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Groups rally for/against refugees at Statehouse

Posted at 5:55 PM, Nov 21, 2015
and last updated 2015-11-21 19:55:10-05
BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- About 1,000 protesters and counter-protesters on opposite sides of the Syrian refugee resettlement issue demonstrated in front of the Idaho State Capitol in Boise on Saturday.
 
Officers with the Boise Police Department estimated the crowd on the pro-refugee side on the steps of the Capitol at about 700, and counter protesters across Jefferson Street at about 300.
 
About half a dozen officers appeared when the two sides started encroaching on Jefferson Street and impeding traffic, but otherwise reported no problems on the sunny November day.
 
Each side carried hand-lettered signs, with the pro-refugee group's signs saying "Refugees Still Welcome" and "Idaho Is Too Great For Hate."
 
"I have no concern with the refugees coming to Idaho. I'm all for it," said Troy Ingrahan, a veteran. "The government does checks on these people. It's not like Europe where they're just coming across the border."
 
Counter protesters had signs that said "We Must End Refugee Programs" and "No Trojan Horses," a reference to potential terrorists slipping in with refugees.
 
"We can't take on anybody else. We can't be giving stuff to anybody else," said Dave Havsgaard, a veteran. "It's all a matter of big pockets, it's not a matter of foreigners coming our country. It's a matter of people getting rich off of it too."