Thread: National City Sanctuary Plan Leads To Heated Protests

http://www.kfmb.com/stories/story.64345.html

Sanctuary City Plan Leads To Heated Protests

Last Updated:
09-23-06 at 5:02PM

National City was the scene of a fight over illegal immigration Saturday.

Critics of mayor Nick Inzunza are upset with what they see as a plan to declare National City a sanctuary for illegal immigrants.

Saturday, local minuteman clashed with Inzunza's supporters.

On one side of the street there was a minuteman rally. On the other side were migrant suporters. In the middle were 130 officers who were called in to keep the peace, and law enforcement needed every one of them.

Things got very heated early on in the rally when small group dressed as clowns crossed over onto the wrong side of the street to mock the minutemen.

One of the clown organizers claimed a minuteman pepper sprayed him.

"Well it hurts a lot but it's only about time that I guess they respond to a non-violent protest with a form of violence," he said.

But the minutemen said the man was faking his injuries and that he was only sprayed with water.

Police said they arrested one man on the minutemen side of the street for kicking an officer, and migrant supporters said the arrest proves their point that minutemen are racist troublemakers.

"These are a bunch of yahoos that represent the worst of the American spirit, that's what that minutemen movement is all about," said one migrant supporter. "This country is much better than that."

But those in support of the minutemen said they are law-abiding citizens who simply want a secure borders.

"It is not about hate or racism it is only about the process legal immigration anybody can come to this country we all have but legally."

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/9919145/detail.html

Mayor’s Immigrant Sanctuary Idea Sparks Protest

POSTED: 4:56 pm PDT September 23, 2006
UPDATED: 5:17 pm PDT September 23, 2006

NATIONAL CITY, Calif. -- While some cities are trying to rid their communities of undocumented immigrants, National City's mayor said he wants to turn his into a sanctuary, and the controversial idea sparked a heated protest Saturday afternoon.

Although other California cities, including Maywood, Pomona, and Huntington Park, are calling themselves sanctuary cities, the idea isn't sitting well with everyone.

Many citizens, like Larry Culbertson of San Juan Capistrano, had angry words in response to Mayor Nick Inzunza's declaration that National City become a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants.

“The message goes out all over Mexico and Central America: Come up, go to National City, you get a free lunch – it’s absolutely shameful,” Culbertson said.

Activist Elva Salinas firmly disagrees. She said being a sanctuary city means there will be no immigration raids and that police cannot ask citizens their immigration status.

“They can rent places without showing documentation, apply for jobs without documentation on as long as they have an ID and a Social Security card,” Salinas said.

Minutemen organizer Jeff Schwilk called for the mayor to rescind his proclamation.

“Continue to make this an American city that welcomes all people and we can get along and we won't have to speak against the mayor,” Schwilk said.

But the mayor stands by his proclamation.

“We have a moral obligation to stop individuals from violating civil rights and civil liberties,” Inzunza said.

However, the mayor said he knows not everyone, including other elected officials, support him.

“Unfortunately, I am standing alone, but I believe in protecting all people especially those being harassed by other citizens,” he said.

Every single law enforcement agency in San Diego County was at the demonstration Saturday afternoon, NBC 7/39 reported.

There was only one arrest; police said that person kicked a police officer.

Oh, so the lawbreaking invaders are the good guys now and those who want laws enforced are the bad guys? Typical San Diego news coverage, whenver a crime is commited by an illegal, lke nearly everyday, it is never reported, but whenever an illegal alien stubs his toe trying to cross over illegally, it's an international incident if he doesn't get specialist medical care immediately.

There was only one arrest; police said that person kicked a police officer.

It's hard not to kick people if you wear those big clown shoes. Bad idea.
Really, I hope that the clowns are able to settle this without resorting to seltzer bottles.