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Title: Immigrant activists call out 'Illegal Alien' costumes
Source:
CNN
URL Source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/10/17/il ... l.immigrant.costume/index.html
Published: Oct 18, 2009
Author: Edmund DeMarche
Post Date: 2009-10-19 01:31:33 by mirage
Keywords: None
Views: 154
Comments: 10
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Immigrant rights activists are calling on U.S. retailers to stop selling two controversial "Illegal Alien" costumes that have surfaced for Halloween, saying the outfits are a broadside attack on illegal immigrants. The "Illegal Alien Adult Costume," manufactured by Forum novelties, includes an orange jumpsuit, similar to prison garb, with "Illegal Alien" stamped in black across the chest; a space alien mask; and a fake Green Card. The "Illegal Alien Mask with Hat" also includes a space alien mask, this time with a dark handlebar mustache and a baseball cap. The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles said it began receiving e-mails from concerned legal immigrants on Friday. In response, CHIRLA wrote a letter asking several retailers, including Target, Walgreens, and Amazon.com, to stop offering the costume. As of Saturday afternoon, Target had pulled the products, and some links to the costumes on other sites were no longer functional. Target said the "Illegal Alien" costume was inadvertently uploaded to its Web site due to a data entry error. "It is never our intent to offend the consumers with the products we offer," a company statement said. The makers of the costumes could not be reached for comment on Saturday. Jorge-Mario Cabrera, the director of communications for CHIRLA, said he initially thought the costume was a stab at harmless satire. But when he saw the Green Card, he realized it was an swipe at illegal immigrants. "This was an ignorant attempt to poke fun at a small community," said Cabrera. Political satire and Halloween often merge. Costumes depicting former well-known political figures are often seen along side those depicting Batman or Wonder Woman. To some, the attempted humor of the costumes falls flat. Guillermo Iglesias said both of his parents were illegal immigrants in the United States. He felt the costumes were offensive because they depicted illegal immigrants as "not one of us." "I have a lot of illegal immigrant friends," said Iglesias. "If I showed them that costume, it would really hurt them." Despite the controversy, some stores say the costumes have been a hit. "It's a very well-recommended costume," said an employee at Ricky's, a costume store in New York City. The store has sold seven costumes for $39.99 apiece and is set to receive another shipment. William Gheen, the president of Americans for Legal Immigration, said he intends to buy the costume, and calls the reaction unfounded. "The only people getting upset are the hyper-sensitive, over-politically correct, pro-amnesty, illegal alien-supporting nuts," said Gheen. "You can't attack people's freedom in this country." "I think having a costume like that is distasteful," said Andrea Hill, outside of Ricky's. "But if it's not illegal, I think it's alright for them to sell it."
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#1. To: mirage (#0)
It's real politics. It's not distasteful. It's legal.
Meaning it is First Amendment Protected!
COMRADE! Why are you not showing your Party affiliation and showing proper respect for Dear Leader? Put your Barackstika armband on RIGHT NOW!
COMRADE! Why are you not showing your Party affiliation and showing proper respect for Dear Leader? Put your Barackstika armband on RIGHT NOW!
Oh gee. Horrors! Slovaya Bogu.
"An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you know and what you don't. ~ Anatole France
Nobody was annoyed when Hollywood used that joke in both Men In Black movies.
COMRADE! Why are you not showing your Party affiliation and showing proper respect for Dear Leader? Put your Barackstika armband on RIGHT NOW!
is there a version in spanish ???
True but people who have an agenda to grind have no sense of humor. The Illegal Alien Lobby/Front does not want people to get the impression that invading this country illegally, contrary to our laws, is a bad thing.
"An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you know and what you don't. ~ Anatole France
You mean the Whoooooo...what's happened to you, my friend....scary business afoot ...rock on...
~ ok, there's the name of a guy abetting two illegals in our country ~ 3 criminals ready to pick up and send back home ~ anyone have the number for ICE?
"I think having a costume like that is distasteful," said Andrea Hill, outside of Ricky's. "But if it's not illegal, I think it's alright for them to sell it."
#2. To: scrapper2 (#1)
It's real politics. It's not distasteful. It's legal.
#3. To: All (#2)
#4. To: mirage (#0)
"I have a lot of illegal immigrant friends," said Iglesias. "If I showed them that costume, it would really hurt them."
#5. To: Original_Intent (#4)
#6. To: mirage (#0)
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams 
#7. To: mirage (#5)
#8. To: Original_Intent (#7)
The Illegal Alien Lobby/Front
New Kommunist World Order New Jew World Order ????
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
#9. To: Rotara (#8)
You mean the New Kommunist World Order New Jew World Order ????
#10. To: mirage (#0)
Guillermo Iglesias said both of his parents were illegal immigrants in the United States. He felt the costumes were offensive because they depicted illegal immigrants as "not one of us."
~ the truth will set ya free, but only after it pisses ya off ~
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