Angry Over La Raza

Published: Monday, July 7, 2008 3:47 PM PDT

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San Diego City Hall has been inundated in recent days with hundreds of e-mails and scores of phone calls protesting a proposed City Council resolution to declare tomorrow "National Council of La Raza Day."

National Council of La Raza, the nation's largest Latino advocacy organization, is holding its annual convention in San Diego July 12-15. Featured speakers include presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain, as well as Mayor Jerry Sanders.

The resolution, sponsored by Sanders and council members Ben Hueso and Tony Young, will be voted on tomorrow morning. The e-mails and calls, which have been generated at least in part by local right-wing bloggers and radio talk show hosts, are largely angry and anti-immigrant in nature.

Here is an excerpt from what Sanders spokesman Fred Sainz described as a typical e-mail:

Anyone supporting the open degradation of America through the continued invasion of people who come here wantonly illegally is incredible to me.

"This is an important organization that represents an important perspective in the San Diego community," Sainz said. "They are no different than the NAACP or a lot of other groups dedicated pursuing their role in American society."

-- DAVID WASHBURN