Far from the Border: A Few Hours with the Minutemen Civil Defense Corps in Colorado

Denver, Colorado: August 25, 2008


"It is the mission of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps to see the borders and coastal boundaries of the United States secured against the unlawful and unauthorized entry of all individuals, contraband, and foreign military. We will employ all means of civil protest, demonstration, and political lobbying to accomplish this goal."

-Minutemen Civil Defense Corps mission statement

Coinciding with the Democratic National Convention’s first day, the Minutemen Civil Defense Corps, Colorado Minutemen Civil Defense Corps, and RightMarch.com assembled for a day-long rally in Denver’s Congress Park on August 25 to garner support for policy reform and to call on presidential candidates to address the issue of illegal immigration. Including the media and representatives of the Denver Police and MCDC’s private security force, the event attracted approximately 75 people at any given moment between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Folding chairs, bottled water, literature, and a bit of shade were provided free of charge in front of a portable stage.

Peoria, Arizona-based MCDC coins itself “a citizen’s civil defense, political activist organization monitoring the U.S. border, coasts, and our government officials.” Since 2002, the organization has called for orderly immigration policy, an end to automatic birthright citizenship, curbing of amnesty, and, as President Chris Simcox explains on the MCDC web site, “protection from people who wish to take advantage of a free society.” Its volunteer workforce monitors and reports illegal immigration activity to law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Border Patrol.

Opposition at the Minutemen rally was minimal; however, one articulate soul countered Chris Simcox’s ideology.

“There is so much hypocrisy … borders aren’t closed to corporations,” 19-year-old Ohio State University student Ian Bowman-Henderson said. “And immigrants pay taxes.”


As seen through a Congress Park baseball diamond fence, rally attendees cluster under a tent to escape the sun and watch an immigration video.


After giving a short speech, Chris Simcox is barraged by the media. The crux of his message: “No human is illegal, but actions and behaviors can be.”

Curiously, the Minutemen banner at right was attached to a Denver Parks and Recreation vehicle.


Espousing an anti-immigration platform, Republican, Colorado Representative, and former 2008 presidential candidate Tom Tancredo takes his turn at the podium.

Mirroring MCDC’s stance, Tancredo said: “It’s idiotic to talk about amnesty.” Defending his position regarding the influx of illegal immigrants: “It’s not xenophobia … it’s a desire to make sure America is here.”


With all the gusto of a fire-and-brimstone preacher, Alan Keyes captivates an attentive crowd, receives a standing ovation, and entertains individual questions afterwards.

This political activist, one-time Republican, and former Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs under President Ronald Reagan is running for the presidency on the America’s Independent Party ticket.


Aaron Rock of the Colorado Film School interviews Tom Tancredo for a documentary project. The Minutemen rally attracted a cadre of journalism students and bloggers from across the country.