An anti-immigration reform group with alleged links to a white nationalist movement has launched a radio ad campaign.
The broadcast ad campaign from ProEnglish, which was one minute long and airing in South Carolina, targets Sen. Lindsey Graham. It have a voice over of a woman who is translating an immigrant's words from Spanish to English.The immigrants are thanking Graham for making it easier for them to get jobs without knowing English and are mocking the need to know the language.
"The minute long radio ad campaign by ProEnglish, comes at a particularly bad time for opponents of comprehensive reform: last week the Heritage Foundation was forced to sack a researcher for his racially tinged comments about Latinos and there are growing questions about the anti-reform movement's connections to radical population growth groups," writes BuzzFeed. "And with the Senate considering comprehensive reform legislation now, the group's ad - which features a Spanish-speaking "illegal immigrant" character "thanking" Graham for "for not requiring him to learn English in exchange for amnesty" - could further complicate the efforts of more more mainstream conservatives."
As of now, the group behind the campaign has no signs of backing down and if it succeeds, it'll spread the campaign.
"ProEnglish will run the ad in South Carolina for as long as it takes to get the message out," said spokesman Phil Kent, reports BuzzFeed. "If we feel if this is successful we may target senators in other states."
"South Carolina remains the central battlefield in the fight over immigration reform," said Kevin Bishop, a Graham spokesperson.
This isn't the first time ProEnglish has stirred controversy--in 2012, Robert Vandervoort, who leads the group, spoke at a CPAC immigration panel warning his audience about "Multiculturalism and the War Against White America" and "The War on White Heritage".
ProEnglish is led by Robert Vandervoort, who caused a stir in 2012 when he was invited to speak at a CPAC immigration panel despite his "past ties to the white nationalist group Chicagoland Friends of American Renaissance," as it was described in contemporary media reports. American Renaissance warns against "Multiculturalism and the War Against White America" and "The War on White Heritage" on its website.
The group is reportedly unphased by accusations that it is racist.
"As for dishonest opponents, we choose to ignore smears and lies," said Kent.
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