[ilbegone]

Fontana mayor defends city against charges of racism

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
10/31/2009

FONTANA - Mayor Mark Nuaimi expressed outrage this week after a member of ACORN cited the Ku Klux Klan's history here in a demand that officials adopt a resolution condemning a controversial illegal immigration program.

"It really offends me to have someone come to this microphone and say KKK marched down these streets so you now mayor have to take a stand against a federal law," Nuaimi said.

The mayor's remarks at Wednesday's City Council meeting followed more than 45 minutes of racial rhetoric from factious residents and activist groups over the 287g Program, which allows designated law enforcement officers to perform immigration law enforcement functions.

Nuaimi aimed his strongest comments at Bobbi Jo Chavarria, an ACORN member who told the council, "This city's legacy of the KKK, of racial intolerance and division and the current cultural and ethnic diversity of the community demands a stance be taken."

Nuaimi tore into Chavarria's request while pointing out his own heritage.

"I am offended that you would use the checkered past of this community as somehow that's the hammer to hit over us and throw the racism card," Nuaimi said. "I am first generation. I am Palestinian-English-Irish . . . at no time did my parents come before an organization or come before a governing body and say, `do this for me because of this, because I am disadvantaged or because I feel I have been stepped upon."

The Sheriff's Department runs the program under which those who are booked into county jails are asked to provide their country of birth on their booking applications.

If one is not born in the United States, an inmate's application is flagged by a sheriff's custody specialist trained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

If it is determined that the inmate may be in the country illegally, the inmate is referred to federal immigration authorities for additional questioning and possible deportation.

Chavarria called the program "racial profiling" and "discrimination."

Illegal immigration and race issues have bubbled up this month as rumors have circulated that police officers are setting up checkpoints near schools for the sole purpose of racially profiling Hispanics.

Police officials have denied the allegations, saying checkpoints set up near schools are at night and for DUI checks only.

Still, the subject of race remains a sore one among officials who say only a contentious few attempt to resurrect a stigma long since buried.

"I know all of the history," Councilman John Roberts said. "I think we've come a long way from what it used to be."