I'll report on the general information and what I saw and experienced there. I just got home from this. This was at Lake Forest, California where El Toro rd. and Jeronimo rd. meet. Actually on a side road behind the pizza shop.

It was this morning 8am to about 12:30pm I figure.

At 8am, there was a number of Gilchrist campaign members and Minuteman members with protest signs and cameras. They were quiet most of the time. A few ABC news men were there. Hardly any exchanges between me and the participants, that much is obvious.

Later Jim Gilchrist arrived but instead of just stopping by to say hi, he actually got out of his car and joined the rally with Lupe Moreno and others. At this point it gets awkward for me because I didn't plan on being in the same area as Gilchrist at the same time. And I left for a while, then came back. Later on, I stood fairly near him, just hoping Steve Eichler isn't gonna come up with some way to portray me as a stalker to get a restraining order on me. I wasn't there to harrass, I had no idea friggin' Jim Gilchrist was gonna be there to stay the whole time.

And you know me and my cameras, that sense of responsibility, I had to stay. Some of the participants I spoke to, although I really wanted to remain silent. Some were afraid of any pictures I may post here. Well, I'm not on a witch hunt here and I'm coming up with ethics for this. If I post any pictures of them, I'll black out the faces. Jim's name and likeness is already public so I can make an exception for him. Same with Lupe, no harm done there.

At one point I spoke with a guy named Ken, 58, who said that on a previous Sunday, he said to Gilchrist that they were spreading or showing hate(he's gonna email me what he encountered, stay tuned). He said that Gilchrist called him an Anarchist! Wow! Now where have I come across that before?

He said he asked Gilchrist about being a vigilante, and said Gilchrist actually acknowledged it, but I'm not sure how serious Gilchrist was.

One participant said that he was told I was "stalking." Ha yeah right. I pose no harm to anyone. I was there out in the open just like Ken was.

They spoke with some drivers of vehicles. I didn't see any attempted day laborer pick ups. The ABC news crew got their camera in on one conversation between participants and the driver. Gilchrist also spoke on camera.

The Micah's Way men were there again feeding food for free to the day labor workers. They didn't get any verbal hassle from the Gilchrist campaign/Minuteman people like they did before. I had a nice chat with one of them and we spoke about the symptoms of hate groups, which I've seen variants of in the last two CCIR meetings.(if anyone from Gilchrist/CCIR is wondering, NO I won't be at the CCIR meeting this December 28th)

I got some good video footage of a Minuteman/SOS member arguing with a lady in a car as it pulled out of the parking lot. He heckled to some men who were apparently day labor workers in front of the liquor store saying "deportation!" and something about Mexico and "la migra." Some jerk behavior in my opinion. I won't post who he is, I have limits, but I may view the footage to type a transcript of both parties of the argument.

I have the footage. Don't worry, I'll be responsible, this isn't a witch hunt :-)

There's one guy who didn't want me to take pictures of him, using his hand to block it. If he's reading this, I'll have him know that I'm not posting your picture. No need to. I was getting some audio from what he was saying, but it was between him and Ken. Not necessary. I was gonna walk up to him one more time and show him that I'll delete the pics and footage of him since I didn't need it. Nothing personal, okay?

One said I was attacking Mary Parker Lewis. Nope, going public. After she blasted me on the phone.

I spoke with a Minuteman I've never met before and talked about what exactly I'm doing.



And to clarify, I'm not on a clear side on the issues of the border or people here against U.S. immigration laws. I have two points and a side point to make.

1. One is going public on what I've seen. Not jumping to conclusions, just stating what I've seen and the disrespectful and even downright bizarre behavior(from Mary) I got from the Gilchrist campaign managers. I can't get a straight answer one on one from anyone in the campaign. There are people in the public who want to know if the Minuteman Project is about racism. I'm not saying that it's flat out about racism. There are no grounds to hit me on defamation, no matter how out of proportion this is blow when gossip is going person to person among them. But they need to address this in the public. Come clean on if they really are connected in some way to white supremacy or any form of racism and hate. Not dodge around it.

2. The hateful and paranoid behavior and nature of SOS/Gilchrist supporters/CCIR/Minuteman members. It's still there. I got footage of the behavior just this morning. They criticize their opposition and call them "goons"? Okay, they have a point. But I see the same behavior from some of them. Not all, but some.

Side note: I want to reach out to people new to the Minuteman/CCIR thing and ask them to keep an observant eye and ear out for any symptoms or variations of symptoms of hate groups. I made a quick flyer last night using the points of hate groups from a 2003 FBI research.



Later in the day, a Hispanic(not sure what the current term that's prefered is right now) woman born in the US brought a protest sign that said "racism" on it. I confirmed with her that she's not a member of Aztlan or whatever. Just an American citizen. Not affiliated with any group. So I was totally okay with speaking with her, me not being on a clear side in this issue. She said she'd like to join a group that opposes the Minuteman and Gilchrist supporters, but I advised her to be careful with doing that. Speaking out as a human being and an American is good enough really. No one to answer to, no group to conform to. Hey, just ask me!

The Minuteman pariticpants and Gilchrist supporters may see me talking to this person and that person and this person again, then that person over there, thinking I've joined their direct opposition. There's already talk going around them that I'm a "stalker" and stuff like that. A Minuteman said I brought "racism" into it, as in bring that word into it or threw it in there. Nah-ah. I'm just stating what I've seen. Some will draw conclusions right away, others will be thorough. And if there is a reaction aspect to this, yeah I'm reacting to Gilchrist's managers wanting me to shut up. That's part of it. Deal with it.

The same Minuteman claimed that I probably costed Gilchrist a lot of Jewish votes because of what I did(going public). 4,000 votes I think he said. Ha yeah right! Do that many Jewish voters in Orange County really read Indymedia L.A. often? I haven't gone public anywhere else.

I spoke with the ABC news people, they kinda blew me off. I spoke with an OC Weekly guy and told him some information, but he went off to get batteries for his tape recorder. I didn't see him again after that.

One a previous day I was there, one of the day labor workers tried to take my picture. So I took my camoflauge bandana and covered my nose and mouth with it, wearing my hat and shades. Since then they've been calling me "Zorro." When talking to the women with the protest sign, the only one with a sign protesting Gilchrist and his supporters, we ended up talking to some of the workers as well. Some knew some English, some didn't seem to. No problems there, they seem to know that I've broken out of the herd mentality and conditioned paranoia that is fed in CCIR meetings and other interaction with the Gilchrist supporters. Things are getting friendlier there between me and the workers there. Like I said, I haven't taken a side in this issue, but I'm not gonna have a bad attitude towards them. Yeah I know they're loitering in front of the stores and in the parking lot. But I'll address this to the city officials.

I know the city of Lake Forest can't be the Border Patrol. So if they can at least somehow move the whole day labor situation to a different location where it doesn't affect any businesses, homes, schools, or parks, that could work for now. Then the Minuteman people can go there and take photos and whatever. Just moving a situation that is still gonna be around for a while somewhere else so the pizza shop owner can continue business.

I also spoke with a couple people who were at one of the Laguna Beach SOS rallies, two who opposed SOS. I won't post their names or affiliation as a matter of privacy. But it was nice having a chat with them and being open to all their questions like how it all started for me. And the behavior that I see in the SOS/MMP/Gilchrist people, whether by intention or at least by effect. The hostility, fear, paranoia, and hate that is apparent. The same set of words that are always repeated by the participants. The behavioral nature of all this.

Yes, some of their opposition are like that too, I understand. Believe me, I'm not about to start shoving matches or whatever. And I don't plan on standing that close to Jim Gilchrist ever again.

If I have anything more to post, I'll reply. But I'm being thorough in how to go about this. I have my limits.

It should be noted that the day labor pick up spots aren't established like the one in Laguna Beach. They are possibly interfering with the established businesses there and I understand that concern.

If any Gilchrist supporters are wondering, I won't be at the next CCIR meeting. Okay? What a day today. But still, I'm kinda burned out on this, it's not so interesting. Am I losing interest? I don't need any more footage, whatever. I may do a couple interviews, add my info to a collective research(sort of like SPLC), that kind of thing. You know when Warren Betty and some other person went around in their own bus following Arnold's official bus tour? For those measures that were voted on in November? I'm not planning on doing a 'Warren' here. There are people who dislike me and yeah it is awkward. Tough. But I have to do it.

Also, in being thorough, I'm not jumping to great conclusions. And no one has a case on me to accuse me of defamation or anything like that. I'm really the least of their concerns. There may be a collective dislike for me, oh well.

The two people marked "A" are with ABC news. Who's watching tonight? Person "B" is a Micah's Way organization that feeds people at this spot.

Lupe Moreno brought all her signs. When everyone was leaving, she said "see you next week" or something to me, refering to Pasadena. Um, I'm not driving up there for whatever is going on there.

Jim Gilchrist arrives

Jim has a video camcorder too!

Scene with a couple of protesters and people loitering on front of the liquor store. I blacked out their faces for privacy.

A Gilchrist supporter snaps a picture of the driver. The ABC guys get in on the action too. There was no proof that the driver was trying to make a pick up, even if the driver was talking to people. This driver did not make a pick up.

Gilchrist talks on camera with the owner of the pizza store. The store owner has complained a lot about the people loitering around her store in the parking lot.

A participant was done and jaywalked across 4 lanes of traffic, 5 if you count the left turn lane that divides into to. Try doing that in Glendale!

I forgot to black out the face of the guy standing by Gilchrist, where Gilchrist is playing with his video camcorder. My personal apologies. :-(

But to be fair, his picture has been posted around before.

Indeed, funny. I'm not doing this to be famous, infact I'm toning a lot down and moving on. I'm over getting pictures and footage, I don't need anymore. I can at least be on standby, retaining all the information I have, for any future investigations or documentary type of efforts.

I hope the people at this morning's protest are comfortable with the pictures I posted here. Obviously I held back a lot and I have limits, not on critical information, but on photos of people's faces. I goofed up on one, and I apologize for that.

Sorry,

I'm not fully satisfied with your photography show. Leslie takes better photos of us, and we don't have to listen to her prattle on about herself for 20 repetetive posts while, and after we view them. I mean to say, you both view us through the same narrow lense while interpreting our motives, but she doesn't make us read her biography with every topic.

Don't feel bad. Being a good propagandist takes some training and you really gotta learn the ropes to be somewhat effective.

Why does anyone get to have their face blotted out?

It reminds me when the mayor of NYC cover up graffiti on the walls and the metro duing the 70's.

I was trying to get the story but not really tap into people's identities with it's not necessary. The reason for typing stuff about me, well it's a narrative and a lot of what I encountered did involve me. Me answer questions to straighten things out, infact that's probably another good reason for me being there. So sue me.

As for blotted out pictures, at least a couple of them seemed worried about what I'd post on Indymedia. I'm not as aggressive with photos, sorry.

I'm curious as to what the purpose of this odd, photographical analysis is. it's obviously biased, so it's nothing journalistic. so what's it for?

The weirdest part is all the blotted-out faces. People do things in public, and want to remain anonymous. Odd.

I'm Anonymous!

Crocky here just started running low on his stored up sh!t and is trying to replenish it here. The theory is that all you have is a few pictures of people doing what they always do, but that isn't new and exciting news. So in a feeble effort to cause some new meritless hubris, the photos or manipulated a little so some people who have nothing better to do will be able to fill in the blanks and create something from nothing. A blanked out word or two in a report will do the same.

So now our resident crockpot will be able to spin a yarn that one of the people pictured was actually george Wallace passing out new orders to the troops.

Like I said, the photos aren't mean to be biased. They're meant to show events but measures were taken to protect privacy. Especially after more than one of them seemed worried about what I'd post and I didn't want to come off as their usual opposition. As for the content of the report, my presence did have an effect on the event and this was from my perspective. Anyone else who was actually there can publish their own report.

Here's a recording of an incident I mentioned from this day labor protest in Lake Forest. It's from the video footage, which I don't have plans on making public(my limits). I'd only show it to individuals for discussion purposes.

Here's the transcript as best as I can hear from the audio. Listen for yourself.

MM Man = Man who is a Minuteman and an SOS member.

MM Woman = Woman who is a Gilchrist supporter.

Lady = Lady in a vehicle that was driving slowing out of the parking lot during this incident. She was in the passenger seat.

(intelligible) just means I wasn't able to figure out exactly what was being said, not criticizing someone's speaking ability. Maybe my listening to audio ability if anything :-)



MM Man: "How many you hire today?"

Lady: "Bye."

MM Man: "Bye"

Lady: "You guys aren't gonna accomplish anything."

MM Man: "Yeah watch."

Lady: "(intelligible, maybe "you're going..")... against four Mexicans. (intelligible..).. a life. (intelligible).. why do you have that big old belly?"

MM Man: "Big belly?"

Lady: "Yeah big old belly."

MM Man: "You can't look very good. You need glasses woman."

Lady: "Big old belly."

pause

Lady: "You guys aren't gonna win it."

MM Man: (laughs)

At least one other laughs, I didn't see exactly who.

MM Man: "You think America's gonna lose? America's gonna win...(intelligible)."

Lady: "America is not all against it. Only white peoples born with no lives are gonna lose it."

MM Man: "That's where you're wrong."

Lady: "Get a life. Take a craft...(intelligible).. art."

MM Man: "We're gonna defend our country whether you like it or not" (said while standing in front of a liquore store)

Lady: "Oh get a life buddy... (intelligible).. then why do you keep coming back here? (intelligible).. huh?"

More laughter from someone.

Lady: "Bye."

MM Man: (Now talking to the men in front of the liquor store)"You guys keep laughing when you're back in Mexico."

Some voices from various individuals.

MM Man: "It's called deportation. Viva la migra."

("viva la migra" was said while rasing a bent arm and doing some kind of dance or heckling movement)

Lady and MM Woman argue

Lady: "Why do you guys keep coming to the same spot?...(intelligible)"

Various voices, laughter. Something about "Obviously... America.. 100%." Just listen to the audio several times.

MM Woman. "Go to Mexico and live. Go to Mexico and live."



The 128 bit mp3 audio file should be posted here. If it doesn't work, I'll try to think of another way.

I felt that piece of audio was significant because here we had a Minuteman/SOS guy displaying rude behavior to people he must have perceived to be guys here against US immigration laws. This after I had a talk with the Gilchrist managers about their conduct after the hideous November 12th protest at Lake Forest. I have 55 mintues and 37 seconds of footage of November 12th. Want me to make all of it public? You want a copy?

Now I know what the CC after Jammer is for. No CC for me thanks. I don't have the time to lend you for villification right now. But I encourage you to run it by the DA's office, and if they get interested then you can hand me the customary "I told you so's". Could be something there....you never know. They might be charged with aggravated rudeness or false assuming

I here nothing but tit for tat, exchanging of insulting behavior.

Nothing to get all hypersensitve about.

This is the only footage I got from last Saturday, I mostly took photos. And I held back on doing both because of the negative reactions from the participants. Yeah, I held back, because I'm not getting person with the individuals who aren't publicly known. But also, I have to tread carefully because you never know with these people. Gilchrist goes around thanking law enforcement for defending his right to speak without the fear of being attacked. Yet his campaign and KFI kicked me out of the KFI event way before it even started. I was threatened with arrest for tresspassing if I didn't leave, so I didn't think I had a choice. I could try attending the next CCIR and have my presence continue to say, "see me? I won't shut up." But you never know, someone may plant a police issue flashlight in my camera bag. Okay, that was a joke. But still, you never know. I'm not taking any chances and quite frankly I'm getting burned out from all this. I've moved on to speaking to other people and I had a lengthy phone conversation with a certain organization. And they won't be the only one.

And you Border Raven, you know it's more than just off behavior and rudeness out in public. You personally know, and you know exactly what I'm talking about. But like I said, I'm holding back on getting personal. I don't have a hatred or even a dislike for much of the participants of the day labor protests personally. I would say yeah I dislike Mary Parker Lewis for one. But not just anyone involved in the Gilchrist campaign or the Minuteman Project. So I'm trying to not get personal. I'm sorry if that's not journalistic enough for some people, but I feel I didn't compromise when it comes to reporting. Yes I mixed in my personal issue with them and I could have put it in a separate reply. I'll keep that in mind but I'm not planning on attending any more events for this reason. The Gilchrist campaign could be waiting for me to get bored, which isn't far off the mark. Or they could be trying to figure out how to get me arrested for "stalking." Who knows. But there are questions they need to answer publicly. Count on that.