Morally, is it wrong to further an agenda in this manner?

Question

Vigil for slain officer attended by illegal immigrants.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/63683.php
Nick Erfle, a 33-year old, eight-year police veteran, was shot and killed by 22-year old Erik Jovani Martinez, an illegal immigrant, Tuesday morning.
"We want to remind all of Arizona and the nation that this crime had nothing to do with the legal status of that person, but rather his criminal intentions," said Phoenix resident and CEO of Immigrants Without Borders Elias Bermudez.
Tuesday morning Arizmendiz called into the radio show The Voice of the Immigrant hosted by Bermudez, and asked Latinos and illegal immigrants to attend the evening's vigil in support of Erfle's family.
"We are here to show that we do not agree with this criminal activity" when they are asking people illegally here to attend?
Am I the only one who sees this as wrongfully exploiting a tragedy to further their agenda?

Not everyone who showed up Thursday night favors immigrant rights.
Sandra Olivas said she's fed up with illegal immigrants. "I want to know what's going to happen 10 years from now when this poor officer's children are grown. They're going to need their father. I didn't grow up with a father. My father died when I was very young and there isn't a day where I don't miss him. And this is enough, enough is enough. I've had enough," Olivas said.
Olivas said she's seen the suspect's mother admit on local Spanish television that she's an illegal immigrant who is living in Phoenix.
Olivas openly questioned why someone hasn't gone to her house and arrested the woman.
She said enough is enough.
they show that they don't respect us and the respect the laws of the United States un"You never get anything done with illegal aliens. You're not getting the cream of the crop. You're not getting people who want to be citizens. The first step that der one flag and under one state is by crossin

the line illegally," said Olivas.

Another woman who stopped by the site was overcome with grief. "Too many fallen officers. We've seen too many fallen officers . . . really the past six weeks is way too much."

Dozens of police officers stood by as a steady stream of cars drove past the memorial.

IWB leader Elias Bermudez said many people who intended to take part in the vigil saw the police officers and were too afraid to stop.

He said the killing of the officer is a setback for the immigration movement.
http://www.kpho.com/news/14171875/detail.html?rss=pho&psp=news

So not all there were in support of illegal aliens. However, was reversing the "setback" part of it?
Is it insensitive at least as DAR so wisely phrased it?

Answer 1

Obviously it was the wrong time and place to make a political statement. It could only make this group look worse to do something that foolish. No one who drove a car there could have had a driver's license (at least not in my state). Way to go!

Answer 2

They use whatever means they can to get citizenship. Remember they're the ones who call racism for enforcing our immigration laws, have their children give speeches at protests and interviews. What were you thinking anyone that will use their kids to further a political agenda is capable of anything. Literally nothing is beneath them! Sorry student you missed the mark illegals have an agenda the others you speak of do not. You're off base! If they really wanted to show their respect to the family they would have went back to Mexico and sent a Hallmark card!

Answer 3

The same thing happens anytime a member of a minority (not necessary racial minority) group does something wrong. The other members of the group feel like they have to speak out against that action. Whatever the exact reasoning is, it hapens all the time. Remember when that South Korean guy killed all those people at VT? South Korean communities in the US and in SK held vigils, condemned the behavior, suported the families of the victims, and so on. I see nothing here unique to illegal immigrants. If it was not exploitation in the VT case, why would it be exploitation in this case?

B.Kevorkian: Its not a criminal denouncing criminality. Its an illegal immigrant denouncing murder. If you are going to try and equate all crimes, then everybody is a criminal, since everybody (at least every adult of sufficient mental capacity) has broken at least one law. Does this make us all criminals who denounce criminality?

Answer 4

No, there's nothing morally wrong with an illegal alien denouncing murder. Murder is pretty clearly and widely regarded as morally wrong, afterall.

Ethically, it's more than a little questionable, since, by definition, it's a criminal denouncing criminality.

Answer 5

I think it is pretty insensitive to the family who right now have reason not to be pro-illegal immigrant and may not want them there.

However, denouncing crime isn't a bad thing. I just don't think they should do it from his funeral.

Answer 6

Paying respect to the dead is sinister to you? That's a little paranoid.

If they stood up on the coffin and made a political speech, or engaged in some other disrespectful behavior, I could see your point. But simple attendence isn't disrespectful.