by Next Move
Monday, May. 22, 2006 at 5:41 PM
The Minutemen marched through the heart of the downtown Los Angeles shopping district and the heart of a vital, bustling immigrant community on Saturday.
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Using a provocative tactic, made famous by the Orangemen in N. Ireland and utilized by the KKK and neo-nazis on many occasions, the Minutemen marched directly down a thoroughfare packed with the very people they target.
The Minutemen numbered about 120 while counter-protesters numbered around 200. I'm sure the reports on numbers will vary widely but the march was handcounted and 120 is the number I have.
A professional crowd counting service hired by a radio station on March 25 estimated the crowd at La Gran Marcha 2006 at 1.7 million. If this is true today's march was almost 15,000 times smaller. Miniscule by comparison. Just a blip.
LAPD numbered around 100. Police presence was heavy and the Minutemen, like the KKK before them, marched with a police escort. The Minutemen acting brave and jovial behind the heavy riot police guard but I'm sure they weren't happy with the way things occurred.
Homeless advocate turned anti-immigrant token black activist Ted Hayes marched arm-in-arm with known migrant hunter Jim Gilchrist. The unusual looking Barbara Coe also marched arm-in-arm with Hayes.
Save Our State leader Joe Turner was not spotted and appeared to be absent from the proceedings.
Another strange turn saw the Minutemen marching with a banner reading "Civil Rights in Mexico".
The counter-protesters were loud and they followed the Minutemen all the way up to City Hall. At City Hall the police line was extended and counter-protesters were not allowed to get near the racist rally was taking place on the steps.
Little by little various Minutemen and their supporters made their way down the hill, across the lawn toward the side where the counter-protestors had amassed. In an apparent error in planning, porta-potties were set up on the other side of the police line right next to the counter-protestors.
Originally dubbed an American Civil Rights March organized initially by Ted Hayes, the numbers of African-American participants on the Minuteman side were very, very small.
Let's be honest, the total of all Minutemen participants was very, very small.
I cannot report on any arrests or serious altercations. Other reports on this site may offer more information on arrests.
