Civil rights groups protest at Taos hotel

TAOS, N.M. (AP) - Members of several civil rights groups protested Saturday in front of a Taos hotel where Hispanic employees have clashed with the new owner.

Whitten Inn owner Larry Whitten forbade employees to speak Spanish and ordered some to Anglicize their Hispanic names when he started making changes at the hotel in July.

Taos officials and organizers say the number of protesters ranged from 60 to 75.

Shirley Reyes is a Taos chapter president for the League of United Latin American Citizens whose son was fired by Whitten.

She says the protesters called for a national boycott of Whitten's hotels.

Taos public relations director Cathy Connelly says the protest was peaceful.

Whitten did not immediately return a phone message left with a hotel employee.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

KOB.com - Civil rights groups protest at Taos hotel

Who are these people? Some implants from the midwest or east coast?

Now, I can understand why you wouldn't want employees speaking in Spanish in front of guests. For some reason people feel uncomfortable when a language other than the one they speak is being spoken in front of them and they don't know what is being said.

However, this is New Mexico and anywhere you go in NM you are likely to be subjected to people who are speaking in Spanish rather than English. This doesn't mean they are illegals, many people in NM speak Spanish with their families or others that speak Spanish. No different than people who speak French in New Orleans.

Also, I do not believe that whoever these employers are realize that the culture is part of the attraction to NM. People visiting don't want Juan to be called John. People come here to experience the "culture" and it isn't just Native American. One of the things that makes New Mexico so special is the blending and diversity of cultures.

These idiots need to get a clue!