Human Relations Panel in New Fray (Fresno Panel calls Free Republic "Hate Group")

Fresno Bee ^ | 9/14/2003 | Matt Leedy

[Clintons Are White Trash]

Mayor Alan Autry will try to suspend the city's Human Relations Commission after its chairwoman issued a news release labeling a local conservative organization a "hate group."
Autry vowed Saturday to take action against the commission in the latest clash between the group and more conservative members of the Fresno city government.

He was reacting to a news release Chairwoman Debbie Reyes sent Friday that warned, "a rally is being organized by a hate group called 'The Free Republic.' "

The statement was stamped with the city of Fresno's seal.

The Free Republic is a Web site operated by Jim Robinson of Fresno.

On the site, Free Republic is introduced as "an online gathering place for independent, grass-roots conservatism on the web."

According to the commission's news release, "The information on this group's website clearly indicates threats of violence toward any minority groups that interfere with their rally or picnic."

Reyes said she wrote the news release, with help from another commissioner, because, "there's a link on the website that refers to this group as anti-gay and anti-immigration. When intolerance comes to the table, we need to answer that call."

Autry said there is no evidence that Free Republic is a hate group, adding that the commission is "using the city of Fresno as a tool to attack people without cause. This is just something that has to stop."

Autry plans to meet with Fresno's city manager and city attorney to discuss suspending the commission "until we find out how this happened, who was involved with the press release and the reason behind it."

Human Relations Commissioner Cary Catalano said it was decided last week that the commission would not issue a news release about Free Republic.

"Due to the nature of this event I will personally be asking Chairwoman Debbie Reyes for her resignation," Catalano said Saturday. "It's just important that the community knows that this is not a reflection of individual members."

In response, Reyes conceded other commissioners should have been told of the release.

"He's right on that," Reyes said. "It happened at the last minute of the midnight hour."

The news release was sent with a city of Fresno cover sheet and stated Free Republic was planning a rally Friday.

About a dozen people met at Shaw and Blackstone avenues Friday. They listened to country music, waved American flags and held signs asking drivers to honk their horns if they support U.S. soldiers.

Those who gathered at the busy intersection said the commission's accusation was ridiculous.

According to the commission's release, "This group has also planned a 'Free Republic Hate Rally Picnic' " Saturday at Woodward Park. However, those who planned to attend said the picnic was a chance for dozens to eat barbecued tri-tip, talk and play.

Autry called the Human Relations Commission "politically intoxicated" and described its news release as "inflammatory, reckless, irresponsible and dangerous."

"These comments are not a reflection of the city of Fresno," he said. "It's one thing to say someone's a jerk or to say someone is off base, but the worst thing you can say is that they're a hate group."

Last month, Autry clashed with Reyes when the commission member accused city officials of making racist remarks. This followed the release of an e-mail message in which City Council Member Jerry Duncan said he wished he had a "dirty bomb" to kill every liberal in Fresno.

Autry also was upset that the commission used city staffers to send the release.

At their meeting Thursday, Nicholas DeGraff warned commissioners that the Free Republic was planning events "that had the potential for violence."

DeGraff, a member of Peace Fresno, said he read messages on the Web site that stated Free Republic members were armed and "extremely violent."

"We wanted the police to be notified that there was a potential conflict," DeGraff said Saturday. "It was my goal to avert any potential violence. That being my goal, it was accomplished."

After listening to DeGraff, the HRC decided to write a letter to police, Catalano said. And Reyes later decided to send the news release, warning of the "hate group."

"We didn't want people getting hurt. Period. That was it," Reyes said. "If the city didn't get any kind of alert we could have been held responsible."

The reporter can be reached at mleedy@fresnobee.com or 441-6208.

[Clintons Are White Trash]

Thought you might be interested....

[dts32041]

Laz's hell glock is making news again.

[shellylet]

armed and "extremely violent."???

They must have been referring to Duncan and his "dirty bomb". lol! The only hate I see is coming from those morons.

[GatekeeperBookman]

Maybe Homeland Security will get wind of this new hate group & arrest us all!

[Dallas59]

I'm not violent, just heavily opinionated.

[shellylet]

But, but you're not allowed to have an opinion unless you agree with theirs. Don't you know this? :)

[poet]

They are frightened as Hell by diverse opinions. Dialectally speaking, free speech means only that speech which agrees with these socialist/commies.

BTW, please don't insult white trash by connecting them to the clintons. 8>)

[John Beresford Tipton]

"When intolerance comes to the table,
we need to answer that call."

When metaphors come to call,
there ain't anybody home!

[and the horse you rode in on]

Body of Article

Mayor Alan Autry will try to suspend the city's Human Relations Commission after its chairwoman issued a news release labeling a local conservative organization a "hate group."

Autry vowed Saturday to take action against the commission in the latest clash between the group and more conservative members of the Fresno city government.

He was reacting to a news release Chairwoman Debbie Reyes sent Friday that warned, "a rally is being organized by a hate group called 'The Free Republic.' "

The statement was stamped with the city of Fresno's seal.

The Free Republic is a Web site operated by Jim Robinson of Fresno.

On the site, Free Republic is introduced as "an online gathering place for independent, grass-roots conservatism on the web."

According to the commission's news release, "The information on this group's website clearly indicates threats of violence toward any minority groups that interfere with their rally or picnic."

Reyes said she wrote the news release, with help from another commissioner, because, "there's a link on the website that refers to this group as anti-gay and anti-immigration. When intolerance comes to the table, we need to answer that call."

Autry said there is no evidence that Free Republic is a hate group, adding that the commission is "using the city of Fresno as a tool to attack people without cause. This is just something that has to stop."

Autry plans to meet with Fresno's city manager and city attorney to discuss suspending the commission "until we find out how this happened, who was involved with the press release and the reason behind it."

Human Relations Commissioner Cary Catalano said it was decided last week that the commission would not issue a news release about Free Republic.

"Due to the nature of this event I will personally be asking Chairwoman Debbie Reyes for her resignation," Catalano said Saturday. "It's just important that the community knows that this is not a reflection of individual members."

In response, Reyes conceded other commissioners should have been told of the release.

"He's right on that," Reyes said. "It happened at the last minute of the midnight hour."

The news release was sent with a city of Fresno cover sheet and stated Free Republic was planning a rally Friday.

About a dozen people met at Shaw and Blackstone avenues Friday. They listened to country music, waved American flags and held signs asking drivers to honk their horns if they support U.S. soldiers.

Those who gathered at the busy intersection said the commission's accusation was ridiculous.

According to the commission's release, "This group has also planned a 'Free Republic Hate Rally Picnic' " Saturday at Woodward Park. However, those who planned to attend said the picnic was a chance for dozens to eat barbecued tri-tip, talk and play.

Autry called the Human Relations Commission "politically intoxicated" and described its news release as "inflammatory, reckless, irresponsible and dangerous."

"These comments are not a reflection of the city of Fresno," he said. "It's one thing to say someone's a jerk or to say someone is off base, but the worst thing you can say is that they're a hate group."

Last month, Autry clashed with Reyes when the commission member accused city officials of making racist remarks. This followed the release of an e-mail message in which City Council Member Jerry Duncan said he wished he had a "dirty bomb" to kill every liberal in Fresno.

Autry also was upset that the commission used city staffers to send the release.

At their meeting Thursday, Nicholas DeGraff warned commissioners that the Free Republic was planning events "that had the potential for violence."

DeGraff, a member of Peace Fresno, said he read messages on the Web site that stated Free Republic members were armed and "extremely violent."

"We wanted the police to be notified that there was a potential conflict," DeGraff said Saturday. "It was my goal to avert any potential violence. That being my goal, it was accomplished."

After listening to DeGraff, the HRC decided to write a letter to police, Catalano said. And Reyes later decided to send the news release, warning of the "hate group."

"We didn't want people getting hurt. Period. That was it," Reyes said. "If the city didn't get any kind of alert we could have been held responsible."

[G.Mason]

"DeGraff, a member of Peace Fresno, said he read messages on the Web site that stated Free Republic members were armed and "extremely violent."

Who would've thunk?

I'm the proud member of a "Milita".

My pop gun is cleaned, primed and ready.

[Drango]

Anyone have some email addresses? Sorry I missed the FR picnic but my white sheets were in the dryer:-)

[Liz]

(Mayor) Autry called the Human Relations Commission "politically intoxicated" and described its news release as "inflammatory, reckless, irresponsible and dangerous." "These comments are not a reflection of the city of Fresno," he said. "It's one thing to say someone's a jerk or to say someone is off base, but the worst thing you can say is that they're a hate group."

The Commission ought to be cited (perhaps in a class action suit) for inflcting emotional distress on FR Americans and for attempting to impede FR citizens' ability to demonstrate their love of their country as they wish within First Amendment guarantees.

[ElectricStrawberry]

About a dozen people met at Shaw and Blackstone avenues Friday. They listened to country music, waved American flags and held signs asking drivers to honk their horns if they support U.S. soldiers.

How "hateful" of them.....

According to the commission's release, "This group has also planned a 'Free Republic Hate Rally Picnic' " Saturday at Woodward Park. However, those who planned to attend said the picnic was a chance for dozens to eat barbecued tri-tip, talk and play.

COW-HATERS!!!!!!!!! There shall be no TALK going onin MY town.

Violent conservatives hold local COW-hating BBQ and political talk...call in the National Guard

[UncleDick]

Thank God Fresno has a mayor like Alan Autry who's willing to stand up to these clowns.

[Graybeard58]

"the picnic was a chance for dozens to eat barbecued tri-tip, talk and play".

There I go again, being ignorant. What's barbecued tri tip?

[shellylet]

All I know is if I hear Jerry Duncan apologize one more time for his e-mail (and any fool knows this was a joke) I will puke!

[Liz]

Liberals take the our freedoms, cannibalize them, and put them through the political correctness meatgrinder.

Liberals silence free speech and all reasonable arguments against their PC atrocities by wielding the club of Hate Crime laws (these laws penalize conservatives only).

Hate Crime laws have outlived their usefulness. They are the Prohibition of this era. Prohibtion was necessarily repealed b/c it caused social chaos and a crime wave. We have yet to tally the crimes against the innocent caused by PC atrocities and Hate Crimes laws, but it is huge.

The Fresno atrocity against FReepers is a prime example.

[concerned about politics]

"The information on this group's website clearly indicates threats of violence toward any minority groups that interfere with their rally or picnic."

I can't believe they're playing the race card here. It had nothing to do with race at all.

Democrats have got to be the biggest racist this world have ever seen. If they don't like others free speech or association, they call them racist hate groups, on no grounds what so ever.

It was about anarchist liberals trying to use their vile hate filled tactics against conservative minded people and their families at an annual picnic.

This liberal is a liar. There's no question about it.

Jim should sue for defimation of character.