WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - An unusual alliance on illegal immigration forged between the Kansas Minuteman Civil Defense Corps and the Peoples Alliance for Latino Advancement in Kansas has broken apart after only two months.
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``We tried,'' said PALA co-chairman Dennis Romero. ``Some people condemned us; other people applauded us.''
Romero said the breakup was sparked by the Minuteman group picketing employers who they suspected were employing illegal immigrants.
``They started racist stuff,'' he said. ``We told them we can't have any part of this.''
Ed Hayes, the Kansas director of the corps, confirmed the two groups have split. But he said Romero and co-chairman Bob Hernandez knew from the initial meeting that the corps planned the pickets.
``I am just disappointed that seems to be a problem, because we are going to continue doing it,'' Hayes said.
The Minuteman group has long contended that racism has nothing to do with its efforts against illegal immigration.
To bolster that argument, Hayes pointed to the group's continued alliance with another Hispanic group, You Don't Speak For Me, which opposes illegal immigration. In April, the Kansas Minuteman group hosted retired U.S. Army Col. Albert F. Rodriguez of Douglas, Ariz.
Rodriguez, chairman of You Don't Speak For Me, was in Kansas City to start another chapter.
Hayes said he was disappointed that PALA had chosen to break off the relationship.
``We will just go ahead without them,'' Hayes said.
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