Pearce meets with civil rights activist?

by David Safier

I'm a bit late to the party on this one, but it's worth going there anyway.

Today's Republic has this headline:

Civil-rights activist, Pearce plan summit on migrant issues

Here are the first two paragraphs:

Lawmakers and people from across the country are expected to spend the day at the state Capitol today discussing illegal immigration and the 14th Amendment.

Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, and Ted Hayes, a Los Angeles activist for civil rights and the homeless, are hosting a daylong National Immigration Policy Summit. About 200 registered participants are expected to attend, at a cost of $50 each. Registration is closed; the summit is not open to the media.

I asked myself, Are we having a meeting of minds here? A genuine discussion of the civil rights implications of Pearce's anti-immigrant, anti-Hispanic legislation?

Um, no.

Co-host Ted Hayes is, shall we say, a rather unique individual.

He has advocated for the homeless, true. But civil rights activist? That kinda depends on your definition. From Wikipedia:

Recently, [Hayes] has become a vocal critic of illegal immigration to the United States, joining the Minutemen Project at protests and staging his own.[6] There was an altercation at an anti-illegal immigration rally at Leimert Park organized by Hayes.[7]

He has founded several organizations, including the Black Elephants, a group of Black Republicans, and the Crispus Attucks Brigade, an African-American anti-illegal immigration group.

[snip]

Hayes is a supporter of President George W. Bush's foreign policy. He is also critical of critics of Black Republicans, who he says are "vigorously vilified by Democrats".[9]

The self-proclaimed Western or American "Gandhi", Hayes is known for being a colorful character, often sporting long flowing coats and wearing American flags as part of his dress, and a yarmulke.

But hey, if Pearce is willing to hobnob with fringe characters like J.R. Ready and his white supremacy movement, co-hosting an event with Ted Hayes isn't that much of a stretch.

You might enjoy this screen shot about the National Immigration Policy Summit from the Stand With Arizona website.

I can't wait to hear more.