November 7, 2007 

The Progressive Leadership Alliance of Northern Nevada is sponsoring radio messages in  Reno meant to deliver balanced messages about immigrants and immigration. The nonprofit organization spent $5,000 for 240 spots on six local English-language radio stations and three Spanish language stations. The English ads began airing Tuesday on KKOH-AM, KKFT-FM, KJFK-AM, KTHX-FM, KPLY-AM and KJZS-FM.

Reno Gazette-Journal: PLAN Executive Director Bob Fulkerson says anti-immigrant rhetoric undermines community values.

By Geralda Miller

The Progressive Leadership Alliance of Northern Nevada is sponsoring radio messages in  Reno meant to deliver balanced messages about immigrants and immigration.

The nonprofit organization spent $5,000 for 240 spots on six local English-language

radio stations and three Spanish language stations. The English ads began airing Tuesday on KKOH-AM, KKFT-FM,

KJFK-AM, KTHX-FM, KPLY-AM and KJZS-FM.

"We think it's really important to put out in the community more positive ideas about immigrants and about immigration," said Bob Fulkerson, alliance executive director. "The anti-immigration venom that's been coming out of the community that was heightened during the aftermath of the ICE raids has undermined our shared community values."

On Sept. 27, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers raided 11 McDonald's franchises and arrested 54 undocumented workers.

One 60-second ad says: "For most of history, the U.S. welcomed all who wanted to come and work, but a few decades ago, that changed: We closed our borders to all but a select few; mostly those with money or political connections. How strange, since our great country still relies heavily on immigrant labor. But now, we treat them as criminals."

The Federation for American Immigration Reform, based in  Washington,  D.C., uses radio to air its messages, spokesman Ira Mehlman said.

"I'm not surprised that the people who are supporting amnesty for illegal aliens are doing it also," he said. "I don't think they are going to get very far. You can't convince people that they are being mean."

Fulkerson said he is hearing anonymous racist messages on Web sites, blogs and talk radio that convinced him they needed a counter message.

"We thought it was really important to put out some ideas and messages about bringing people together," he said. "If there were undocumented (workers) coming out of  Canada or  Sweden, I can guarantee you the vitriol would not be there."

The Spanish language ad campaign encourages the Hispanic community to register to vote and contact their congressman to stop the raids and create a humane immigrant worker program.

"It's critical that the Latino community flex its voting muscle," Fulkerson said.

"Two-thousand and eight absolutely has to be the year of the Latino voter in  Nevada, if the community is ever going to be taken seriously."

Rita Bonilla, a Hispanic member of the organization You Don't Speak For Me in  Las Vegas, said the radio ads are the "same old rhetoric."

"They are getting desperate," she said. "I'm telling them to go back and fix your country. You've got a beautiful country."