A flap in Flat Rock!: Mexican consulateís issuance of IDs prompts protest

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Framed by numerous American flags, protesters passionately waved signs opposing the visit of the Mexican consulate in Raleigh to Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock early on the morning of June 28. Asheville Daily Planet Staff Photo

FLAT ROCK — About 30 protesters, led by conservative congressional candidate Carl Mumpower of Asheville, staged a peaceful early-morning protest on June 28 at Blue Ridge Community College against the Raleigh-based Mexican consulate’s one-day visit to issue identification cards to its Mexicans constituents.

The all-day visit, which involved about 20 Mexican consulate officials and the issuance of about 400 identification cards, was billed as part of a periodic effort to enable Mexican citizens living in Western North Carolina to obtain identification without having to driving about five hours each way to Raleigh for the service.

At 8 a.m. sharp at the entrance turnoff to the college, Mumpower — the lone Republican on Asheville City Council, who is challenging Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville, for his seat — presided over a contingent of about 25 people who picketed with signs opposing what they contended were illegal, as well as unethical, aspects of the consulate’s visit to taxpayer-supported BRCC.

Mumpower, who said he learned of the visit last Friday morning, sent out e-mails, calling for volunteers to meet at 6 a.m. at his Asheville office to carpool to East Flat Rock, where others would join them for breakfast at 7 a.m. at Cracker Barrel restaurant on Upward Road near BRCC. During the breakfast meeting, Mumpower said he urged the protesters to be considerate and polite and addressed his concerns about what he termed the many ramifications of the Mexican consulate’s visit.

For about an hour, the group waved signs and American flags at both casual weekend drivers-by as well as cars driven by Mexicans that were turning into BRCC’s entrance to visit the consulate. When an occasional overzealous protester briefly uttered anti-Mexican remarks, he or she would quickly cease under a withering Mumpower frown or glare.

In a brief interview just as the protest began, Mumpower told the Daily Planet that he desired to keep the protest peaceful and courteous, with the emphasis on opposition to the actions of the U.S. and Mexican governments that allowed the consulate’s visit — and not against the WNC Mexicans “up on the hill.”

About 9 a.m., the mostly older and all-white group, which gained a few members after the 8 a.m. start, marched with their signs and American flags up the long entrance road to the BRCC building. There, an ever-changing gathering of about 100 or so Mexicans, including many women, children and babies, were quietly standing and sitting on the sidewalk outside, waiting to be admitted into the building for the consulate’s questioning that preceded the issuance of ID cards.

Prior to the protesters’ arrival, an unidentified male consulate official emerged from the building and announced in Spanish to the Mexicans outside that they should remain calm, ignore the protesters and not resort to violence under any circumstances. The crowd followed his advice, under the watchful eyes of a Henderson County sheriff’s deputy, the only police presence in sight.

With Mumpower, nattily clad in dress pants and a tie, in the lead, the protesters marched along the road to within 100 feet of the Mexicans — and there were no catcalls either way.

The march continued around the building in a semi-circle to a flagpole on the other side, where a American flag waved in the breeze.
The one interruption in the march — for perhaps a minute — occurred near the end, when a BRCC administrator directly walked up to the still-marching Mumpower, near the building’s front door, and upon shaking hands with him as the procession stopped, advised Mumpower and his followers that “we do have a school policy” requiring a week’s notice for a protest “and we’re going to waive it” for you, even though the requirement was not met.

Remaining calm and flashing a smile, Mumpower said evenly, “Thank you. We’re finished.” Mumpower and the BRCC official bid each other farewell, and the procession continued a few more yards to the flagpole, where Mumpower made closing remarks to the group, which departed BRCC by 10 a.m. Mumpower had told the Planet earlier that the protest would not last longer because he had other commitments that day.

As the protesters assembled in a semi-circular formation, facing the flagpole, Mumpower faced them and said, “I want to thank every one” of you for being at BRCC, noting that “we have 30 to 35 people altogether.”

“We wanted to protest something,” he said, noting that “it’s not about” the people seeking the identification cards, but rather, “it’s about this college being used by the Mexican consulate” for its political purposes.

“There’s a reason there’s 15 million to 20 million Mexicans in America right now — they’re (the Mexican government) not taking care of their own people.”

He termed people and illegal drugs as “two of the biggest imports from Mexico” to America. “If they can send 20 or so people in Tahoes” from the Mexican consulate in Raleigh to Flat Rock, then they would do better to use the resources to care for Mexicans so they do not have to flee their native country.

Despite contentions to the contrary by the Mexican consulate and BRCC officials, Mumpower said Saturday’s visit “demonstrates the audacity of the Mexican government” and, by extension, the complicity of the American government and BRCC.

Regarding the words of those who would defend the consulate’s visit, Mumpower said, “My grandfather had a saying: ‘Never mistake chick manure for chicken salad.’”

He added, “I have no respect for the Mexican government. I think it’s a sham.”

As Mumpower was preparing to end the protest, Paul Purdue, a local political candidate and new U.S. citizen, asked if he could say a few words. Frowning, Mumpower told Purdue that he could speak, if he made it brief.

Purdue then noted that, “I’m a new American,” and he said Mumpower’s words and actions “make me very proud.”

Mumpower then closed the protest by stating, “It’s not about me. It’s not about Paul. It’s not about us. It’s about fighting back. There are laws” that are not being enforced, resulting in major damage to the nation.

Meanwhile, the BRCC dean noted that “we are an open institution and we have rules and regulations” for who can rent its facilities. “The college doesn’t take a stand” on the merits of those desiring to rent a building, such as the Mexican consulate, noting that “we open the college” to any legal group, which would include the consulate.

In an interview with the Daily Planet earlier in the day, Mumpower emphasized, “We’re not protesting the people down there,” referring to the Mexicans seeking ID papers at BRCC. “We’re protesting their government and our government for failing to act” and that this visit shows “support for illegal immigration.”

As for BRCC, he said, “I think it’s reprehensible that a taxpayer-supported institution would be involved in this type of conspiratorial activity.”

During his breakfast speech, Mumpower said he “encouraged people to be respectful. We’re not here to hurt people. We’re here to protest the failures of our government to protect our borders and uphold the scurity of America enforce laws, and their government to take care of their people in Mexico,” so they do not flee to the U.S.

“I sort of coached people to be gracious and respectful” during the protest. “We’re not here to hurt feelings, but to protest policy.”
Mumpower also added, “I encouraged people not to be discouraged from ridicule — from the press” after stories on the protest are printed.

“Our government is paralyzed — and patriotic people are subject to criticism.”

Further, he said, “A lot has been made about why they’re here — to provide consular services ... I think that’s a cover for the real agenda, which is to provide IDs as a partial foundation for (obtaining) driver’s license numbers” from the state. “I think that’s why” the Mexican consulate is in Flat Rock. “Those IDs are for driver’s licenses” and other uses. He added that the state Department of Transportation has only “a marginal ability to check Social Security numbers.”

He concluded his Daily Planet interview by asserting, “To me, this is the Mexican government sponsoring a form of cultural terrorism that they do not tolerate in their own country.”