Approximately 90-100 anti-Minutemen, anti-racist activists showed up in Campo today to oppose the Minutemen (California Border Watch). The Minutemn are planning to "monitor" border crossings for the next couple of weeks near Campo.

First hand reports state that the Minutemen fielded approximately 25-30 volunteers for their vigilante styled “patrols” of the border region. There numbers may have increased or may be higher than these accounts.

At 12 Noon a rally was held at the VFW in Campo, the original staging ground for the Minutemen. There was a major confrontation, which took place between the activists and the Minutemen. The crowd was loud with chants of “racist go home” etc. and at one point James Chase held a sign stating, “we’re headed to the border”. This ended up being a ruse and the activists didn’t bite.

The Minutemen were irate and extremely agitated to see such a strong opposition.

After the rally the activists headed to the border area, approximately 3-4 miles from the town of Campo, to set up camp and to monitor the Minutemen. They are approximately ¾ of a mile from the Minutemen campsite and both campsites are a mere 100 yards from the border.

The Minutemen (25-30, maybe more, it is hard to tell) are camped out in an area of oak groves and the activists are in an open area of chaparral. The police (San Diego Sheriffs and CHP) have a staging area nearby as well, on a ridge overlooking the area.

The border consists of a huge corrugated, metal fence but there are several places in the fencing that run across storm channels and some of the storm channel gaps are as much as 5 feet wide.

Nobody has been seen crossing the border.

At 6PM, the Minutemen were back at the VFW and the anti-MM activists headed back to the Campo VFW and held another rally. Some Minutemen came out of the VFW and called police and apparently told police that one of the protesters climbed an oak tree and stole the keys to Chase’s truck. That was a lie. Nothing came of that and so far there have been no arrests on either side.

The Minutemen have been sending recon patrols along the border along dirt roads and the police have driven through the area several times.

At one point the Minutemen had a spotter on a high plateau about 1 mile west of the activists camp. Several activists approached him and effectively flushed him out. He fled back to his car presumably back to the MM camp.

As dark falls, the anti-MM activists are expecting something to happen tonight as the Minutemen are known to patrol the darkened border areas at night.

Update to follow.

Police have been seen escorting the Minutemen vehicles to their camp location near the border.

A group of activists are currently attempting to determine how many MM are at the camp.

Approximately 40 anti-MM activists remain at their campsite and describe having a good time under the circumstances.

Below are several reports from sandiego indymedia

http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/07/109855.shtml

http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/07/109869.shtml

http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/07/109854.shtml

http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/07/109853.shtml

I wish I could be there to lend my support, food, and equipment to the effort to oppose these white supremist scumbags.

I'm a desert dweller when ever I can be. The heat and dirt don't bother me.

http://www.skeptictank.org/mine006.jpg

But since I don't drive cars, the border is just too far for my bicycle.

Good job, people. You're real American heros. Anyone who opposes Republinazi hate mongers are heros.

We went down yesterday - traffic made us miss the demo, but we deliberately drove right through the parking lot at Minutemen headquarters at the VFW building.

There were about 20 cars there. That's all.

We started down the road toward where ouir side is encamped - but we had no idea you were there - after who knows how much driving - 4 hours anyway - we were no more than half a mile from our gente but didn't know it.

Hopefully we can all get on the same page again.

Everyone should be active in the encampment and in supporting it - and word needs to get out more widely.

Thanks to all who are there for their bravery and love.

Two of our Socialist activists are located within the oaks among the racists and have been reporting in by cell telephone. They report tyhat tonight is when some really good action will take place. They report that there's no way to tell how many actual racists are here since any number of civil rights groups and anti-raceism groups are ifiltrated in among the racists. One reports that people of Mexican/Amercian in the anti-racistm camp have been pretending to be crossing the border and have done whatever they could to be "captured" by the racists and they report that the racists call eachother over and boast about "capturing" "illegals" as they turn them over to the BP ** who check their driving licenses and let them go since they're American citizens. But our two report that the racists come back to "Oak Camp" and report how brave and Patriotic they were after having caught another taco bender. They don't mention to the others that they're being suckered by the counter group working on making them waste their time and for

cing them to leave the shade. They think they found some more infiltrator but no one is accusing anyone yet so they report it's funny. Reports also come in about the anti-racism camp walking backwards across a line of raked sand up against the fence making it look like someone climbed over and walked across. Makes the racists think a dozen or more Mexicans have crossed which forces them out from under the shade and out into the brush where they can play all day long with themselves hunting Mexicans. Reports also from our guys about whispering accusaions that so-and-so is an under cover ACLU lawyer according to so-and-so, working to confuse the racists. Everyone who can come should come since it sounds like great fun.

From our Campo basecamp right on the border on Saturday night, we continued to harass the Minutemen racist border vigilantes through the night. We rolled stealthily upon the racists parked in their cars along ridgelines near service roads along the apartheid wall before bombarding them with sonic blasts, very loud music the racists were sure to hate, our amplified voices and very powerful beams of light. We made sure to keep ourselves at some distance from them because we knew they were likely armed. We recorded all interactions.
This tactic thoroughly confused them. Not used to having the search lights turned on THEM, we at first received the usual death threats. However, as each of our subsequent sonic patrols went out, we encountered fewer and fewer of their vehicles near our basecamp.
With 26 miles of border to "watch" between Tecate and Jacumba, the racists seemed to grow tired of the exposure and moved miles away from Campo.
All night, whenever any of their vehicles was seen apporaching our camp from any direction it was lit up (with blinding light beams of course).
This vigil was kept up until 5:15 a.m. when a racist caravan of 15 cars passed below our lookout point and headed away from the border area.

REPORT:

Campo was interesting, I arrived after all the day time confrontations had taken place where the protestors outnumbered our crowd.
The protestors were quite confrontational as we have seen in the past, night time was a different game though. Sitting at base camp in the dessert, just ten feet from the border fence, there were concerns that we might be attacked by the violent illegal lovers, anarchists and criminals that had come to be disruptive of our efforts. We found that they had a sizeable presence at their camp. They had been monitoring the radio frequency channels used by our group on frs radios.
Discussions among group members, including one that had been attacked by these criminals as he attempted to leave his vehicle at the VFW building centered on what to do if attacked. We did not want to be overrun and have them walk in our midst doing more than they did during the day. As the night rolled on all USBP agents and sheriff's left and we were left with no police of any kind to restrain these people from visiting any kind of criminal act upon us. We had just a few of us with
weapons. It became obvious that the threat to us was real and that we were alone. Suddenly, in the still of the night on a hill above us the criminals appeared with a giant search light and started playing loud music over some type of sound system on their vehicle. They made remarks etcetera. One of our members, a man with a rifle a bullhorn and a hand gun, barked out a warning to the criminals. "We are armed and will defend ourselves if attacked. I am going up to confront you, in the event that you fire upon me you will be engaged in a firefight. This is not the VFW. " The criminals responded: this is going on cnn, cbs, abc."
Our man responded "your mother can go on cnn, I'm coming up motherfuckers". We heard their doors open , close and they left as they spotted the guy with the rifle and understood that it was real."
They would return a few more times that night shouting "I am unarmed",
and then would proceed with the lights and music, but they never came down the hill into our midst, they knew that it really could hit the fan. They received no replies to the three more times they engaged in their stupidity. Had they started to come down the Hill, the shooting would have begun in defense of our base camp and its occupants.
I am proud to have been there to partake of it.
Frank

The post from the SOS site above shows so clearly what cowards the Minutemen really are.

They consider it _brave_ to be cazamigrantes - migrant hunters - to go out with rifles against unarmed people and terrorize them.

They have lost all decency and humanity. What part of armed men hunting desparate unarmed men, women - even pregnant women - and children is decent or has any shred of humanity left in it?

And they brag like they were so "brave" against unarmed protesters. The protestores always face a world without police to protect them - in fact the police are always their enemy, but the Minutemen whine about being abandoned to "defend" themselves - with guns no less - against unarmed protesters.

The fear of these people when the police left them to their own brave devices positively smells.

It has the stench of the terrorist whose terror has all the sudden become uselless becuase they have been met by truly brave people, people armed with nothing but their hearts and imaginations, their strong, strong hearts.

They were met by those who do not whine about their fear, and who mention the guns fo theenemy only in passing

But the Minutemen are nothing without a gun - it's written all over the story they tell above. Pitiful they are. Pathetic craven cowardly creatures and bullies whose time is up because they have met those they cannot _ever_ defeat.

They have met those who are not, unlike them, afraid to put their own lives on the line for truth and justice. Those who have nothing to defend them but their bravery.

These cowards could not have imagined their brave opponents - could never have prepared for a wolrd in which people were not cowed by guns _or_ police.

They could never imagine people climbing trees above them, shining lights on them. They never imagined they would be stricken with terror by music and lights - and then treat it like a frightened child treats ghosts - charging into the darkness with a gun and screaming into it - at what they could not and will never understand.

What kind of frightened idiot runs with a gun straight into a floodlight that blinds him, screaming?

Why, if anyone _did_ have a gun he would never have stood a chance.

And if, as he knew - or he wouldn't have dared to do what he did - no one had a gun, then why the histrionics, unless it was to dispell sheer terror?

We have met the enemy.

And they are stark raving cowards.

And we have seen how very strong the hearts of our sisters and brothers can be.






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Minutemen Threaten to Shoot Protesters
Read this story in English | Add a translation >>

The Buenas Noches Brigade | 18.07.2005 00:08

The video we have submitted with this press release shows us attempting to engage the California Minutemen in a lighthearted, humorous manner and their response. Because we were more than 300 yards away, there are limited visuals, but you can clearly hear threats such as “you come down here and you will be engaged in a firefight”, “...I will shoot your motherfucking ass,” and “you wanna play, let's play motherfucker.”

MinuteMen Threaten to shoot protesters, 27MB -

This footage was run on Channel 7/39 tonight, the San Diego NBC Affiliate. Tapes were also given to KUSI 51, KFMB 8, and ABC 10.



PRESS RELEASE: For Immediate Release

Subject: Minutemen Threaten to Shoot Protesters (and their mothers)

From: The Buenas Noches Brigade, an affinity group of Gente Unida

Incident Date: July 16, 2005

Incident Time: Approximately 11:30pm

Location: Campo, CA (along the U.S./Mexico Border Fence)


BACKGROUND: On Saturday, July 16th the Calilfornia Minutemen (formerly known as the Border Patrol Auxiliary) began armed civilian patrols of the border near Campo, CA. In response, more than 150 anti-Minutemen protesters converged in Campo to send a message that they should “go home.”

A primary purpose of the protest was to disrupt the California Minutemen's ability to conduct their patrols. Numerous individuals and affinity groups focused on daytime activities, conducting two protests at the VFW office (one at 12:30pm and another at approximately 5:00pm). The protests clearly aggravated the California Minutemen.

The Buenas Noches Brigade was formed to draw attention to the location of the California Minutemen during their evening patrols. Our goal was to subvert their ability to conduct their vigilante activities. In a sense of irony, we chose to adopt tactics similar to when the California Minutemen intercept people who cross their path (as dictated by James Chase on their website). Their tactics include: introducing themselves (“Buenos noches, Senor”), floodlights, non-physical engagement and friendly dialog.

INCIDENT: Our efforts at applying said tactics were met with intense hostility and threats of violence. The video we have submitted with this press release shows us attempting to engage the California Minutemen in a lighthearted, humorous manner and their response. Because we were more than 300 yards away, there are limited visuals, but you can clearly hear threats such as “you come down here and you will be engaged in a firefight”, “...I will shoot your motherfucking ass,” and “you wanna play, let's play motherfucker.” (Full transcripts follow).

Our main intention for sending this release is to illustrate the two faces of the Minutemen. They portray themselves as law-abiding, peaceful, public servants but only slight provocation results in a willingness to use lethal force. They are clearly dangerous and their presence in California should not be tolerated.

The Buenas Noches Brigade will be in Campo as long as the California Minutemen are in Campo.

CONTACT INFO: Due to the serious nature of the threats made by at least one Minuteman, and our desire to not get our “motherfucking asses shot”, we would prefer to keep our identities anonymous. We are, however, willing to reveal ourselves to reporters as necessary.

TRANSCRIPT (partial):

Minuteman: ...let me make this very clear to you, we are armed and we will defend ourselves. This is not like the VFW. You come down here and you will be engaged in a firefight if necessary. Get the fuck out and go home.”

Buenas Noches Brigade: So what kind of song do you want to hear (laughter)?

Minuteman: We are going up the hill to see your ass.

Buenas Noches Brigade: I don't have that song (laughter).

Minuteman: If you engage me with a gun, I will defend myself and I will shoot your motherfucking ass.

Buenas Noches Brigade: We're being threatened with guns.

So you are threatening us?

That's a threat.

Tell him we have video cameras...(loudly) We have video cameras.

Minuteman: Listen assholes, you wanna play? Let's play motherfucker, let's go!

Buenas Noches Brigade: Let's get out of here.

Thanks, that'll be live on CNN tonight, “l'm gonna shoot your ass, motherfucker.”

Minuteman: Play it any way you want, asshole.

Buenas Noches Brigade: CNN, ABC, NBC...

Minuteman: That's your mother on all three channels!

According to you IndyMedia Fuckwits, securing the US border is racist and "terrorism".

> According to you IndyMedia Fuckwits, securing the
> US border is racist and "terrorism".

When you see anyone "trying to secure the border" you'll let us know, won't you?

Thank you _so_ much in advance for your _prompt_ assistance.

So. What do you think about the National Vanguard and Storm Front individualks out at Campo? Care to offer any opinion about them?