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Internal Video Exposes USDA Staffers Chanting ‘The Pilgrims Were Illegal Aliens’ During Taxpayer-Funded Cultural Sensitivity Training

Feb. 15, 2013 10:59am Billy Hallowell

Judicial Watch Releases Video of U.S. Department of Agriculture Cultural Sensitivity Training

Diversity trainer Samuel Betances (Photo Credit: YouTube)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is coming under fire for hosting a “compulsory”* ”Cultural Sensitivity Training” program that required some intriguing participation of those in attendance. In addition to being implored to bang on tables, everyone in the room was instructed to chant, in unison, “The pilgrims were illegal aliens.”

But that’s not the full extent of the curious elements surrounding the session, as the lead trainer also joked that he doesn’t like the word “minorities” and that he prefers to replace it with “emerging majorities.”

After nine months of waiting for the government to release the video content, clips of the three-hour session were published this week by Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group. It was on May 18, 2012, that the organization first made a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to secure the footage.

Judicial Watch was originally tipped off by a whistle-blower who offered information about the expensive diversity sessions (the USDA has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for the program). Here’s how the organization describes the resulting controversy:

The sensitivity training sessions, described as “a huge expense” by diversity awareness trainer and self-described “citizen of the world” Samuel Betances, were held on USDA premises. The diversity event is apparently part of what USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack described in a memo sent to all agency employees as a “new era of Civil Rights” and “a broader effort towards cultural transformation at USDA.” In 2011 and 2012, the USDA paid Betances and his firm nearly $200,000 for their part in the “cultural transformation” program.

USDA Training Administrator, Vincent Loran, in an October 10, 2011, email previously revealed by Judicial Watch, asked Betances for a copy of a training video vowing to keep it secret. “It will not be used for or show [sic] in any way shape or form,” Loran promised. Nevertheless, Judicial Watch was able to obtain the video.

While it has taken quite some time to secure the footage, this story was first presented to the public in Oct. 2012. At the time, Judicial Watch didn’t yet have footage, but was relying upon documents surrounding the trainings to make determinations about the program.

The organization charged that at least one of the sessions (the one caught on video) reinforced political ideas and even seemed to validate illegal immigration, however a USDA official denied these claims. Additionally, the notion that participants were told to chant was also rebuffed.

“Participants did not chant during these workshops,” said an official at the time, according to Fox News. “In one portion of the session, the presenter had participants repeat provocative and potentially offensive phrases as part of an exercise to examine stereotypes. The statements were not reflective of USDA or its policy.”

However, in one of the clips released by Judicial Watch, it appears as though the audience is, indeed, asked to chant that the “pilgrims were illegal aliens” (and they comply).

“I want you to say that American was founded by outsiders – say that – who are today’s insiders, who are very nervous about today’s outsiders,” he said. “I want you to say, ‘The pilgrims were illegal aliens.’ Say, ‘The pilgrims never gave their passports to the Indians.’”

Watch this all unfold, below:

And at another point in the training, Betances jokes with the audience that he prefers to replace the word “minorities” with “emerging majorities.” Some outlets seem to allege that this was uttered in an effort to encourage others to adopt the rhetoric, but upon examining the video, it’s clear he was being humorous:

TheBlaze spoke with Jill Farrell, Judicial Watch’s director of public affairs, to learn more about the program. She said that it appears as though the agreement between Betances’ firm and the USDA may still be ongoing.

To see the controversial session in its entirety, watch below:

Certainly some would argue that there is inherent value in cultural sensitivity training, but critics would also point out — at least in this case — that the monumental cost as well as the controversial ideological constructs being presented raise eyebrows.

Editor’s Note: We’ve updated this story to note that “compulsory” is a term used by Judicial Watch.

(H/T: Fox Nation)

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Comments (260)

avery45
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 3:27pm
See this is what happens when illegal immigration goes unchecked. You lose your land.

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Catfish
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 3:24pm
A little off subject, I know that Linclon freed the slaves, but does that act alone make them CITIZENS or are they still illegal ??? Every body thinks I am racist, but I dont think so, just because you can see things as they are should not make you racist. I think the blacks are more racist than the whites are. I look in the paper every day and most all the people you see that have broken the law is Mexican and blacks. But there is bad people in every race. Would like to say that God made all men, and he said that our bodys are just the house that we live in, I may live in a black house and you in a red , brown,yellow or white , does the color of the house that you live in make you a good or bad person? NO NO NO you make your own chooses , again are blacks citizens

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Gal_Spunes
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 3:24pm
Exactly which Red Indian immigration laws are the colonials supposed to have violated?

Which system of law defined their presence as being “illegal” ?

What an imbecile…perfect for training government drones.

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woodyee
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 3:19pm
These are US Citizen Tax Dollars Being Used To Subvert and Criminalize US Citizenship.

Not only is it unAmerican, it is a misappropriation of taxpayer dollars, as most modern taxation is, and someone’s head ought to role for this.

End of discussion.

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sbs21078
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 3:16pm
What a diversion story of BS. Shouldn’t the USDA be telling it’s employees to be on the lookout for Illegal Horse and Donkey meat making it’s way to your table?

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NotAConstituencyGroup
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 3:15pm
“But that’s not the full extent of the curious elements surrounding the session, as the lead trainer also joked that he doesn’t like the word “minorities” and that he prefers to replace it with “emerging majorities.””

Is that why the NY Times sometimes uses the term “White Hispanic”; in order to indicate an emerging majority?

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jas0707
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 3:13pm
It is stunning how much Leftists bitterly, deeply hate and resent America. Of course that attitude originates in the White House.

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- woodyee
  Posted on February 15, 2013 at 3:37pm
  They don’t hate America – they want to RULE America, and to do it they must destroy our culture, Heritage, religion, family structure, loyalty.
  
  What they’re doing to our Country is hateful, only to be surpassed by what WE are NOT DOING for it, other than to post our opinions on websites. Are you familiar with ACT for America? http://www.actforamerica.org/welcome/
  
  Or how about Federation for American Immigration Reform? – http://www.fairus.org/
  How about the National Rifle Association, all you gun owners and Bill of Rights supporters? – http://home.nra.org/#/home and finally, what about Alliance Defending Freedom (formerly the Alliance Defense Fund)? – http://www.alliancedefendingfreedom.org/Home/Detail/7924?referral=I0712AW3
  
  You know, if there were a law passed that if you ain’t got skin in the game, you can’t vote, you’d ALL be members of at least one of these groups.
  
  Report this comment
PAUL_THE_APOSTLE
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 3:13pm
Barry Obama has had a chip on his shoulder since Jan 20,2009. Every act he has done, every czar he has appointed, every executive order he has issued, is an in our face, I DARE YOU TO IMPEACH ME, attitude. IF CONGRESS had the balls to hold impeachment hearings, and the 100 gutless wonders in that great Senate body, ever awakened enough to hear the cry of the land, perhaps they would rise to the occasion and save our great UNION.

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barber2
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 3:05pm
Mankind began in Africa…so guess that is our only ” native ” land ?

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wm.c
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 3:04pm
Is he kidding me? He’s as much of an immigrant to this land as everyone else….he’s not exempt becauase he is a minority any more than I am.

Is he willing to put himself under the same ‘gun’ as I am, or is he a hard left wing like Jackson and Sharpton?

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quiltgal
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 2:57pm
They may call it “Cultural Sensitivity Training” but it sounds like a brain-washing session to me. Compulsory chants?

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AmericaMustBeFree
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 2:22pm
If the pilgrims had never come.. America would would never have become the great country it became. It was divine intervention that America became what she did. God had a purpose for America.. for surely she has lead more than any other country ever! And because this country has turned their back on God..we are losing her to evil men and women! Lord help us!

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Tigress1
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 2:18pm
For something to be illegal, there must first be a LAW written prohibiting it. If the Indians had a problem with it they should have written one. Scalping people didn’t quite get the message across.

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DoOrDie
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 1:55pm
Really tired of taxpayers funding American hate. I don’t want my hard earned money going to programs like these anymore.

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BlasberryStrat
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 1:50pm
“Cultural Sensitivity” means: Kiss **** and RESPECT the culturs of all Black, Brown, and Urine colored people…..and by God understand that White people aren’t worth spit.

Hey, if this is the full blown push for opening the border to Mexico (directly after gun control) then I say let the Mexicans declare total war on the United States BEFORE the total gun ban. Mexicans have stated in history that they WILL take over America without a shot being fired. With Oby’s help that’s what is happening.

Mexicans HATE all White AND Black Americans, yet it’s exactly us that are ‘required’ by Government to “respect and tolerate” the Mexican. Hey, you SHOW me respect and I’ll return respect. Otherwise go pound sand Mexico.

Sick and tired of the Mexican culture TAKING OVER our Government and RIGHTS AS WHITE (and BLACK) CITIZENS! Sick of being screamed “Racist” every damn time I don’t “just keep peace and go ahead and sell” beer and cigarettes to an under aged Mexican chick. I’m tired of the “positive Laws” applying to only Mexicans, and “negative Laws” demonizing the “evil Americans”.

Declare war on us Mexico. Show your supposed strength and do it BEFORE your ‘beloved one’ confiscates all guns. Because all I ever see is YOU sucking the tit of EVERY American while chanting “poor me”.

Signed: Sick And Tired White American

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BACKUPOFFMYLIBERTY
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 1:41pm
There were no immigration laws here in 1620 so how could the Pilgrims have been illegal aliens? We’re all paying this guys salary…. Figures

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dcgirl
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 1:36pm
How do people this stupid make it to positions like this (oh yeah it’s the government – the employer of the dumb and ignorant). You can’t be illegal if there are no laws yet; and there were no laws since there wasn’t a country. duh!

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taintso
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 1:24pm
Yes they were and as time passed and the land was taken by war it belonged to them and us, so we should defend it with our lives against those who invade us to take it from us. No dream act or amnesty, no more catch and release deport or destroy.

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huey6367
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 1:22pm
Different time, different set of rules. Things have not always been the same.

Pilgrims could not possibly be illegal aliens as there was no set of laws/rules (a Constitution) to govern them. Shut up alread.

It is better to leave your mouth shut and have everyone think you are an idiot than open your mouth and remove all doubt.

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Gator_222
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 1:21pm
Yeah … I’m sure the Indians gave their passports to Clovis Man … I am so sick of all of this PC BS!

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searcher619
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 1:19pm
These people are idiots. For the Pilgrims to be “illegals” there would have had to be a law against them being there. There wasn’t one unless these fools believe the Native Americans had immigration policies in place to regulate who came to their continent…

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eltreo
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 1:12pm
The real truth is that there is no such thing as a “native American.” Every group, no matter when they came immigrated here from somewhere else, INCLUDING EVERY AND ALL SO-CALLED “AMERICAN INDIANS.”

If you’ve ever heard of a Clovis point, its a kind of stone age spear point that was found near Clovis New Mexico (Thus the name.) It’s unique and the only known points similar to it were made before the influx of Indian immigrants by a group called the Solutrians who lived in what is now known as France. So it is an easy archeological extrapolation to identify the first Immigrants in America as Europeans and Indians as illegal aliens.

If the Pilgrims were Illegal Immigrants then so are today’s American Indians and Africans. They both came after the Solutrians. Mr. Samuel Betances is certainly an illegal immigrant, probably twice. It all boils down to how many of your great grandfathers being born in America does it take to make you a Native American five or five hundred. Either way we’re still all immigrants to America.

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- searcher619
  Posted on February 15, 2013 at 1:19pm
  If you are BORN on that land then you are a NATIVE.
  
  Report this comment
- dcgirl
  Posted on February 15, 2013 at 1:49pm
  I’m sorry – we are NOT all immigrants. We may all be descendants of immigrants, but unless we actually immigrated here from another country we are native born.
  
  Report this comment
USACommoner
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 1:06pm
The Pilgrims didn’t come here with the sole intent of having the Indians support them. If there were no laws, at that time, regarding immigration, how then could Pilgrims be “illegal”…?

We’re surrounded by highly-paid idiots.

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Xiccarph
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 12:59pm
Good little sheeple…good little sheeple….Now please…think and do as we instruct you….and all will be wonderful…

Its hopeless, we’ll never get rid of this nonsense by any normal means. Wonder if a big underground directional super magnet would attract a suitable asteroid to WDC???? They even have something like that??? Come on, anything…??? Big tractor beam gizmo….no?? DOOOMED!!!1

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Saff SGT
Posted on February 15, 2013 at 12:53pm
Don’t worry I heard this Dept was going to be De- activated once the Civil War gets here. We wont need these jerk offs any longer, we will put them all digging Fox Holes for us at .10 cents an hour

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