Help stop racist rhetoric, speak up

I support Speak Out Against Prejudice (SOAP). Association for Legal Americans (AFLA) is a hate group. They are agents of intolerance.

Despite the U.S. flag in their logo, they are not patriots and don't have a clue about true American values. It is their avowed purpose to drive Hispanics from our community to save "our culture" for the "white population." They also describe Elgin as being "overwhelmed" by an Hispanic "invasion."

This heated AFLA rhetoric has nothing to do with illegal immigration. I'm not standing by silently any longer while our town is filled with propaganda streaming from the pens of some of AFLA's more bigoted boosters and into our local papers.

I encourage the community at large to speak out with their thoughts on immigration, racism, the proper treatment of our Hispanic neighbors and any other issue related to ending prejudice in our community.

Write letters to the editors of all the local papers, post your opposing views on AFLA's Web site, object when prejudicial comments are made in your presence, send e-mails or other messages to public officials who have been courageous enough to stand up against AFLA. Speak out against prejudice, Elgin!

The way you think of the illegal immigration issue says a lot about what you think of America, and what vision of her you are willing to defend. How we deal with the stranger among us says who we Americans are today but also determines who we will become tomorrow.

Victorino Morales

Elgin