Community Leaders React to Vista Protests/Riot

[concernedmother]

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006...4_295_2_06.txt

Community leaders react to Vista protests

By: STACY BRANDT - Staff Writer

VISTA ---- Community leaders and sheriff's personnel Tuesday praised a crowd of up to 2,000 residents who demonstrated peacefully in Wildwood Park the day before, but rebuked those who turned violent that night.

"What happened last night was just pure lawlessness," Mayor Morris Vance said Tuesday. "It was contrary to what I think should take place."

There were no arrests or injuries reported Monday night in Vista, where a group of protesters began throwing rocks and bottles at officers and riling up crowds as they left a peaceful, daytime demonstration against a federal proposal to crack down on illegal immigration.


City and San Diego County Sheriff's Department officials are looking for what they called a small group of protesters who incited the larger standoff, and the city has asked deputies to strengthen their presence in Vista, especially for the Cinco de Mayo holiday Friday.

It was unclear how many protesters in the crowd of up to 1,000 people Monday were throwing objects and verbally harassing officers and how many were simply observing the situation.

"We didn't actually see any one person throwing the rocks," said sheriff's Lt. Hernando Torres on Tuesday. "We didn't know where they were coming from."

Protesters jammed North Santa Fe Avenue, forcing sheriff's deputies to close the street to traffic and call for backup. There were several reports of fighting, vandalism and reckless driving, Torres said.

Almost 200 officers from numerous law enforcement agencies throughout the county responded in riot gear, and the crowd gradually dispersed throughout the night and early morning.

On the other hand, Vance said, the organized event in Wildwood Park, on the corner of Escondido Avenue and East Vista Drive, was "exactly what it should have been."

Tina Jillings, one of the organizers of the daytime cultural celebration in Wildwood Park, said the later protest had nothing to do with the peaceful event put on by the Coalition for Justice, Peace and Dignity. She said she thinks it is unfortunate that the attention shifted from the larger gathering, which ended at 5 p.m., to its negative aftermath.

"Our event ended at five, and it was peaceful, and it was productive," she said. "We don't even know if these individuals were attending the event or who they were."

Jillings is a cofounder of the coalition, which was formed last summer after deputies shot and killed three Latino men as they either ran from or assaulted officers. She said tension felt in the Latino community after the shootings was partly responsible for the protesters' angry response to deputies. Torres and Vance disagreed.

Though deputies broke up the demonstrations without injury or arrest, Jillings said she thinks the Sheriff's Department should have handled the situation Monday night very differently.

"I felt like I was in the middle of a war," she said.

As night fell after the event in the park, a small group of rock-throwing protesters turned into a much larger crowd of up to 1,000 people who poured into the street. Some chanted in Spanish. Others drove slowly around, shouting and holding up flags.

During the evening, one person crawled up on top of a car and shouted. Another man sprayed a fire extinguisher into the air.

Sheriff's deputies and officers from all over the county responded, eventually creating a long parade of cars and officers on foot, some with police dogs. The slow parade pushed through the streets while a voice on a police loudspeaker threatened protesters to go home or face arrest.

The armada of police cruisers and officers, many in gas masks, eventually ended up squaring off with a group of what appeared to be about 50 protesters outside an apartment complex on West Los Angeles Drive. Sheriff's officials Tuesday put the number of gathered protesters between 200 and 300, with a few of them throwing rocks.

Whatever the number was, the protesters and the police and deputies stood watching each other for long, tense minutes. Police dogs barked. Protesters whistled. A helicopter roared overhead. And over a loudspeaker in a rock-dented solo sheriff's car out in front of the officers, came a repeated message ---- in English and Spanish ---- to go home.

The crowd eventually did so, and by about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, the area was clear and calm.

Torres said the department acted properly by calling in backup and using protective gear, and that officers had to plan for the worst-case scenario.

"We needed to have enough resources to deal with the unknown," Torres said.

Deputies were patrolling the park as well, but Torres said the crowd there was very respectful and peaceful.

Joyce Rogers, who was at the park as one of a handful of counter-protesters, said that other than a few obscene gestures and harsh words, most of the protesters were respectful.

"Most of the people in the park were respectful and proud," she said. "We're all neighbors here."

While Torres said he thinks many Vista residents were happy about the gathering in the park, he said he doesn't think the majority of community members supported the later protests.

"I don't think that what happened last night is indicative of what the community is like in Vista," Torres said Tuesday. "There were a lot of cowardly people who took advantage of the group's organized activities to create a disturbance."

Contact staff writer Stacy Brandt at (760) 631-6622 or sbrandt@nctimes.com.

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Comments On This Story

Note: Comments reflect the views of readers and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff.
American wrote on May 03, 2006 8:27 AM:"Time to start reporting all the contractors and sub-contractors who hire illegals to IRS, INS and all the other wonderful American Agencies. We are also reporting resturants, and other businesses, want to hire an illegal, deal with the IRS!! And for you property owners that rent to 10 illegals in one apartment you are being reported for code violations, so go ahead enjoy! OPERATION BACKLASH has begun!"

Fed Up wrote on May 03, 2006 8:42 AM:"Good coverage of the story. A couple of points you missed were seen on a TV interview of Tina Jillings, speaking for the Coalition for Peace, Justice, and Dignity, was that she minimized the number of people involved, criticized the handling by Law Enforcement, and made a big deal of the Sherrif's Dept. not having more Spanish speaking officers. Her comments were that "her community speaks Spanish, not English, so get over it". Great comment for someone conected with the Coalition. Nice going lady. You just erased any trace of compassion I had for illegal aliens."

[concernedmother]

http://<br /> <a href="http://www.n...5_2_06.txt</a>

Surreal scene gripped Vista streets Monday night

By: TERI FIGUEROA - Staff Writer

What began as a peaceful day of protests in Vista on Monday morphed into a strange scene, with police shutting down roads as protestors jammed onto street corners. At one point, a main thoroughfare in the city hosted a bizarre sight: about 200 police officers marching down an empty street.

By the end, events treaded into dangerous territory, when the riot-gear clad law officers stared down an unruly rock-throwing crowd.

In the Townsite neighborhood around 9 p.m., the crowd at the corner of West Los Angeles and North Santa Fe hovered around 800 or so. Many were quietly standing along the street corners; a few spilled into closed-off North Santa Fe. Some chanted in Spanish. Others drove slowly around, shouting and holding up flags. Electricity fused the air, and most in the crowd appeared fascinated by the scene.


By 9:30 or so, a few in the crowd moved slightly down the street, in front of a large apartment complex on West Los Angeles.

Traffic there came to a halt as a group of unruly protesters ---- who appeared to be in their late teens or early 20s ---- stopped and partied in the middle of the road, an impromptu happening. Vehicles blocking the intersection parked in a circle. One person crawled up on top of a car and shouted. Another man sprayed a fire extinguisher into the air. Many ran around with large flags.

People and protestors floated in and out of the area down side streets.

By 11 p.m., less than a mile away, law enforcement officers from agencies across the county were lined up on North Santa Fe Drive, at the corner of East Vista Way.

With police dogs and their handlers leading the way on foot, about 35 police and sheriff's cars carrying about 200 officers, followed behind. The walking officers and cars with flashing lights spread out the width of shut-down North Santa Fe during their slow push north up the street.

A handful of protestors followed the parade of police and deputies in alleys parallel to the street, some whistling and calling out jeers.

At one point, the push stopped and a contingent of about two dozen officers turned up a side road to seek out the unruly, who appeared to disperse.

The eerie parade of police then crawled further up North Santa Fe, turning right at West Los Angeles, the site of a massive gathering earlier in the evening that saw about 800 people lining the sidewalks and some spilling into the shut-down street.

But when the rolling armada of cars reached the intersection, the area was mostly clear ---- save for a few people who'd parked in a dirt lot on the northeast corner of the street. One woman, holding an infant, stood outside of her car, videotaping the surreal scene.

The march down West Los Angeles came to an abrupt halt about 11:20 p.m. when officers stopped about 100 yards from the large apartment complex at 300 West Los Angeles, at the corner of Benito Juarez ---- which happened to be site of the earlier impromptu street party.

The geography of the area ---- since the complex runs along a sharp curve on West Los Angeles ---- meant the contingent of officers were staring straight ahead at what appeared from one vantage point to be about 50 people on a knoll inside the gates of the apartment complex.

Sheriff's officials put the number of gathered protesters between 200 and 300, with a few of them throwing rocks. At least one sheriff's patrol car has "a big dent" from a hurled rock, said Lt. Hernando Torres of the Vista substation.

Whatever the number was, the protestors and the police and deputies stood watching each other for long, tense minutes.

Police dogs barked. Protestors whistled. A helicopter roared overhead. And, over a loudspeaker in the rock-dented sheriff's car came a repeated message ---- in English and Spanish ---- warning everyone to go home.

Behind and alongside the officers one West Los Angeles, a few residents peeked out of their windows ---- and a handful ventured outside their doors ---- to watch the stare down.

About 20 minutes into the stand-off, many of the gathered protestors suddenly broke and ran deeper into the complex. Some who stayed remained on the grassy hill inside the fence, staring at the police.

The officers pushed forward.

The crowd thinned a little more.

Two minutes after midnight, about two dozen riot-gear clad officers pushed not far up a driveway into the very darkened complex.

A few minutes later, the officers left the complex. Torres said on Tuesday that the SWAT officers in the driveway encountered about 15 or so people, who quickly dispersed.

By 12:30, with the area quiet and seemingly cleared of protestors, police and deputies regrouped down the road and began to leave in small groups ---- a far less imposing image than their approach.

By 1:30 a.m., Torres said Tuesday, the scene was declared clear of trouble.

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Comments On This Story

Note: Comments reflect the views of readers and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff.
Susan wrote on May 03, 2006 5:06 AM:"What a mess the streets are after this. Trash every where. Clean up your own neighborhood. Some on left tire marks all over the streets. Could that have been GANG members showing off? Could that have been GANG members causing all that mess and wasting the sheriff and police time?"

Vista Resident wrote on May 03, 2006 7:56 AM:"I though all illegal aliens were law abiding and just came here to work? WHAT A BUNCH OF CRAP! This is an example of the REAL behavior these people are bringing to America. Vandalize and destroy your neighborhoods Mexico, not Vista! Way to show your true colors! Good job illegals!"

Mommie wrote on May 03, 2006 8:09 AM:"I think there are too many idiots out there who have no clue as to what is really going on, and not understanding the purpose of the protest. In reality, those who are out there waving their flags, drivin up the street honkin their horns, are quite annoying. It gives the perception to others in our society that hispanics are ignorant, disrespectful, and do deserve to be deported. "

Vista Resident wrote on May 03, 2006 8:19 AM:"I didn't mind the driving up and down my street with their flags, horns etc. I saw one car with a few girls sitting outside of the windows (not belted in)a very dangerous thing to do, and against the law! But when it comes to calling in extra Police from all over the county because some refused to disburse, and throwing things at officers, who do they think will pay the charges for the extra Police? It will be the tax payers, most of whom were in there homes."

DW wrote on May 03, 2006 8:20 AM:"Why wasn't there any arrests? We are becoming a lawless society. No law and order! Do these people really really want America to turn into Tijuana? If so we need to defend our country NOW. We are being invaded! Article 4 section 4 of the constitution says the feds must protect her states from foreign invasion. Bush hasn't done this, now it is up to us Patriots, (support goups who are taking a stand and get rid of these gutless politicians). Wake up America."

[concernedmother]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/m...m3visdemo.html

Response to late-night protest defended

By Kristina Davis and Elena Gaona
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS
May 3, 2006

VISTA – A Latino neighborhood here was apparently back to normal yesterday, with grocery stores once again selling fresh fruit and car washes operating.

But many Vista residents were still talking about the previous day, which began with a pro-immigration rally that drew 2,500 to Wildwood Park and ended with law enforcement officers in riot gear patrolling their streets.



DON KOHLBAUER / Union-Tribune
Law enforcement officers waited for a crowd to disperse Monday night at Los Angeles Drive and Benito Juarez in Vista.
About 200 law officers from around the county flooded areas of the Townsite neighborhood, a few blocks from the park, to quell the crowd Monday night.

Many residents said the sheer number of officers, along with their riot gear, gas masks and dogs, was unnecessary to handle the crowd of late-night demonstrators who gathered in the neighborhood.

Sheriff's officials defended the large presence, saying a crowd of 800 to 1,000 people threatened to grow out of control and was throwing rocks and bottles at deputies.

“When a field or station commander feels they're dealing with roughly 1,000 people who appear to be bent on disruption and violence, it's an entirely appropriate response,” said sheriff's Capt. Glenn Revell.

No injuries were reported and no arrests were made, officials said.

The day started out peacefully with an afternoon rally to support the May 1 national boycott to protest proposed federal legislation that would criminalize illegal immigration.

“We feel we had a very peaceful, successful event,” said rally organizer Tina Jillings, co-founder of the Coalition for Justice, Peace and Dignity, a human rights group.

As the Wildwood Park rally ended by 6:30 p.m., many people walked home, some to the nearby Townsite neighborhood. Jillings said she saw 15 to 20 people continue to protest on the street corners, and others began to join them.



CRISSY PASCUAL / Union-Tribune
Carmen Mejia, 23, at home yesterday with her 2-year-old son, Junior, and husband Fabian, participated in the late-night protest gathering Monday in the Townsite area of Vista, but said she only saw about 100 people.
Sheriff's officials said about 150 rowdy young people eventually incited about 800 to 1,000 others who had stayed in the area after the rally.

“And they did so by throwing rocks, bottles and full soda cans at deputies in the area,” Revell said.

By 8 p.m., deputies had closed off North Santa Fe Avenue because demonstrators were walking in traffic. Also, about 200 police officers and deputies from every agency in the county sped toward Vista.

Carmen Mejia, 23, who participated in the late-night gathering, said she saw only about 100 people. Many just lived in the neighborhood and hadn't attended the rally.

“When I saw all the police and the helicopter, I thought, 'What's happening?' ” Mejia said. “I didn't think they were there for us. We were just expressing our opinion.”

At 11 p.m., police in riot gear walked in formations through the streets to break up the last groups of stragglers.

About 100 young people refused to leave the area of Los Angeles Drive and Benito Juarez and law enforcement officers said bottles and rocks were thrown at police. Pepper spray and tear gas were at the ready but never used as the crowd finally dispersed.

Vista Mayor Morris Vance said the police response was necessary.

[ALIPAC]

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http://www.alipac.us/article-1192-thread-1-0.html

[MustangJo]

Throwing bottles and rocks is ASSAULT on a LEO...why in heaven's name were there NO arrests??

MJ