridgette Burge-Walz of Knightdale said she attended, along with her children, neighbors and sister, to show that many non-Hispanic people are upset by Bizzell’s comments.
“I think it’s particularly important for white people to be present,” she said, “to show that we’re in solidarity with people of color.””
Is she for real? I’m not in solidarity with people of color. She can go live with the Hispanics if she loves them so much. I don’t want her, or people like her, anywhere near me. In fact, I’ll take the Hispanics over Burge-Walz any day of the week. There is nothing lower than a traitor.
Three cheers for Sheriff Bizzell and the Commissioners that support him! We all need to contact the Sheriff and Commissions and relay our support for them.
Posted by GetBackJack at 6:59 PM on September 30
…. and God Bless Sheriff Bizell.
Posted by ken in Fishkill, NY at 8:32 PM on September 30
He’s absolutely right that the America of 30 years ago was better. Much of America today, frankly, is a dump.
Posted by at 9:04 PM on September 30
It’s great to read about a real American speaking his mind about the third world invasion of our country. Interesting how whites that complain about being displaced in their own country are accused of racism. I think it’s time to take the accusation as a compliment. All real Americans agree with Sheriff Steve Bizzell.
Posted by Joe G at 9:48 PM on September 30
Bridgette Burge-Walz needs to go live in the barrio for a while. Maybe then she’d appreciate the world that whites built for her.
Posted by at 9:56 PM on September 30
I looked up the Johnston county Sheriff’s Department web site and sent Sheriff Bizzell thanks for sticking up for real Americans. You can bet he will catch a lot of grief for having the guts to say in public what many of us think so let us at least give him moral support by the way of email.
Posted by Enough at 9:59 PM on September 30
“Bridgette Burge-Walz of Knightdale said she attended, along with her children, neighbors and sister, to show that many non-Hispanic people are upset by Bizzell’s comments. I think it’s particularly important for white people to be present,” she said, “to show that we’re in solidarity with people of color.”
Knightsdale is in Wake County which is part of the Triangle area which encompasses Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. The town of Cary is in the Triangle and the joke down here is that CARY stands for Containment Area for Relocated Yankees. You would be amazed at how many Yuppies fled the brown invasion up North to come down here and spout the same kind of nonsense that ruined their own neighborhoods north of the Mason Dixon line. They live in their own Yankee ghettos and feel quite good about themselves.
I have nothing but contempt for these people. They come down here, look down on the Southerners, and will never, ever admit why they moved here.
I’m a Northerner myself, but saw the writing on the wall many years ago and I love the Southern people. When I die, just bury me here in Dixie.
Deo vindice!
Posted by Varina at 10:00 PM on September 30
Wow, a whole 100 illegal invader enablers think this sheriff should go. Time to give them the sheriff Joe one finger salute.
Posted by RHG at 10:13 PM on September 30
He sounds like he was doing his JOB, and they don’t like that, so they whine till they get rid of a good man!! Typical!
Posted by at 10:29 PM on September 30
“North Carolina sheriff under fire for speaking his mind about Hispanic influx.”
When are they ever going to learn it isn’t possible to speak truthfully in George Orwell’s America without being castigated and spat upon by the left wing crazies?
Posted by q at 11:04 PM on September 30
“Bridgette Burge-Walz of Knightdale said she attended, along with her children, neighbors and sister, to show that many non-Hispanic people are upset by Bizzell’s comments.
“I think it’s particularly important for white people to be present,” she said, “to show that we’re in solidarity with people of color.””
Yeah, right, lady. But I bet you live in a lily-white neighborhood and your kids go to a lily-white school.
Posted by Ellen at 11:04 PM on September 30
Yet again, the ACLU comes down on the wrong side of an issue. Notice how they remain silent regarding the good sheriffs comments as they should, but then try to intimidate the county by looking into their ethnic profiling data. What do u wanna bet they ‘discover’ that which they are seeking? The American Civil Liberties Union is anything but.
Posted by Cop at 11:37 PM on September 30
“These mostly undocumented workers have helped build a new economy, fueling a construction boom and harvesting most of the county’s crops”
These illegal migrants didn’t build a new economy. Americans built a new economy and they replaced american workers in contruction but I blame whites for hiring them.
“But some residents of this once insular place see them as a threat, opening Spanish-speaking businesses, crowding hospitals and schools, even monopolizing aisles at Wal-Mart.”
They don’t “see” them as a threat, they ARE a threat. They do crowd hospitals and schools, make demands and take over and the citizens have to pay for it through their taxes. Also, note that when an area is all-white, it is described as “insular”. When an area is all-black or something else, it is described as “vibrant culture.”
Posted by KC at 12:01 AM on October 1
As white people (mexicans are NOT white), we must demand freedom to associate with only our own kind if we wish. We must choose to form white-only communities and remove the disruptive factors; that includes minorities and turncoat whites as well. This must be done for our own protection and it must not be put off until tomorrow.
Posted by PlainSpoken at 12:29 AM on October 1
I have first hand knowledge about that area of the country. Don’t pay attention to any official census stats that claim only a few percent of the population is hispanic. North Carolina is being overrun with illegals, even and perhaps especially the small towns.
Posted by Flamethrower at 2:12 AM on October 1
We have no right to complain until we quit our comfortable indoors jobs and start picking the damn fruits and vegetables ourselves. But we are too accustomed to such luxuries aren’t we?
Posted by Dave at 2:52 AM on October 1
“Bizzell is, in many ways, the face of a state coping with a problem the federal government has failed to solve, struggling to reconcile long-held resentments with its essential humanity.”
“failed to solve”? Three words: Rule of Law.
Society will collapse without the respect of law and the legal process. This emotional wrangling is specious and always clouds the real issue at hand… the rule of law.
Whenever I argue with someone over illegal immigration I simply ask them one question; which law do I get to break? Seriously, which one? I pay my taxes, I’ve never been arrested or even suspected of anything illegal. Ask my neighbors if they mind living near me and I’ll bet they do not.
So if we allow for illegal immigrants to migrate here in clear violation of the rule of law, just when do I get my turn at anarchy? Can I break any old law without recourse? (If so I’m going to pick a real humdinger of a law to break.)
Posted by P-51 at 2:54 AM on October 1
An American hero w/courage to speak the truth, what the influx of illegals has done to small towns across America is a tradegy.
Posted by abc at 6:34 AM on October 1
“Isn’t it curious that, just like blacks, when hispanics show up, people form opinions about them.”
-says the first poster
I agree. But isn’t even more curious that wherever hispanics show up, people form the EXACT SAME opinions about them?
Posted by Victor Gerhard at 10:24 AM on October 1
“He said a growing Hispanic population was committing crimes, sapping social services and threatening traditional culture. Many of his statements encompassed both legal and illegal immigrants.”
Are his statments true or false? That is all that matters.
Imagine the nerve of a county sheriff in the United States not merely making observations about crime but suggesting that something ought to be done about it. As though his job had something to do with law enforcement and not Important Things like Sensitivity or Multiculturalism.
As others have pointed out, “solidarity with people of color” is a cant multicult phrase right out of some university’s Department of Anti-White Affairs. “People of Color” have replaced “The Workers” as the mascots of the Left, since the influx of People of Color has destroyed the white working class.
Bridgette Burge-Walz of Knightdale is in for a surprise when the number of mestizos reaches critical mass. She’ll no doubt be surprised by how little solidarity People of Color will feel for her and her family.
Posted by Cassiodorus at 10:27 AM on October 1
Hispanic governments always try and silence their critics one way or another. This endemic tyrannical Hispanic behavior is evident at this protest. They stupidly believe they can call the shots in our country. If they were allowed to attain demographic and political dominance America would become another Mexico. These people are clearly being coached by communist agitators in street theater. We’ve seen it all before during the civil rights era and the Vietnam war…
Posted by at 1:11 PM on October 1
It’s interesting how our political class defines existential threats to our nation. Supposedly Iran and a few like-minded bizarre and rather nutty theocracies are plotting to bring down our nation by sponsoring terrorists, a peculiar species of fanatics who seem most adept at blowing themselves up.
At the same time they seem quite sanguine about a literal invasion of poverty-stricken and often lawless foreigners who have become the fastest-growing minority in the US. Hey, they’ll become good Democrats! Let’s get ‘em registered!
The real existential threat to this nation is the rapid growth in numbers of both blacks and Hispanics, a permanent underclass which will never achieve productive mainstream status, will always the major criminal class, and will always be a drain on the white Europeans who built and now maintain this country.
I say we bring all military forces home from overseas, put them to work policing all southern, eastern, and western borders, and leave our nuclear deterrent in place and even upgraded.
The real threat isn’t in the Middle East, Russia, China, or anywhere else. It’s right here at home, a home with wide-open doors that should be closed and locked.
Posted by john at 1:46 PM on October 1
If they want to end racism they should give up their invasion of our country and go home.
Read about latest Miranda misdoing here:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=5927526&page=1
Isn’t the real Miranda warning given by the above case?
Posted by Old Atlantic at 2:15 PM on October 1
“I think it’s particularly important for white people to be present,” she said, “to show that we’re in solidarity with people of color.”
And that shall be their undoing.
Posted by at 3:01 PM on October 1
Bridgette Burge-Walz
“I think it’s particularly important for white people to be present,” she said, “to show that we’re in solidarity with people of color.”
This statement makes me absolutely sick. And if figures, a HYPHENATED last name.
Posted by Barfko at 4:40 PM on October 1
let me tell you somthing about these liberals that support the downfall of america. they are cowards and if anyone has the courage to stand up to them, they will run for the hills. ive seen this firsthand. the sherriff should attack anyone thats attacking him. go on the offensive. put a few of them under arrest, even if it dont stick, make them sweat a little and then they will fold. why sould we be made to feel bad for standing up for america. if the newspaper is not on your side, arrest the editor. offense offense offense is the answer. lets get started. be loud and proud.
Posted by danjack at 7:38 PM on October 1
“This statement makes me absolutely sick. And if figures, a HYPHENATED last name.”
The hyhenated last name is just fine, it’s her anti-white beliefs that are the big problem. As someone else said, when the mexicans reach large enough numbers, they will not care one bit about her or other whites.
Posted by at 10:09 PM on October 1