What are functional groups?

Do they have the right to chose what groups a Sheriff supports?

• Here is the splc trying to control others lives, Should they be able to tell Sheriff Joe that it is wrong to belong to anti-illegal aliens groups? Is he not a citizen who has the same rights as others? Just because you fight against illegal aliens does not mean you are a racist and neither does belonging to any group unless that group is racially motivated like splc and la raza. do you believe this to be true? --------------------------------------… Arpaio urged to part with groups by Jim Cross, Sandra Haros August 12th, 2009 PHOENIX - The Southern Poverty Law Center is calling on Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio to distance himself from anti-illegal immigration groups, saying that such groups may view his stand on immigration as vindication of their beliefs. Dr. Heidi Beirich of the center came to the Valley at the invitation of Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, who has been a lightning rod in the immigration debate, clashing with Arpaio. "It's not about immigration, it's about hate," Gordon said Wednesday. Beirich singled out three anti-illegal immigration groups on her radar screen: the Minutemen Civil Defense Corps, American Border Patrol and United for a Sovereign America. All operate within Arizona's borders. Beirich said it is dangerous to have mainstream people, such as the sheriff, associating with the Natavist groups. "These are not people who anybody who is in public life should be spending time with," Beirich said. "These are parts of our horrible past, especially the racism, that we've been trying to get over." Arpaio takes offense to anyone implying he's a racist, saying "I have no use for racist groups. I do not condone racist groups." He added, "I think if people knew my family, they would know that's a viscous allegation made by these open-border people trying to do everything they can to insult and discourage me from enforcing a law." Arpaio tells News/Talk 92.3 KTAR he is not a racist. "Come on, am I a racist? I'm not a racist," he said. "You know and everybody knows it. I'm just doing my job, enforcing all the laws, including illegal immigration." Beirich said Arpaio's association with such groups endorses what they do and empowers them, calling that "a scary thing." "In terms of rating immigrant communities and what not, they probably figure that he's endorsing their views," she said. "It's not just hanging out with haters, it's also marching immigrants down the street in fatigues and this scene that, like, comes out of imperial Rome," she said, adding, "I don't know why it is that he keeps getting re-elected, I just don't know." http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=1198932

• Answer:

  "These are not people who anybody who is in public life should be spending time with" Beirich said. What about the group LaRaza. It's obviously ok for people in public life to associate with them. What is the difference. This group receives millions in funding from the Feds every year; funds that are used to advance the Hispanic people. That isn't racist? Sure sounds like it to me. I'd like to know why White people are not allowed to have support groups or they're racist. Yet Black & Hispanic support groups are not considered racist. Illegal immigration is not about HIspanic, it is about people who cross our border without the proper paperwork, or people who do not leave the country when their visa expires. I think the Sheriff is entitled to join any group he wants. It's just another attack by illegal alien supporters trying to get him discredited.