by Jammer CC
Thursday, Jan. 05, 2006 at 4:22 AM
As people of various views and backgrounds protest the mayor of Costa Mesa, people from SOS(Save Our State), Gilchrist, and Minuteman people show support.
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Costa Mesa, CA
January 3, 2006
City Council Meeting
Protesters made a presence at the city council meeting in Costa Mesa, protesting the closing of a day labor center and the vote that allows the police department to enforce immigration laws. Groups that made a presence include Tonantzin, Alianza Indigena-Indigenous Alliance, the Orange County LULAC(League of United Latin American Citizens) Foundation, at least one Anarchist, and various individuals. There was also an A.N.S.W.E.R. protest sign held by a protester. The number of people in this gathering of protesters was estimated to be a couple hundred.
Some demonstrators were also on hand to support Costa Mesa mayor Allan R. Mansoor. They consisted of members of SOS (Save Our State), Minuteman participants and supporters, Jim Gilchrist supporters, Jim Gilchrist himself, Lupe Moreno, Barbara Coe, and Steve Eichler. The number of their participants were estimated to be about 100, outnumbered by their opposing protesters.
The two opposing groups of demonstrators were separated by a driveway into the police station parking lot, in cooperation with members of the police that maintained safety and order. There were no physical confrontations in the area of the protest outside the city council building. There were some arguments between the opposing demonstrators, such as an exchange of words between Minuteman supporter Frank Jorge and an opposing protester.
Members of the press and media were on hand including ABC 7, KCAL 9, Univision, Telemundo, and the Daily Pilot. Often someone was interviewed on video camera while many others, those involved in protesting against the mayor, surrounded to listen.
Someone on the SOS/Minuteman side repeatedly spoke words such as “deport invaders” and “we support the mayor” with a megaphone. They carried American flags, a California flag, signs that supported the mayor of Costa Mesa, and other various signs that are common to their protests/rallies.
Those who protested the mayor carried signs and banners expressing their anger and dissent on the issue of the Costa Mesa police enforcing immigration laws and the closing of a day labor center. There were chants of “What do we want? Justice!” and various phrases in Spanish and some singing with guitar-like instruments and drums characteristic of drum circles.
The Orange County LULAC Foundation had a table set up with information, led by Gilberto Flores, 62, a Vietnam veteran through 26 years of service in the U.S. Air Force. He stated that he’s an American first and in spirit. Among the issues the LULAC are dealing with are discrimination and racial profiling. Flores stated that the LULAC are the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the nation, founded in 1929.
While lining up to walk inside the city council room to attend the meeting, people were told by the police to not being in signs to avoid blocking the view of those inside. An officer also stated that it’s a fire hazard. The officers also didn’t allow any cameras or recording devices into the city council room, a unique decision apparently made for this particular meeting, but members of the media/press were allowed with their equipment.
Among people who spoke in the meeting were Lupe Moreno, Steve Eichler, and numerous individuals from either side of the issue at hand. For those who weren’t inside the room, there was a television placed outside for people to watch the meeting through a live feed. However, the volume on the television wasn’t adequately audible and only those immediately in front were able to hear.
There was an incident when Coyotl Tezcalipoca, an organizer of the protest against the mayor, spoke and asked supporters in the room to stand. This wasn’t allowed by the city council and the situation led to Coyotl being escorted away and arrested. A break from the meeting was called and the audience exited the council room. A man who was inside when this happened said that the meeting may or will be stopped from that point because of the incident. However, chief of police Ron Smith spoke to people outside asking if they can continue the meeting peacefully and calmly, allowing everyone who wants to speak to say what they want to say. Satisfied with the responses, the city council meeting resumed.
Smith stated that Coyotl will have a day in court. When most of the protest participants left after the last speaker spoke, a man (who will remain unnamed) said that Coyotl won’t have to pay a bail fee, but will be required to show up for a court date. That is that latest that is known at the time of this article being published.
When the meeting resumed, more speakers from either side of the demonstrators, as well as those not on a side, spoke at a podium. Two podiums were set up with microphones on either side of the speaking area of the council room where demonstrators spoke on their own sides, those protesting the major on the audience’s left and those supporting on the right.
Kenneth Kelly, 54, stated that he’s not on a side and that this is a “global paradox” with no simple answer. He advised everyone to take a deep breath and decide which side we’re on, costing lives or saving lives. He commended the mayor and asked the audience to not call him a racist.
Scott Sink, 27, was the last speaker and asked what was the problem with people silently standing up, referring to Coyotl’s request for support by standing. He referred to a past incident with Naui, an activist who opposes SOS (Save Our State), stating that he was arrested but exonerated. He said that there’s a multiple variety of people and that citizens don’t fear deportation. After he finished speaking, a public hearing phase took place and much of the audience left the council room.