Mohave Daily News: Top Story

BULLHEAD CITY - About 30 people rallied on Saturday on the corner of Highway 95 and the Laughlin bridge to show their support for two Texas Border Patrol agents convicted of shooting a suspected drug smuggler in the buttocks and tampering with evidence.

Texas agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean are serving 11 and 12 years respectively for shooting a drug smuggler who attempted to bring 750 pounds of marijuana into the United States. They were convicted of not reporting the shooting and picking up shell casings from the scene, and violating the civil rights of Osvaldo Aldrete Davila.

The bulk of the protesters were members of the Mohave County Minutemen - a group inspired by, but unaffiliated with, the national volunteer group who work to deter illegal border crossings.

Founder Luca Zanna said he didn't think the two agents received a fair trial and that the judge took the word of a drug dealer over two Border Patrol agents.

“We want these two guys out of jail and we want to expose the truth,” he said. “We hope at least we get Mohave County aware of this.”

Zanna said he's asking to release the two agents and put them on house arrest until they can make their appeal. He's also asking the public to send donations to their families, who he says were left in hardship after paying court expenses, and to write letters to their Congressmen.

The minutemen participated in a similar rally in Phoenix about two weeks ago, where they were joined by a crowd of roughly 300 and thousands of others across the country, including protesters in El Paso and Los Angeles and advocacy groups who organized online petitions to urge President Bush to pardon the agents.

Most protesters on Saturday felt the two agents were “just doing their job” and hoped the rally would raise public awareness of their case.

Dolores Kohn of Fort Mojave said the agents should not have been punished for doing their duty.

“I was outraged at the story about what happened to these two men,” she said. “If this guy hadn't been smuggling drugs illegally, he wouldn't have got shot in the butt. Too bad.”

Kathleen Pontillo came from Kingman and brought along her dog Frazzel, who had an American flag fastened to his collar.

“(This rally) brings our cause to the attention of people,” she said. “It may not change their mind, but they may already be thinking ‘maybe I'll join them.' People don't like stepping out on their own. They want to join a cause.”

Protesters carried signs saying, “Americans Wake up! Stop the Invasion” and “Deportation? Si Se Puede!” (Deportation? Yes, we can!) - a play on the “Si Se Puede” that was chanted on May 1 during nationwide rallies in support of immigrants' rights and amnesty.

Zanna wore a leather jacket with an American flag patch on his right arm, camouflage pants and military boots. Throughout the rally he chanted “Free the Border Patrol” on a bullhorn, while patriotic ballads like “God Bless the USA” were played from speakers perched on the cab of a pickup.

Many drivers on Highway 95 honked their horns as they drove by in support of the protesters. A few flashed a thumbs-down and yelled, “boo.” One shouted “Puerto Rico!” before rolling his window up and driving away.

Fred Miller of Lake Havasu City carried a gun on his belt, saying it was his constitutional right to carry firearms. And although Saturday's rally passed without incident, Miller admitted there's always the possibility of attacks from counter-protesters.

Mark Hundhausen of Bullhead City said illegal immigration “perpetuates disrespect for the law” and “sends the wrong message to children.”

Hundhausen said he is the founder of Bullhead City Militia, a group he says works to protect borders and virtues in the face of “terrorists, Islamic fascists and illegal immigrants.”

“We've been invaded by Mexico and we have the right to declare war,” he said. “Wetbacks have been coming over since the Indians were here. ... We're still in the fight.”