Illegal Aliens In Patriots Day Parade - Minutemen Denied

http://www.immigrationwatchdog.com/?p=568


Laguna Beach has a yearly Patriot’s Day parade. This year it will be held on March 4 and the theme is America–Still United.

The Minuteman Project sent an entry form last night. They got a call from the coordinator saying the entry form is being denied.

The reason given was that Jim Gilchrist ran for congress and he may run for office in the future. She said their by-laws state no political or religious affiliations. The Minutemen explained to her that we were not affiliated with any political group and that we are merely concerned citizens from all races and backgrounds. They told her Jim did run for office, but has not announced any plans for the future. They have looked all over their website and can’t find anything about by-laws. There was nothing on the cover letter included with the entry form.

She said the MMP was too controversial and Jim was involved in protests against the day labor site. The MMP have never called for nor organized any protests in Laguna Beach. Jim and other MM have participated in protests, but they were called for by others.

They asked her what other groups were participating and she named off some including a radical anti-war group that holds protests each and every Saturday at Main Beach.

She said she may consider having them in if they change their name from the Minutemen and as long as no one knows that Gilchrist is involved.

While searching the parade website, the Minutemen found last year’s participants. One of the groups is La Playa Center, they run the Laguna Beach day labor center and they also offer free day care and English language classes. Funds for the La Playa program have come from the city, small grants, donations from local churches, and individual gifts.

For the past eight years, students at La Playa Center have marched in the Patriots Day Parade with their children.

If you can get the address and phone number we could voice our complaints in favor of the minutemen---

Sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen. Go get 'em Minutemen! :twisted:

The Grand Marshall of the parade is Gordon Dillow
GLDillow@aol.com

He is a well known and respected reporter for the Orange County Register. He is a huge supporter of the MMP and has written many positive columns praising the Minutemen.

The Minutemen are asking all good people to please email him and ask him kindly to stand with the MMP and ask the city of Laguna Beach parade committee to reverse their decision and allow the MMP to march in this Patriots’ Day Parade. Remember, he is on their side.


The following is contact info for the city of Laguna Beach:

City of Laguna Beach
505 Forest Avenue
Laguna Beach, California 92651
USA
(949) 497-3311
(949) 497-0771 fax

Elizabeth Pearson-Schneider
Mayor
(949) 497-7128
epearson@adworx.net

Done. :D

Now I know the world is standing on it's head! 8O

I will e-mail this man right now.

Done!!

GO MINUTEMEN!!!

While I'm sure the urge here is to think "how dare they exclude the minutemen", you'd be wrong. Hear me out.

First, I support their overall goals. I live in Laguna Beach and even voted for Gilchrist in the recent election. And I'm VERY against illegal immigration. But they're going to totally screw up a tiny hometown parade, forever with their BS stunt.

This parade is so Norman Rockwell it's not even funny. No one from outside the city would ever bother coming to it normally, it's just locals. 1/2 the city is in the parade, 1/2 watches is the joke. Marching bands, boy scout troops, etc.. Cute. The closest thing to anything remotely political is a group that holds peace signs. Nothing allowed criticizing anyone, frankly no big deal.

Now, this POLITICAL group is going to sue this little non-profit parade group with a $10,000 annual budget and volunteers because they aren't going to allow the group because they are political. They are. And the founder had JUST finished a couple months ago running for office in the district. They're just dead wrong on this. If any of you had seen this parade in person first, I'll bet most of you would agree with me.

The one organization the minutemen are fixating on are not political, though I'm sure a few would argue somehow otherwise. Look at the list of 96 entries. Does a political group really belong here?

Please read it, and don't just jump in because you're rabidly anti immigration and would support them in anything they do. I support them, have given them money and voted for their founder. But they're going to forever destroy a very small town parade that I enjoyed taking my kids to. There's a time and place for everything, this isn't the place.

1. Laguna Beach Motor Escort
2. Parade Banner, Laguna Beach Boy Scouts
3. U.S. Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard
4. Marine Band, San Diego
5. Parade President Nina Rietsch
6. Parade Theme Banner, Laguna Beach Girl Scouts
7. Grand Marshal Police Chief James Spreine
8. American Legion Post 222 & Auxiliary
9. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5868
10. Honored Patriot Lance Corporal Ed Hanke, III
11. South Orange County Vietnam Veterans
12. Laguna Beach High School/Thurston Middle School Band
13. Citizen of the Year Don Williamson
14. Laguna Beach City Council & Officials
15. Junior Citizens Megan Vick & Tyler Hathaway
16. Laguna Beach Unified School District Board
17. Laguna Beach Elementary School Band
18. A & D Music
19. Orange County Sheriff's Mounted Color Guard
20. California Regiment of Young Marines
21. Laguna Beach Police Department
22. Exchange Club of Laguna Beach
23. San Clemente Scots Drums & Pipes
24. Laguna Beach Lawn Bowling Club
25. Patience Wright Chapter, Daughters of American Revolution
26. Rescuing Unwanted Furry Friends (RUFF)
27. Laguna News-Post
28. Coldwell Banker Real Estate
29. Rotary Club of Laguna Beach
30. Volunteer Clowns of Orange County
31. Challenger Middle School Band, Lancaster
32. Laguna Beach High School Alumni Association
33. South Coast Y-Parent/Child Programs
34. Laguna Beach Fire Department
35. Coastline Pilot
36. Laguna Beach Library
37. Pageant of the Masters
38. Orange County Chapter, Sons of American Revolution
39. South Coast Medical Center
40. Miss Linda's Castle
41. Laguna Beach Little League
42. Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach/Even Start
43. La Playa Center/Orange County Model A Club
44. American Field Service
45. Continental Marine Color Guard
46. American Association of University Women
47. Mar Vista High School Band, Imperial Beach
48. Laguna Beach Seniors, Inc.
49. Capistrano Valley Model A Club
50. Assistance League of Laguna Beach
51. Laguna Club for Kids
52. Military Vehicle Owners of Orange County
53. Bassett High School Band, La Puente
54. Green Campaign Environmental Club for Kids
55. Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce
56. Laguna Beach Beautification Council
57. Laguna Beach Girl Scouts
58. Boy Scout Troop 35 & Cub Scout Pack 35
59. Laguna Beach Garden Club
60. Men Alive Orange County Gay Men's Chorus
61. Excalibur Car Club
62. Laguna Beach Independent
63. Laguna! Life & People
64. Tivoli Terrace/Tivoli Too!
65. Mar Vista Middle School Band, San Diego
66. Laguna Beach Taxpayers Association
67. Laguna Beach County Water District
68. Diamond Crestview Neighbors
69. Laguna Beach Community Clinic
70. Waste Management of Orange County
71. The Bahai's of Laguna Beach
72. Laguna Beach Peace Vigil
73. The Saloon
74. La Rue du Chocolat
75. Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation
76. Sageman Drums
77. First Team Nolan Real Estate
78. Pacific Marine Mammal Center
79. Oak Avenue Intermediate School Band, Temple City
80. Hobie Sports
81. Laguna Art Museum
82. U.S. Postal Service
83. Soroptimist International of Laguna Beach
84. Sawdust Art Festival
85. Top of the World/El Morro Elementary School Honors Chorus
86. United Studios of Self Defense
87. Village Laguna
88. No Square Theatre
89. Mountain View High School Band, El Monte
90. Kate's Book Club
91. Sue Marie's Day Spa II
92. Village Flatlanders Neighborhood Association
93. Crevier Motors
94. Dr. John DiGiovanni & Dr. Kathleen Hwang
95. Cross Creek Cowboys
96. Chocolate Lovers of America

Quote:

---

Look at the list of 96 entries. Does a political group really belong here?

2. Parade Banner, Laguna Beach Boy Scouts
3. U.S. Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard
4. Marine Band, San Diego
7. Grand Marshal Police Chief James Spreine
8. American Legion Post 222 & Auxiliary
9. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5868
10. Honored Patriot Lance Corporal Ed Hanke, III
11. South Orange County Vietnam Veterans
19. Orange County Sheriff's Mounted Color Guard
20. California Regiment of Young Marines
21. Laguna Beach Police Department
25. Patience Wright Chapter, Daughters of American Revolution
34. Laguna Beach Fire Department
44. American Field Service
45. Continental Marine Color Guard
52. Military Vehicle Owners of Orange County
58. Boy Scout Troop 35 & Cub Scout Pack 35

---

We are patriot American's and we deserve a place in the "Patriot's Day Parade" just as all the other patriotic groups listed above. Yes, Jim Gilchrist ran for Congress and he was a founder of the Minutemen but the Minutemen are not a political party. Many of the Minutemen are veterans.

For you to claim that our presence will destroy your parade is an outrage.

We will be in the parade.

How is it an outrage? I don't want ANY political groups. How does this group fit into the list of Laguna boy scout troops, marching bands, the local (in Laguna, and on the same exact street) foreign legion, Laguna businesses, etc.. It doesn't.

I don't want any group of outsiders, regardless. Politicians aren't there, political groups aren't there. It's a cute little home town parade. Nothing more. The minutemen are trying to make it more, and they are a politcal group. Not a party of course. And if they win their suit, I can't even imagine the groups that will start showing up who have no affiliation with our city at all, just their to push their viewpoint. Whether I agree with the viewpoint or not. It's just not the venue for it.

I don't claim their presence alone will ruin it. The opening of the Pandora's box will. Think beyond this selfish little battle. There's a time and place for everything. More importantly to them, this battle will cost them support for their cause. I supported them. Still support the cause. Won't support them financially or otherwise if they actually take this to court, win or lose.

Welcome RAS1966.

I didn't realize there was a post about this on the boards but my hubby likes to listen (sleep through) th LA news late at night so I saw it on TV.

I don't usually come out against anyone who is against illegal immigration, but I thought it seemed a little far fetched to me for them to demand to be in a kids' parade myself. I hope they back off this because it just makes them look bad, in my opinion. If the rest of the groups are kids with kids themes, what can they possibly have to contribute?