Thread: Council candidate arrested after tussle over Mexican flag

http://www.newsregister.com/news/story. ... _no=206723

Council candidate arrested after tussle over Mexican flag
Published: April 17, 2006

The Associated Press

MILTON-FREEWATER — A candidate for the City Council has a court date this week on charges resulting from a tug of war over the Mexican flag.

Police said Greg Sterling confronted students in front of the city hall during a demonstration April 6, and officers had to pull him away from the students and flag to arrest him.

Sterling, 50, said the demonstrators provoked him and called the assault charge "made up."

"I didn't think I was doing anything illegal," he said. "I'm a proud American and I wasn't out to hurt anybody and I think I was taunted."

He's also charged with disorderly conduct. Both charges are misdemeanors. Police said the assault charge involved a female student who received minor injuries. He's to appear in court Thursday.

Milton-Freewater police Chief Mike Gallaher said two police officers watched Sterling exchange words with students who among about 60 on a sidewalk in front of City Hall.

Sterling pulled two or three of the students into the roadway, and six more followed, Gallaher said. He said officers had to stop traffic.

Sterling said he happened on the march. He said he asked the students not to display the flag, but they called him "gringo" and said, "This flag is going to be here some day."

Then students surround him, he said, and that led to "when I was tangled in the flag."

Milton-Freewater School Superintendent Marilyn McBride said the police handled the situation appropriately.

"Were very grateful we have our police department," she said.

McLoughlin High School Principal Ralph Brown said the students approached the school administration about their plans.

"I think our students handled themselves in a respectful manner," he said.

Brown also said students were aware they would have an unexcused absence and would have to face consequences of that.

Santos Garcia, a member of the Valley Cultural Awareness Committee, said the city had a history of racial intolerance, but over the years both Anglos and Hispanics have learned how to deal with those problems.

In the current wave of demonstrations, Garcia said, Hispanics are showing how American they are because the demonstrations have been largely free of violence.

"The Hispanic community is learning to protest the right way," he said.

Right...arrest the citizen, of course!! Don't arrest the students who were calling him names...making threats...the little darlings were allowed out of school with only unexcused absences....

Snarrrrrllllll,
MJ

they think they are something now ... they've got OUR President, OUR Senate, and OUR laws protecting them. BUT, we can remove OUR President, OUR Senate and we change OUR laws

My question is if the Students were allowed to encircle him why the Police officers (the ones watching) didnt move to provide a safe zone around him to help keep things from flaring up. Seems they were at least at fault for not keeping the situation under control in proformance of thier duties. My guess is that if this goes to court a good defense lawyer could drag the incompitent officers into it or at least say they were going a long with the protesters and setting up a citizen of other beliefs.

Once again the losers win. I can't stand how much ground has been lost.

McLoughlin High School Principal Ralph Brown said the students approached the school administration about their plans.

"I think our students handled themselves in a respectful manner," he said.

HA! HA! HA! Yeah, right! And I've got some swamp land in Arizona for sale too!

Santos Garcia, a member of the Valley Cultural Awareness Committee, said the city had a history of racial intolerance, but over the years both Anglos and Hispanics have learned how to deal with those problems.

In the current wave of demonstrations, Garcia said, Hispanics are showing how American they are because the demonstrations have been largely free of violence.

"The Hispanic community is learning to protest the right way," he said.

Of course Mr. GARCIA would say the types of nutball things quoted above. But the American public doesn't buy it! We've seen the protest photos and video clips and the blatant disrespect for our flag, the signs calling for reclaiming "stolen land" , the defiance and arrogance, etc. etc etc.

The Hispanic community should NOT BE PROTESTING AT ALL!

Bunch of babies crying their eyes out and screaming at the tops of their lungs because their security blanket might be taken away!

Take it away .. and the pacifier too!

In the current wave of demonstrations, Garcia said, Hispanics are showing how American they are because the demonstrations have been largely free of violence.

Ah, but place group or two of anti-illegal immigration protesters in their midsts, and see how quickly they will revert to the anti-American savages that they truely are.

If I were this guy, I'd sue the police and the school board for allowing this to happen.

"

The Hispanic community is learning to protest the right way," he said.

Yeah, they are......by the protest organizers taking their Mexican flags and replacing them with American flags and then teaching them to chant "USA, USA, USA". The ONLY reason they switched to the American flag was because someone TOLD THEM TO DO IT, and even then, some of them still chose to carry those racist signs and the Mexican flag . We are not stupid, we see through it and we saw it all during the first protests. Sorry, but you can't change that, pro-illegals!

I'm not impressed with which flag they may be waving around...it doesn't change the fact that their underlying message is threatening mob rule..anarchy...sedition...violence...

If anyone is fooled into thinking otherwise they must have mush for brains.

MJ