Woman injured during protest at monument
Posted on Wednesday, May 18 @ 09:46:26 EDT
Topic: Illegal Immigration News in the US
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 By Christina L. Esparza , Staff Writer
SGV Tribune
May 18, 2005
Topics: Baldwin Park, SOS, Protest, Safety, Americans,
Illegal immigration, Illegal Immigrants,Atzlan,Mecha,LaRaza
BALDWIN PARK -- A 66- year-old woman hurt during a protest at the Metrolink station over the weekend is recovering at home as police search for the person responsible for her injuries, officials said Monday.
The unidentified woman was released from Citrus Valley Medical Center Queen of the Valley Campus on Sunday, officials said.
She was hit in the head with a water bottle as she stood Saturday at the station with members of Save Our State, a group protesting the Danza Indigenas monument they say is un- American, racist and seditious.
A doctor at the hospital said she suffered an "inner cranial trauma,' police officials said.
Baldwin Park police Sgt. David Reynoso said police have a videotape of the incident and are still reviewing it to see if the culprit can be found.
Investigators also are looking to the public for answers. Anyone who saw the person who threw the bottle could come forward and remain anonymous if they wish.
"We understand people have the First Amendment right to assemble and free speech. We don't discourage that,' Reynoso said. "What we do discourage is acts of violence, such as throwing water bottles. We ask people to keep calm, respect everybody and obey the laws.'
Police say the bottle came from the roughly 300 counter-protesters who showed up.
Save Our State had about 25 supporters at the site, police said.
Joseph Turner, executive director of Save Our State, said he was disappointed in the turnout from his members . Many of those slated to attend canceled because they feared for their safety.
Turner said the counter-demonstrators were kicking the American flag on the ground and shouting profanities and racist remarks to the group.
However, the group plans more demonstrations in the future and may have one slated for July 4, he said.
He has said the group will take "other steps' to remove the quotes by the first week of July, although he would not speculate on what those steps are.
"We're not walking away and giving up,' Turner said.
The group was protesting two quotes engraved on the monument, including "It was better before they came,' and "This land was Mexican once, was Indian always and is, and will be again.'
Its artist, Judy Baca who created the piece 12 years ago said the work was a layering of history in Baldwin Park and the San Gabriel Valley, and the quotes came directly from people in the community.
Save Our State supporters said those quotes promote the radical belief of returning California back to Mexico. However, Baca said the "It was better before they came' quote was uttered by a white man from Arkansas in reference to Mexican immigrants.
Robin Hvidston of Upland said she was next to the woman hit by the bottle.
"She went down and I stayed with her until paramedics arrived and took her to Queen of the Valley hospital,' Hvidston said.
She said the bottle came from above where the police were standing and hit the woman in the forehead. She said the woman has no memory of being hit.
Penny Magnotto, 61, of Riverside County was there as well.
"I thought it was horrible. I thought the whole thing was horrible.' She described the counter-protesters as "hundreds of mean, nasty people.'
"We are a peaceful, passive group, we are not into the physicalities that these people are into.'
Baldwin Park Mayor Manuel Lozano said he blames Turner for the woman's injuries because he took senior citizens to an event that could have become dangerous.
He contends Turner is preying on senior citizens to market "himself to make a big organization and spread his hatred throughout the region.'
"I was literally outraged,' Lozano said. "He should be held accountable for using senior citizens in that capacity.' Staff Writer Phil Drake contributed to this report. C hristina L. Esparza can be reached at (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2472, or by e-mail at christina.esparza@sgvn.com .
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