Thread: IL: Minuteman meeting off after judge rejects it

Minuteman meeting off after judge rejects it

By Charles Keeshan | Daily Herald Staff

Published: 8/24/2007 12:32 AM

The controversial Illinois Minuteman Project canceled its weekend seminar on illegal immigration in Crystal Lake after a McHenry County judge Thursday issued a restraining order barring the group from holding the event at a local hotel as planned.

At the urging of the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn's owners, Judge Maureen McIntyre ordered the Minuteman Project not to appear at the hotel and to notify its guest speakers and about 100 ticket holders that the seminar would not take place there.

The ruling left the Minuteman Project no option but to call off the event, Director Rosanna Pulido said.

"There's a lot of outrage out there that American citizens cannot have a meeting," she said. "But this might be a blessing in disguise. People have to see what we're up against."

The group, which says its mission is to educate Americans about the negative effects of illegal immigration, was planning a seminar featuring guest speaker Sheriff Dan Beck of Allen County, Ohio. Beck has won national attention for his efforts to deport illegal immigrants living in his county.

Saturday's seminar was expected to draw hundreds of protesters from at least three organizations, including the Carpentersville Community Alliance and the McHenry County Peace Group.

Peace group member Patrick Murfin said his organization was unhappy with the news that the Minuteman meeting would not go as scheduled.

"We're actually saddened when free speech or assembly rights are abridged in any way," he said.

Despite the Minuteman cancellation, Murfin said, his group still plans to hold a vigil at 1 p.m. Saturday at Route 14 and Main Street in Crystal Lake.

Citing concerns that guests and workers would get caught in the crossfire, the Holiday Inn's owners had gone to court Thursday asking McIntyre to ban the Minuteman Project from the hotel.

The Holiday Inn's attorney, Rita Alliss Powers, said Crystal Lake police told hotel management they would need 17 armed officers on the site and a SWAT team stationed nearby to ensure a peaceful environment.

"These meetings have a history of drawing a lot of visceral reaction and protest," Alliss Powers said, noting skirmishes at a similar event in Arlington Heights. "(The hotel) has serious, serious concerns about having this type of event on its property."

Hotel lawyers argued that they had legal grounds to cancel Pulido's conference room reservation because she misled management about the nature of her organization and the likelihood of protests.

Pulido, Alliss Powers said, never wrote "Minuteman Project" on the application for a conference room, instead labeling the applicant "Sheriff Dan Beck - Immigration Conference."

Minuteman attorney Suzanne Walters argued that the hotel, knowing the seminar dealt with the immigration issue, should not be surprised by the likelihood of protests.

"I don't think the Holiday Inn should be in the business of regulating free speech, which is what they're doing right here," Walters said. "It's another example of the rights of Americans being trampled on by illegal immigrants and their supporters."

McIntyre, however, said she viewed the matter as a contractual dispute, not a free speech issue.

"I am an advocate of the right to free speech, but I don't think the question boils down to an infringement of that right," McIntyre said.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=24191

Oh, I see........the Minuteman Project has been barred from holding their event....and by a judge, no less.

But the pro- illegal groups, who are the ones who cause all of the chaos, and mayhem requiring such things as SWAT Teams, and heavy police presence to begin with, are perfectly free to go ahead with their plans.

Mmmmmkay.......here's hoping that there's enough illegals vacationing, traveling, and planning events, to keep their profit margin up because I've got a feeling they've alienated a whole bunch of American citizens and others with the right to be here.

So much for free speach. Must be only illegals are allowed demonstration and meetings. Again proof that our laws and courts are only for American taxpayers and illegals can have free run of our country.

Legal citizens are losing their rights while illegals are getting more rights.

Friday, August 24, 2007

Judge bars Minuteman from hotel


By BRANDON COUTRE - bcoutre@nwherald.com
Comments (19 comment(s))
WOODSTOCK – A McHenry County judge on Thursday ordered an anti-illegal immigration group to stay away from the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn, in part because the group breached its contract with the hotel.

The Illinois Minuteman Project had scheduled a conference for Saturday in Crystal Lake, but hotel management decided to cancel the group’s reservation. Judge Maureen McIntyre affirmed that decision on Thursday.

Minuteman director Rosanna Pulido called the ruling bittersweet.

“While I’m grieved, I’m also happy that every American citizen can see what our country is turning into and what will happen if we don’t wake up and address illegal immigration,â€