Accused Nativist Murderer Finds Few Allies in Movement
Nativist leaders are scrambling to distance themselves from Minutemen American Defense (MAD) founder Shawna Forde, who has been with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of an Arizona man and his 9-year-old daughter.
鈥淲e knew there was something very wrong with Shawna Forde and did all in our power to forewarn groups and leaders, as well as press and law enforcement, regarding our concerns,鈥� wrote of Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALIPAC), in a news release. 鈥淪hawna Forde does not reflect the immigration enforcement movement or the millions of Americans concerned about illegal immigration and border security.鈥�
Among those releasing similar statements were Chris Simcox, former president of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, , leader of the San Diego Minutemen, and , managing director of Save Our State. Police say Forde and two associates used a ruse to enter the home of 29-year-old Raul Flores on May 30 with the intent of killing his family and stealing cash to finance her group鈥檚 border operations. Flores and his daughter, Brisenia, were shot and killed. His wife was wounded when she returned fire.
Anti-immigration activists are just as forcefully repudiating Minuteman Project president , who was allied with Forde. Gheen called for Gilchrist鈥檚 resignation both in his news release and 鈥� much less politely 鈥� in an E-mail to Gilchrist that鈥檚 posted in the 鈥淗ate Mail鈥� section of the Minuteman Project鈥檚 website. 鈥淛im, you [sic] and Shawna鈥檚 close and vibrant relationship is well documented in many different places,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淒o the movement and yourself a favor and announce your resignation 鈥︹��
Gilchrist鈥檚 response, also posted on his website, is addressed to the 鈥渟elf-acclaimed [sic] Messiah William Gheen of ALIPAC.鈥� 鈥淎s much as you would like me to resign from the movement to bring law enforcement back to our immigration laws, I must politely decline,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淚f I were to abandon the movement to encourage our political governors to enforce our immigration laws, then that task might be left for unstable and socially-challenged idiots like you. And then what kind of mess would we be in?鈥�
In an E-mail titled 鈥淛im Gilchrist Exposed!!!!鈥� on the Minuteman Project鈥檚 website, Nightingale, the Save Our State official, wrote that 鈥減atriots鈥� were incensed at Gilchrist鈥檚 group because it supported Forde. 鈥淎s a mother I am sick to death that a little child was murdered!鈥� she wrote. 鈥淢urdered at the hands of people that were endorsed on the Jim Gilchrist MMP site. Wasn鈥檛 it bad enough that your forum is a sewer full of lies and bashing of patriots? Or are each of you being paid by say the 人兽性交, La Raza to destroy the movement with your filth and personal connections?鈥�
In his response, Gilchrist asserted that Save Our State鈥檚 allies included the Mountain Minutemen, whose leader in 2007 that appeared to show an undocumented immigrant being shot at the border. 鈥淵our unwarranted wrath is all about sour grapes, Ms. Nightingale,鈥� Gilchrist wrote. 鈥淚f you are going to be a crackpot, Ms. Nightingale, please be thorough about it.鈥�
Gilchrist defended Forde this winter after other nativist leaders expressed doubt about her claims that she鈥檇 been raped, beaten and shot in a bizarre series of incidents in and near her Everett, Wash., home. The Everett Herald reported that police have dropped the investigation of the reported rape, citing a lack of evidence.
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