Thread: ESCONDIDO, CA: Protest held against driver's license checkpo

By CHRIS NICHOLS - Staff Writer
Saturday, November 15, 2008 10:53 PM PST

ESCONDIDO ---- About 200 people attended a candlelight vigil Saturday at Grape Day Park to protest the Escondido Police Department's use of driver's license checkpoints.

Rights activists, many from the Latino community, spoke out against the checkpoints, which they called unjust and a ploy to check immigration status.

"The intimidation has to stop ---- we all want peace," boomed the voice of Evi Quinn, a member of the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice, as attendees held candles and formed a prayer circle in the park.

"There is no way we are going to stand by silently and not raise our voices for those who are oppressed," she said.

Escondido police say the checkpoints bolster traffic safety. They are not used to check immigration status, Escondido police Sgt. Doug Sams said.

"We do not do that," Sams added. "We are not immigration authorities. We don't care what their immigration status is. All we look for is their driver's license status and are they DUI drivers."

About 10 people held a counter-protest at the park.

Several were members of the Escondido Minuteman Brigade, an anti-illegal-immigrant group.

Despite a few heated words between the groups, there were no fights or arrests during the event, police said.

As vigil attendees walked south through the park, carrying candles and protest signs, a member of the Minuteman Brigade shouted his support for law enforcement.

"Thank you, EPD! Thank you, Border Patrol! Thank you, (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)! ---- you're number one!" he shouted, as Escondido police stood between the two groups.

Since the checkpoints started, hit-and-run collisions and drunken driving arrests have dropped in Escondido, Sams noted. He added that the checkpoints are conducted in all parts of the city.

Police contact immigration authorities only if a warrant requires them to, Sams said.

He cited a case at a September checkpoint, where an individual was arrested on an outstanding warrant for illegally re-entering the country after being deported.

Contact staff writer Chris Nichols at (760) 740-5426 or cnichols@nctimes.com

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/11 ... ogcomments

About 10 people held a counter-protest at the park.

Several were members of the Escondido Minuteman Brigade, an anti-illegal-immigrant group.

MY HEROES! Keep up the good work.

"There is no way we are going to stand by silently and not raise our voices for those who are oppressed," she said.

But you'd be the first screaming for justice and rule of law if one of yours was killed by an un-licensesd, un-insured, citizen who was drunk.

"The intimidation has to stop ---- we all want peace,"

Can you believe they think we are the ones in the wrong?
Do they have no shame?
We are sick of it too! Sick of people coming here illegally and sucking up our taxpayer money.

Originally Posted by WorriedAmerican

"The intimidation has to stop ---- we all want peace,"

Can you believe they think we are the ones in the wrong?
Do they have no shame?

Well yes, remember they think Americans "stole" California from them, they think they have every right to live and work here.

Leticia Talavera participates in a candlelight vigil Saturday at Grape Day Park in Escondido to call attention to the city's driver's license checkpoints.

LEAVE COMMENTS ON THIS STORY HERE:

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/11 ... ogcomments

"There is no way we are going to stand by silently and not raise our voices for those who are oppressed," she said.

"oppressed"? Whatever do they mean? Do they think they are being "racially profiled"? Maybe alot of Hispanic drivers just happen to be big drinkers.

Checkpoints have been around for years, it's for public safety. End of story.

Rights activists, many from the Latino community, spoke out against the checkpoints, which they called unjust and a ploy to check immigration status

Why does it always seem as if those activists from the "latino community" are always upset when cities finally decide to enforce the law. I mean, I do not see the Italian community, German community, the Chinese community, the Korean community, or whatever "community" you care to insert, carrying on with protests and what not to stop the law from being enforced!

What's going on! Does the "latino community" have something worry about that other communities do not?

Mexicans should feel at home with check points, after all they are all over Mexico and have been for years.

It is a FACT that part of the Mexican machismo attitude encourages driving drunk. I would not be surprised if those checkpoints found a high proportion of Mexican male DUI's. Mexico is just now starting to get a clue that alcohol and driving don't mix. Here in Mexico we are starting to see the messages in the news programs on a regular basis. I would also not be surprised if the group that protested the roadblock checks accused them of profiling or targeting hispanics specifically.