TIFTON - Saddened by the killings of six Mexican immigrants in his town, Tifton Mayor Paul Johnson flew their country's flag outside his City Hall in their honor.
Foreign flags weren't a first for the south Georgia city, Canadian flags routinely fly outside motels there in honor of snowbirds who drive through to spend their winters in Florida.
Johnson didn't expect to be criticized for flying a Mexican flag. But a local radio station received seven back-to-back callers Thursday morning who said the U.S. and Mexican flags should not fly together.
"They just thought it was the wrong thing to do," said Chris Beckham, manager of radio station WTIF.
Mexico's red, white and green flag flew beneath the U.S. and Georgia flags from Monday until noon Thursday, when Tropical Storm Tammy's gusts damaged the banner.
Only then was the tattered flag, which was donated by the Colombian-born priest of Tifton's only Catholic church, lowered, but the mayor has requested a new one and he intends to fly the flag for six full days _ one day for each slain man.
Johnson said he considers immigrants "very much a part of this community. I don't see them as taking jobs away. I see them as doing a very important job."
Five of the men died in the vicious attacks last Friday; the sixth died Tuesday from his injuries. They were killed with guns and baseball bats during a string of robberies at trailer parks in and around Tifton.
Killed in the agricultural community about 180 miles south of Atlanta were Mateo Gomez, 54; Filipe Mauricio Esparza, 32; Jose Luis Tias, 20; Mauricio Florindo, age unknown; Guadalupe Sanchez, age unknown, and Armando Perez Martinez, 25.
The slayings and attacks on four other immigrant workers, including a man who was shot and beaten while his wife was raped the same day of the killings in neighboring Colquitt County _ stunned the area's large Hispanic community. Residents were relieved Wednesday when authorities announced the arrests of three people in the brutal killings.
Stacy Bernard Sims, 19, Jamie Underwood, 27, and Jennifer Wilson, 26 _ were ordered held without bond in the six deaths.
Authorities believe Sims and Underwood may have been part of an armed-robbery gang that preyed on immigrant workers, who often carry large sums of cash because they lack documents that some banks require to open accounts.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vernon Keenan said there have been about 20 home invasions targeting Hispanics in adjoining Tift, Colquitt and Cook counties within the past three months but the slayings were "some of the most vicious the state has ever witnessed."
Johnson, a veteran who is well versed on flag protocol, said he made the decision to fly the Mexican flag after consulting with the city attorney.
"I did that as an expression of sorrow to the Hispanic community," said Johnson. "For those who we offended, I apologize, but I think it was the right thing to do."
The mayor planned to attend a meeting Friday between representatives of the Hispanic community and the banking industry to exchange ideas on how to better serve the immigrant workers.
Two regional banks, Bank of America and Sun Trust Banks, allow workers to open accounts using ID cards issued by the Mexican Consulate, but smaller banks are less accommodating.
Many of the farm workers live in rundown mobile homes lined up in gloomy trailer parks.
"Some are very poor," Johnson said. "They're here to find the hope of America."
Friday
June 6th, 2025
4:33AM
