Not in English? Not in our county, Beaufort says

WASHINGTON, N.C. -- In what supporters call a move against bilingualism, the Beaufort County Commissioners have ordered the removal of non-English signs and informational material from offices and property under county jurisdiction.

The English-only policy, approved by a 6 to 1 vote, does not apply to programs mandated by the state and federal governments, including health and social services. But supporters said it would indicate local resolve to stop the weakening of English as a result of legal and illegal immigration.

"I'm concerned about the drift toward the nation becoming bilingual," said Hood L. Richardson, a commissioner who proposed the local measure. "We need to stop that."

Richardson said the policy prohibits signs or posters in any foreign language, but acknowledged that Spanish was a particular target. He said details of how and where the policy would be enforced are still being worked out.

Spokesmen for the N.C. League of Municipalities and the N.C. Association of County Commissioners said they were not aware of any other cities, counties or towns in the state that have banned foreign language materials.

Juvencio Rocha Peralta, president of the Mexican Association of North Carolina, said the ban hurts people who are not conversant in English, and added that fluency in additional languages helps America.

"How are we going to compete in global markets if we speak only one language?" asked Peralta, a Mexico native who has been in North Carolina more than 20 years.

Strong feelings

Peralta said his association, an education and advocacy group based in Greenville, objects to the Beaufort County measure and plans to write a letter of protest.

"To be honest, it is one of the craziest things I've heard in Eastern North Carolina," he said.

Beaufort County, located about 125 miles east of Raleigh, is predominantly rural and includes one of the world's largest phosphate mines. The county seat of Washington, with about 9,800 residents, historically looked to the Pamlico River for fishing and trade but in recent years has benefited from the surge in coastal development.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 3.8 percent of Beaufort County's 46,000 residents are of Hispanic or Latino origin. About 4.7 percent of those over five years of age speak a language other than English at home. Statewide, about 6.4 percent of residents are of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 8 percent of those over five don't speak English.

Ed Booth, the only commissioner to vote against the English-only policy, said people who come to America from other countries should be given opportunities to succeed. He said immigrants are "part of our country. You might as well get used to it."

"To me, it's shameful," Booth said of the board action. "It's embarrassing."

Booth said he had received widespread support for his vote against the measure, though Richardson said he had not received criticism for his stance. He said his views were well-known to constituents.

"I've got enough of a reputation as a conservative that I don't hear from liberals," he said.

(News researcher Lamara Hackett contributed to this report.)