Pocono News Section

Vicente Fox Speaks, Protesters Gather

Vicente Fox Speaks, Protesters Gather - Monday, November 5, 2007 at 10:39PM EST

Reported by: WBRE News
Monday, Nov 5, 2007 @10:39pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY-Former Mexican President Vicente Fox spoke Monday night to a large crowd at the f.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre. He is here as part of Wilkes University's Outstanding Leaders Forum. He tells the audience that only through open and frank discussions can Mexico and the United States solve its common problems..namely illegal immigration.

"I perceive fear in this nation,public opinion with this nation, of course understandable after September 11th, a day that should never ever be repeated again. Fear is not a good advisor, there's total confusion immigrants are not terrorists,that's absolutely false."
And he says, a plan to build a fence at the border..just is not realistic.

"Building walls doesn't help walls don't work, Chinese wall against their enemies, Berlin wall didn't; work against freedom, West Bank Wall is not working will not work, fence ironically being built by Mexicans."

Across from the Kirby Center, protesters from the group Voice of People, tried to give Fox an earful.

"In his country Mexico, he oppressed great citizens of his country for years. notes Dan Smeriglio, of the Voice of the People "Urging them to cross our border illegally, talking away from our country they put up a statue, his own people took it down."