Alex Constantine - June 5, 2010
Mike Sprague | Whittier Daily News | June 4, 2010
When Rep. Linda Sànchez, D-Lakewood, made claims this week that white supremacists were behind Arizona's controversial immigration law, she may not have known she was stepping into a 2 1/2-year war between two groups battling over immigration reform.
Audio: Rep. Linda Sanchez's comments
The groups are Federation for American Immigration Reform that helped write Arizona's controversial law and the Southern Poverty Law Center, a pro-civil rights organization that tracks hate groups.
The Southern Poverty Law Center in December 2007 labeled FAIR a hate group. Soon after Dan Stein, FAIR president, said their labeling was "replete with accusations that have no factual basis."
But the battle between the two still rages on.
"FAIR has an extensive track record," said Heidi Beirich, director of research for the Southern Poverty Law Center that was founded by civil rights lawyers Morris Dees and Joseph Levin Jr. in 1971.
"Its founder (Dr. John Tanton) has made racist statements about immigrants through the years," said Beirich. "(He) also said this country should be run by whites and if white culture isn't dominating American society, the country will fall apart." ...
Another issue is the more than $1 million contribution from the Pioneer Fund to FAIR.
Beirich said the Pioneer Fund was established in 1937 to promote the racial stock of the original colonists, finance studies of race and intelligence, and foster policies of racial betterment.
Mehlman said just because FAIR takes money from an organization doesn't mean it endorses their views. ...
Continued: http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_15230584#ixzz0q1Ox1qUw
