Thread: San Diego: Downtown Statue Sparks Controversy

Downtown Statue Sparks Controversy

POSTED: 3:57 pm PDT July 31, 2007
UPDATED: 4:14 pm PDT July 31, 2007


SAN DIEGO -- Latino activists are denouncing plans to recognize former Gov. Pete Wilson with a statue in downtown San Diego.

The statue would be placed on Horton Square, just outside the NBC 7/39 studios, across the way from statues of Alonzo Horton and developer Ernest Hahn. The statue was commissioned by the nonprofit Horton Walk Of Fame Foundation.

The foundation said it is honoring Wilson for his leadership in the redevelopment of downtown as San Diego's mayor, before going on to the U.S. Senate and state capital.

But on Tuesday, immigrant rights activists told the San Diego City Council that Wilson is unworthy.

Wilson's detractors called him, "the father of the pro-racist movement" for his support of Proposition 187, the measure that would have denied illegal immigrants medical and education benefits had it not been struck down in court.

"Would the city of San Diego allow a Confederate flag in front of the Malcolm X Library? Would the city of San Diego allow an Adolf Hitler statue in front of a Jewish temple? Then why would a Pete Wilson statue be in the heart of a city which is one-third Latino?" said one man.

Wilson spoke to NBC 7/39 by phone for his response on the issue. Wilson said, "The fact is, they're unhappy with me because I opposed -- and continue to oppose -- illegal immigration. And if they think that is racist, then I wonder what their answer is to all the Latino Californians who voted for 187."

Wilson said he would be on hand when the statue is unveiled Saturday, Aug. 18. The statue costs more than $100,000, according to foundation officials.
Copyright 2007 by NBCSandiego.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/13792696/detail.html

Hey! You don't like the statue? Then go back WHERE YOU CAME FROM and you won't have to look at it!

Californians have every right to honor a former mayor and governor whom they feel did some great things for the city of San Diego and the state of Callifornia.

Ooooh, there's so much more I want to say about this...but I'll get in trouble by the mods, so I better stop here.

Oh, and I'll bet you a million dollars that the illegals vandalize that statue!!

I would think they would want it so that when they take over they would have something to tear down, like the Iraqi's tore down Saddam Husseins statue.

Wilson's detractors called him, "the father of the pro-racist movement" for his support of Proposition 187, the measure that would have denied illegal immigrants medical and education benefits had it not been struck down in court.

...further proof that your average illegal alien is dumber than a box of rocks...Since there is no such thing as an "illegal alien race" how can you be a racist when you oppose illegal aliens?