Thread: Swallows Day Parade says no to Minutemen

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/ho ... 026445.php

Thursday, March 2, 2006
Swallows Day Parade says no to Minutemen
Event organizers reject border-patrol marchers.

By MARK GARCIA
The Orange County Register

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — Swallows Day Parade organizers today said they will not allow the Minuteman Project – a civilian border-patrol group – to march in the parade March 25.

Doug Magill, a parade spokesman, said the Minuteman Project’s controversial and political message is not consistent with the spirit of community that the parade celebrates.

"We are a nonpolitical parade," said Tacy Lee, la presidenta of the Fiesta Association. "The specific and primary purpose of the Fiesta Association is to promote and execute an annual event which is in the best interest and welfare of the citizens of San Juan Capistrano."

"I’m disgusted," said Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist. "This is a shame. I’m sure this decision comes from pressure by certain individuals in town who do not like the Minutemen."

Parade assistant chairman Jeffrey Schroeder, who has been involved in the parade committee for 17 years, said he remembers only one instance of the committee turning down an application, and that involved a clown who dressed inappropriately.

The news comes three weeks after a judge sided with Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade planners, who also rejected the Minuteman Project’s application to march in Saturday’s parade.

The Minuteman Project has staged citizen patrols at the Mexican border and participated in events to protest illegal immigration and day-laborer centers that give undocumented immigrants employment.

The Minutemen have sparked controversy in other cities, including at a July rally in Garden Grove to honor Gilchrist, an Aliso Viejo resident. The event drew 300 protesters and there were six arrests.

Gilchrist said the Minutemen had planned to appear in a horse-drawn float that would "include all ethnicities," with uniformed 1700s war re-enactors and a drill team that would carry lawn chairs, sunglasses and binoculars – a parody of its border-watching group.

The parade is part of the 48th Fiesta de las Golondrinas, which celebrates the return of the swallows to San Juan Capistrano.



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CONTACT US: (949) 454-7329 or mbgarcia@ocregister.com

Marching in a swallow bird parade was a stupid idea to begin with. We should be spending our time organizing rallies and other efforts to combat the Senate's guest worker plan.