Checking in from Murrietta: National Protest Day 7/19/2014

Free Republic ^ | July 23, 2014 | self

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Checking in from Murrieta: National Protest Day 7/19/2014:

The Border Patrol station in Murrieta was as quiet Saturday mid-afternoon as it was Friday. A token law enforcement presence was stationed at the intersection in front of the entrance where a lone patriot stood tall with his flag firmly planted. Similar to Friday, about a dozen patriots were scattered in and along side the 3 pop-up tents onsite, some waving flags and holding signs, and others seated in the shade chatting pleasantly amongst themselves. There were no counter-protestors present when we arrived about 2:30pm.

[along road at Border Patrol Station entrance Saturday 7/19 ]

Oathkeepers were on site, and told me they haven't missed a day since July 1. I learned the group has plans to set up a local chapter here in Murrieta and are selling baseball caps to fundraise. They also have t-shirts for sale so if you're in the local area, drop by and grab one or three and show your support! (They were closing up shop about 3:30pm so get there early.)

A young lady who lives in Fontana, CA told us that the buses are still running up from San Diego Border Patrol, but they are now being rerouted into Fontana. The gusty afternoon wind tossed her hair as she laughed and recalled an encounter with some pro-illegal immigrant protestors a few days prior. Tired of the oh-so-common anti-American insults, one patriot started singing the National Anthem. She said the tune was immediately picked up by the rest of the group - and then some of the counter-protestors joined in! Everyone was singing! I bet that was a kodak moment!

For those curious about the conditions at the ongoing protest outside the Murrieta Border Patrol station, there are porta-potties near by, which I was told are generously provided by Oathkeeper funding. (Yet another reason to swing by and buy a hat or t-shirt or drop a donation in their jar to support their efforts). The only shade is pop-ups, so bring a 'brolly and a lawn chair if you plan to stay more than an hour, and, of course, water and more water. It's hot out there, squeezed on a narrow strip of dirt between a barren field and a paved road. There are 'temporary no parking' sign cones that are set up in front of residences just down the street from the Station so watch out for and respect those, but we were able to park just down from the pop-ups. Drive on by and visit a while and show your support for these patriots if you can.

After about an hour we decided to mosey on over to the 1-215 and see how the overpass protest in Murrieta was going. Murrieta Hot Springs Road is a major artery so there was plenty of traffic coming over the bridge. Parking was easy in any of several shopping centers, with a short walk to the bridge so it was a great location. Patriots from several sponsoring groups were on both sides of the overpass, stretching from each end to the other. About 25 remained by the time we arrived about 4:00pm and there were no counter-protestors.

[north side of overpass]

[south side of overpass]

Introducing ourselves to a group of 5 young folks on the south side of the overpass, including one young man who affirmed himself a FReeper, (hey hey hey!) we were offered some bottled water. Another gal offered Stop Obama's Invasion/ObamasInvasion.com signs to wave for the traffic - which was a lot of fun! Thanks guys and gals!

We also met folks representing Overpasses for America and learned later there are further Overpass protests scheduled for August 5th primary days. They will be held in Michigan at the offices of Justin Amish (R), in Washington state at the offices of Dave Reichert (R) and Kathy McMorris-Rogers (R) and in Tennessee at offices of Eric Cantor - check with Overpasses for America for details. (Note on Obamasinvasion.com: it direct-links to libertynews.com). Another group coordinating the demonstrations was Americans for Legal Immigration PAC. Some folks weren't with any group, they were just there to be heard.

And heard they were! The response to the patriots from the passing motorists was enthusiastic. While we were there, about the only time there was a break in decibel levels was for red lights on either side of the overpass. But it was never really quiet as the noise from the freeway came in bursts, too. We saw motorcyclists below giving the fist-up of support and waving from inside cars. Motorists passing by on the bridge treated the demonstrators to thumbs-ups and waves, along with cheers, smiles and extended horn blowing.

A gal standing a bit apart from the younger group was focused on the freeway traffic, holding her American flag high, bracing the flagpole on the safety fence against the wind. I watched quietly as she saluted every horn blast from below. She told me she had been there for about 5 hours. Still saluting. God Bless her.

The LARaza convention held in Los Angeles on Saturday may have been the reason that there were no counterprotestors. Or maybe the counterprotestors felt they didn't need to counterprotest any more since they are obviously getting exactly what they want both from the Moonbeam administration and the White House. But it was nice of them not being there, and spirits were high at both locations we visited.

We left the overpass protest at the scheduled 5pm conclusion and we didn't see any further overpass protests down the I-5 towards San Diego, so I'm really glad we stopped at Murrieta Hot Springs Road and added our bodies to the headcount. We only spent about 3 hours between the two locations, but it sure was worth it just to go out and stand for a while with like-minded folks. Not only to add our voices to the protest against illegal immigration, but to show support for both our Border Patrol and for those dedicated individuals who, in the case of Murrieta Border Patrol station, and similar locations across the nation, continue to man these quiet protests day after day. I found the folks at both locations warm and welcoming, and a good range of ages was observed. All were well-informed on current news.

We topped the day off enjoying the fireworks at Seaworld, which seemed a very appropriate way to close the evening down, after spending some time contemplating how flamingos were similar to Liberals: inflated with flashy self-importance, always looking for a handout and always ready to squabble with their neighbors over the tinest crumb.

Thanks, Oathkeepers and all the every day folks in Murrieta who are holding down the fort at the local Border Patrol Station. Thanks also to the gals from Fontana and to the various groups on the overpass who made us feel right at home. And a huge thank you to the all the patriots across America who showed up at their own protests in their own cities and who are keeping the momentum begun in Murrieta going.

Well done, all !! Remember little 'ole Murrieta!! Help Texas secure our borders!

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Postscript - other news:

A lot of people questioned why our Sheriff wasn't out supporting the patriots in Murrieta and standing against the busing as the Mayor of Murrieta has. It could be, because on the night of July 3rd, he was busy meeting with illegals - and their Foreign Counsels - reassuring them LEOs wouldn't target them for deportation based on the licenses. Thanks to Governator Moonbeam.

contrast 2012 Sniff with 2014 Sniff:

2012: "Many, including RivCo Sheriff Stan Sniff, believe issuing a California Driver License to illegal immigrants would reward them for sneaking into the country."

Press Examiner - Licenses Driver Public

2014: "Riverside County Sheriff Stanley Sniff Tuesday night assured undocumented immigrants that his deputies would honor a special state driver’s license for them and would not use the license to target them for immigration-enforcement purposes.

Sniff was one of several state, local and consular officials who spoke at a packed meeting at Perris’ TODEC Legal Center about the licenses, which the state currently is developing. Nearly 100 people crammed a TODEC classroom and overflowed into the lobby....Carolina Zaragoza Flores, the Mexican consul in San Bernardino, and Billy Muñoz Miranda, the Guatemalan vice consul in Los Angeles, were on hand to answer questions."

Press Examiner - Immigration undocumented residents receive assurances on drivers licenses

The city of Murrieta has hired Xavier Hermosillo in the position of crisis management advisor, following his offer to extend an outreach program to the spanish-speaking community. According to Assistant City Manager, Kim Summers, Hermosillo will "get the message out to the Spanish-speaking public that our job is to keep the peace and that the vast majority of protesters are not our citizens but activists from all over.”

Press Examiner-Murrieta city hires a crisis management advisor

Confirming the claim that buses are being rerouted to Fontana, The DailyBulletin. com reports Fontana is a drop for unaccompanied children, many of which are "going to locations in the midwest and east coast."

Daily Bulletin - Fontana church takes on busload of central American immigrants mostly children

It has been said the San Ysidro location was chosen for processing because HS decided that San Ysidro Border Patrol Station was in an area 'too dangerous' for anti-immigration protestors to travel to. Crowds there welcome them.

760KFMB - Migrant Families sent to San Ysidro after protests in Murrieta

NBCLosAngeles - Immigrants Headed to Murrieta Despite Opposition