Miller Brewing Denies Illegal Immigration Support

***Update***  From cbs2chicago  reporting on the march.  Last line of the article:

The march is sponsored by Miller Beer.

This article was found via Yahoo.com.  The first page with the search words highlighted has this:

A rally at the Islamic Foundation</a>in Villa Park begins at 6:30 p.m. Participants say their message to the government is clear.

When you click to see the current page without the highlighted words, the article has changed somewhat and this line is not included, although the title of the article is the same. 

Just a little curious I thought.

                                                                                                             

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports Miller Brewing denied sponsoring a march in Chicago supporting legal status for all illegal immigrants. 

Miller Brewing Co. on Friday denied providing financial help for a planned march in Chicago supporting illegal immigrants, but a newspaper report of the firm's involvement in a controversial political issue could create marketing headaches for the Milwaukee brewer.

The Chicago Tribune reported that Miller had paid more than $30,000 for "a planning convention, materials and newspaper ads" connected to this weekend's "Immigrant Workers Justice Walk."

Not so, Miller spokesman Peter J. Marino said.

"The money supported a recent convention on immigration issues in Chicago, which provided attendees with information on how to become legally naturalized citizens of the U.S.," he said.

Miller isn't sponsoring the march and didn't authorize use of its trademarks in association with the event, Marino said. The Tribune reported that advertisements for the march bear Miller's logo.

The 40-mile walk is to go from Chicago's Chinatown neighborhood to the Batavia, Ill. office of House Speaker Dennis Hastert.

"We are asking him to pay attention to the contributions of undocumented immigrants, and to pass immigration reform that allows for legalization for all; family reunification and civil liberties protection," says the Web site of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, one of the groups organizing the march.

Marino said Miller supports reform of immigration law, but not illegal immigration.

Michelle Malkin:

Yes, it all depends on what the meaning of "finance" is. See, they didn't "finance" the march. They just helped pay for the planners to plan it, advertise it, and publicize it. And, oh yeah, they handed out information on how to get citizenship.

Michelle also has details from a March 2006 capitulation by Miller

In March, Miller Brewing--pressured by illegal alien activists incensed over the company PAC's past donation to leading pro-immigration enforcement proponent GOP Rep. James Sensenbrenner, author of HR. 4337--issued the following statement gleefully publicized by Hispanic groups and media:

In productive discussions held yesterday, we agreed to:

1) Provide assistance to community efforts to reach out to specific members of the Senate and business associations in Washington D.C.
2) Make a clear public statement regarding our opposition to HR 4437 and our desire for appropriate immigration reform that provides adequate protection for the rights of undocumented immigrants.
3) Place print advertisements in Chicago and Milwaukee media stating our opposition to HR 4437.
4) Work with the organizations to explore opportunities for community-based partnerships with a particular focus on scholarships for undocumented students.

The declaration was issued by Nehl Horton, Senior Vice President, Communications and Government Affairs, Miller Brewing Company.

In other words, support for the Chicago march is not some rogue local decision. It is an extension of the company's corporate cave-in to the open-borders lobby.

From the Chicago Tribune report:

The support of a major corporation for a controversial political cause shows how fierce the competition has become to woo the growing market of Latino consumers.

For Miller, the march offered a special chance to catch up. This spring the brewer drew the ire of pro-immigrant forces over contributions to U.S. Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), who sponsored legislation that would crack down on illegal immigrants. That prompted a short-lived boycott by some Latino groups.

Now, march advertisements feature not just the organizing committee's trademark blue globe but Miller's logo and a Spanish translation of its "Live Responsibly" slogan, a company effort to build goodwill among Latinos.

The march started on Saturday.  Reported here by the Chicago Sun-Times. It would be interesting to see some pictures of the event and/or pictures of the advertisements for the march.  The Miller logo is either there or it isn't.

Comments

[Clem]

Please support and join the Miller Brewing boycott!

http://www.millerboycott.com/

[mad_cow]

Already signed the petition and am spreading the word!