Sunday, July 31, 2005

SOUTH: Day-labor site protested
About 150 people nearly came to blows in Laguna Beach during dispute over illegal immigration.

By SUSAN GILL VARDON and ELIZABETH BROTHERTON
The Orange County Register

LAGUNA BEACH – A protest near a day-labor site stopped just short of violence Saturday, marking another turn in a long-running dispute that touches issues of immigration and race.

About 150 people, some shouting messages decrying illegal immigration and others speaking out in favor of immigrants, nearly came to blows. Police stepped in on several occasions to keep protesters apart. One man was arrested for carrying a concealed dagger, said Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Jason Kravetz.

The protest was the second this month. On July 16, Eileen Garcia and four women she met over the Internet protested the city's decision to use part of its rent from the Sawdust Art Festival to help the Laguna Day Workers Center, a gathering place for workers and people who hire them. Garcia and her partners were joined in front of the festival site by an anti-illegal immigration group, Save Our State, which argued that people who hire workers at the site are breaking federal law. That group was joined by others Saturday.

Many of the protesters said they are motivated by immigration law, not race.

"I'm here because of a security issue," said Angie Ibbotson of Huntington Beach." Ibbotson, the daughter of Filipino immigrants, waved a sign that read "Mr. Bush, do your job."

"We just want to know who (the workers) are, where they are coming from," she said.

But people supporting the workers said Save Our State and other anti-illegal immigration groups are racially motivated. They also defended the need for the center.

"They are working people, and we support and defend their want to make a living," said Alvaro Maldonado, who came to the protest Saturday with 15 other members of the International Socialist Organization.

Emotions were pushed higher near the end of the three-hour protest when two men walked through the crowd carrying swastika flags, a move many Save Our State activists said they opposed.

"I totally disagree with it," said John Gutierrez, an 18-year-old Goldenwest College student. "I told them to put it away."

The conflict was the latest example of how day-labor sites – where workers hire out to do construction, painting or landscaping – are being questioned by foes of illegal immigration. The future of an unrelated site run by the city of Costa Mesa is in question, in part because of protests.

Laguna Beach resident Garcia, who protested in mid-July, didn't turn out Saturday. She said she has disassociated herself from Save Our State.

"I just don't agree with the way they're going to be standing in front of the actual day-labor site," said the 47-year-old homemaker. "We did not confront anybody. We passed out fliers educating people about how the City Council was spending their money."

On June 21, the council awarded $175,000 to 30 nonprofit groups. The money comes from festival rent, which goes into the city's community assistance fund, said Mayor Elizabeth Pearson-Schneider.

Topping the list was the South Orange County Cross Cultural Council. The group, which has operated the hiring center since 1999, got $21,000. Next was the Laguna Beach Relief and Resource Center, which assists victims of the Bluebird Canyon landslide. It got $20,000.

Garcia, who lives three blocks from the slide site, complained to the City Council that the $21,000 would be better spent on slide victims.

Check out the Stormfront account of what happened:

http://www.stormfront.org/forum/showthread.php?t=221526

Very interesting, although they did leave out some very important facts. First, one of their protesters was arrested for carrying a weapon and possession of marijuana. Second, they were miserably outnumbered, even after their nazi buddies arrived on the scene. Third, the police actually asked them to leave toward the end of the protest (around 2pm). A few of them were escorted away from the scene by police officers.

I guess the truth hurts.

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=7454

At the end of the rally, the White Nationalist unfurled a Nazi Flag, did the Nazi salute and shouted, "Heil." This provoked the counter protesters and they charged accross the street. One White Nationalist may have been arrested.

-----

While Indymedia is mostly false, pro illegal propoganda, this does show accurate pictures of White Nationalists that have shown up at Save our State Events. Lupe Moreno was distressed by their attendence and referred to them as the "Nazi Children."

http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/07/110247.shtml

Since deteled:


Oh wow, D,,,,

You are so so so way out of line one this. It amazes me that one would post such a childish rant. I debated whether I should respond to this, but since you decided to take this to the public forum I believe I deserve my turn.

YOU are not worthy of my words, so this is for the benefit of the others who may be confused as to what the hell you are babbling about. Before I lay out the facts here I must say I'm surprised (and disappointed) that you were able to get even 2 posters that wanted to jump on board with you even before they learned the story.

First I will say I have never met D. I have never said one single word to him in my life. As far as his girlfriend, (occutegirl), I may have said 3 sentences to her personally, although I did communicate with her via email on an issue of great importance to this organization.

As we know, during the Laguna Beach rally there were some people who showed up that were not welcomed. I went about my business, not knowing who was who, as all I saw were people showing up, holding signs and flags. Afterwards we learned these people were "unwanteds". I immediately posted how I felt about these groups and also an open letter to one of them who was attempting to recruit me.

After the rally > posted some pics, the first being a girl and a man holding an SOS banner. There were several other pics posted in that same post, but there were also 2 pics of guys holding and shooting guns. Suddenly there was a flurry of emails and postings that SOS was associating with WN. In one evening I received several emails from(occutegirl) who was sending around messages to an email list that SOS was aligning with racists groups and encouraging those who received the emails to cease their association with SOS.

Just as I was reading these emails Joe called me to discuss some issues, and to caution me that -D may attempt to sabotage me. He warned me that she has a problem with wishing to be the "Queen Bee" in the organization and she sees me and the success of the Laguna Beach rally as a threat to her. I told Joe I noticed just that afternoon D seemed to be objecting to any suggestions I posted regarding the next SOS event. It seemed whenever I suggested returning to Laguna, he came up with an excuse as to why we shouldn't. Joe confirmed D and D were disturbed that Joe was asking my opinion on matters and taking my advice.

During that PRIVATE call I mentioned to Joe the emails D sent out about SOS and WN. I questioned why she would be doing this since she was the one who 1) took their pic 2) posted their pic 3) failed to take the pic down once she learned who they were and 4) was sending out emails this was "proof" SOS was aligning with them. Joe told me he felt she was the one who was stirring up the controversy, but there were other issues he had with her and he wanted her removed from the organization. (I seriously believe Dknew right off those people were WN. She stated that as soon as she arrived one of them threatened her, because of a T-shirt she was wearing that said something about being Jewish. So my questions still stand; why even after being threaten for being Jewish she would take their pics and post it?)

I also mentioned to Joe that I had a reporter from the LA Times stop me at the city council meeting and ask me why there were pictures of men holding and shooting guns posted under the topic of Laguna Beach Protest. (D claimed it was an oversight on her part, but I have posted pics before and know the thought that goes into which pic to select.) Joe said he would instruct the pic of the WN be deleted and the pics of guns moved to the appropriate forum.

All that evening I continued to receive emails D was sending out to groups outside of SOS basically saying "see WN are working with SOS". I sent some of these emails to a BIG player in the fight against illegal immigration and his comment was "she's either very stupid or working for the opposition. Either way this chick has got to go".

All readers should understand that I cannot remove anyone from the organization. I have no power to do so, or to alter any posts. Any decision to have (occutegirl) leave the group was made by Joe. He obviously felt she caused her own departure. I have also heard rumors that many others have left SOS due to issues directly relating to her. This was way before I even knew this board existed. I have been told D and Da are now refusing to participate in Laguna this weekend because they are upset Joe did not "side" with them on the choice of location.

It has been approximately 3 months since I have even learned SOS existed (which began my involvement in the cause), and during that time I have co-organized an extremely successful rally, been interviewed on the John & Ken Show, had the LA Times story picked up by the AP (the story was read across the nation), both my husband and I have been interviewed for 3 other news stories (OCRegister, Coastline Pilot, Laguna Beach Independent). I have spent hundreds of my own money on supplies, wrote press releases, made signs, put together press kits, slapped SOS fliers all over public restrooms across the OC, spent long hours researching information, and even hooked SOS up with FREE attorney services. In addition, I have addressed the city council and demanded they shut the day labor site down. Our home has been opened to SOS people, as well as the Minutemen, and we are (were) in the process of organizing a fundraiser dinner ($500 a plate) for Jim Gilchrist. AND I've had my life threatened!

Now back to D.....Yes, YOUR girlfriend WAS attempting to derail the group. This is the reason Joe choose to remove her from the group! Any readers can contact Joe for his story on this.

QUOTE
"I'm sure once the city of Laguna Beach decides whether or not to raise your taxes for the landslide, we'll stop hearing from you"


The city if Laguna Beach decided not to raise property taxes a long time ago and I'm still around, but of course you wouldn't know that because you have no interest in doing any research on your own.

QUOTE
"It's pretty easy to see when you're being used...especially when I consider your comments to others about SOS and our lack of whatever it is you need to feel "respectable" in front of your friends"


D, what could I possibly be using you for? What do you have that would be of any value to me? And who are these "friends" you claim I'm trying to impress? You are delusional.

QUOTE
"There are people here that have put in more work than you know"

Dave, I looked all over to see what YOUR accomplishments were. Hmmmm, I must be missing something.

QUOTE
"just go ahead and use us for the connections to Gilchrist and the Minuteman Project...then go away."


I met Jim Gilchrist LONG BEFORE I ever met anyone from SOS. I don't need this board to arrange connections to anyone for me. (Unless I was looking to meet some white trash ex-cons, in that case I'd ask you to introduce me to your relatives.)

QUOTE
"The discord here hasn't been this strong when the Indymedia freaks were trying to infiltrate and distract."


You can thank your girlfriend for that. The only problems I've seen with discord has come from you and your girlfriend. The girlfriend who has been excommunicated from the group already. Why don't you and deb go away and start up your own group. Maybe you can call it Saving Face, because no other group will have you.

D, you are a childish imbecile. No matter how long you have stood and held signs on street corners or how many pics you have taken and posted you will NEVER do even a fraction of what I have done in just 3 months time. Save Our State would be better off without you. YOU and D will go down as the ones who destroyed this group.

Now, one last thing.......readers please note I have NEVER before personally attacked anyone on this board, but I just have to say that when D was choosing her nickname of "OC CuteGirl" surely she was JOKING!

--------------------

Yet, She is still in touch wtih SOS:

SaveOurState Posted on: Jul 31 2005, 11:27 AM

Replies: 6
Views: 86 The press is terrible. It is amazing at how bad they are at reporting facts. And I mean facts that really arent even open to bias. For crying out loud, the LA Times couldnt even get my age right.

The OC Register quoted Eileen as saying that she opposed a protest at the day labor center. Eileen and I personally discussed this and she was supportive of it and she sent me an email early this morning stating that she was misrepresented.

Forum: Press Room · Post Preview: #35292

http://www.saveourstate.org/forums/index.php?act=Search&nav=au&CODE=show&searchid=8bd28a3a1d4159e3562767548aad7007&search_in=posts&result_type=posts

Plural became one, arrested with reasons became "maybe" with no reasons...

and that's supposed to be a high truth towering over usual truths called lies

I've been monitoring the racist sites and noticed they routinely lie and not just anon posters on an open newswire but the *moderators and registered members* along with the "leaders" as well.

So a weak lie is used to point fingers while also covering up the routine lies from top down (as opposed to anon open publishing where *trolls often post lies and bait themselves* then post a reply accusing "IMC" of lying or distorting)

Someone else had the main shots I wanted to post, so here they are...good job...

http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/07/133802.php