Posted on 05/08/2005 9:27:10 AM PDT by suspects
When opponents of the “Real ID” legislation announced a rally for illegal immigrants and their allies in Montgomery County, MD, there was one immigration-related group I was absolutely certain would not show up: The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the people responsible for actually enforcing our immigration laws. Casa de Maryland and others claimed 5,000 people would gather on Saturday to protest the “Real ID” Act working its way through Congress, and many of these people would be illegal immigrants themselves, we were told. If I were looking for immigration criminals, it’s exactly where I would be.
That’s why I’ll never be appointed head of the ICE.
I decided that I should show up anyway. Why shouldn’t one American who thinks we should have the same border controls other nations (including Mexico) have show up and support the concepts of secure borders and national security? I figured somebody ought to make that point, even in a liberal enclave like Montgomery County.
And that’s how it came to pass that I arrived at Richard Montgomery High School on Saturday dressed like this:
I was just trying to make a point. And in case you think I was attempting to impersonate a federal official, it should be noted that a) the INS is no longer in business, having been replaced by the ICE; and b), the letters actually stand for “I Need border Security!” (Unfortunately I didn’t have enough room on the shirt, so I had to leave off the “B”)
The illegals and their allies were gathered to protest tightened ID requirements for driver’s licenses. The shouted “No license, no justice, no peace,” and insisted that the only people who wanted legitimate IDs to be, well, legitimate, were racists and bigots—which they frequently abbreviated to “Republicans.”
Because they have such a bad attitude about IDs in general, it came as quite a surprise when I was barred from the anti-Real ID rally because of insufficient identification.
Around 3:20pm, I approached the gate in my “INS” t-shirt and was promptly stopped by a man presenting himself as a security person. He told me that the public rally—which I learned about from the pages of the Washington Post—was an “invitation-only event.” I showed him my ABC Radio ID and asked again to be admitted. He and several large people, none of whom had displayed any badges or ID, blocked my way and still refused to let me enter. The continued to examine my ABC Radio ID. When I tried to see the one ID on display, the man who appeared to be in charge covered it with his hands.
I kept pressing: “With whom am I speaking? Who are you?” One of the thuggish looking men replied, “Do YOU have any ID.”
“Sure,” I replied, and showed my ABC Radio ID again.
“Other than that?” he asked.
“Are you saying you’re not going to accept my ID? Are you saying you need tighter IDS at this event?
The continued to question my press credentials.
“This is my ID,” I insisted. “This is my media ID. So you’re not going to let me in because I don’t have a good enough ID, is that what you’re saying? An AMERICAN CITIZEN can’t get in here because he doesn’t have the right ID, is that what you’re saying?”
They continued to block my way and refused to show any ID. Two people claimed to be “Montgomery County Public School security officers,” but one again showed no identification. So I announced “This is a public event, I’m working media, I’m going in.” I started walking through the gate.
That’s when they jumped me.
Five or more people started shoving, grabbing and pulling me, moving to block my way as I tried to walk into a public high school venue. Several times someone knocked at the tape recorder I had in my hand, recording this event, and at some point they must have turned it off. I continued to walk forward as best I could, my arms held straight down, working my way between the bodies blocking my path. That’s when they began to seriously grab and shove me. They knocked me entirely away from the gate, pulling and pushing me backwards. Then someone shouted for the police. “Finally,” I thought, “they’ll get these goons off me!”
And that’s when the cops jumped me.
Three from behind—one on each arm and one around the neck and shoulders—and one in front. At least one of the thugs who jumped me started accusing me of assault. Once again, I haven’t pushed, shoved or hit anyone. I was just trying to walk into the gates of a high school sports field for a public rally. OK, so maybe they didn’t like my shirt, but it wasn’t any more offensive than their shouts of “anti-immigrant Republican abuse!” coming from the podium inside.
The cops grabbed my tape recorder, my ABC Radio ID and detained me. Ignoring my questions about why I was being held but the people who illegally prevented me from entering the rally weren’t, the police escorted me back to my car and demanded more ID. Then they kept me there for approximately 15 minutes. They never detained any of the people who jumped me.
By sheer coincidence, columnist and blogger Michelle Malkin happened to be covering the pro-illegal immigration rally too. She and her husband saw what was happening and approached my police guards. She started asking questions and the Montgomery County Police suggested she find somewhere else to be. She did, however, get a photo of me being escorted by the cops.
After several phone calls and conversations, the police official in charge made a very disturbing comment: “Look, we can’t stop you from going in there in that shirt,” he said. “But if you do, I can’t guarantee your safety. And when people in there start jumping on you, I’ve got to send my officers in to get you out and that puts them in danger.”
In other words, he was confident that the people at the rally would kick my a…er, would react with violence. I wasn’t worried about it, but the officer seemed all but certain of it.
So we came to an agreement: I would turn my shirt inside out in deference to the concerns of the police.
I walked in the front gates—right past the entirely unmolested, unidentified group of thugs who jumped me—and down to the poorly attended rally.
That’s when I discovered I was being followed.
Several activists followed me through the crowd, some speaking in Spanish to the people around me. I said nothing. I just went toward the front to hear the speakers. And who is the emcee of the event? Why, it’s the guy who stopped me at the gate to begin with! It’s Juan Carlos Ruiz—he’s just some stooge with Casa de Maryland. He wasn’t a cop or security guard of any kind.
He was ranting away about “No License—No Peace” and how Maryland better not start actually checking to make sure the IDs presented at the motor vehicle offices are real, so I took a good look at the crowd. Very small. Casa de Maryland predicted 5,000 people, but it was closer to 300. I started to take a crowd shot, and that’s when I was jumped AGAIN!
The gang that had been following me circled me with their protest signs to stop me from taking photographs. They called in English and Spanish to the people around us to create a “sign wall” around me. It was hilarious. It was like that TV commercial with the woman who has some credit card and is surrounded by Secret Service. Every time I moved, they moved with me, trying to block the lens of my camera, all the while calling me a “racist,” a “bigot” and a bunch of stuff in Spanish that didn’t sound very nice.
There's much more to tell, and we'll be talking about it on my radio show at 9am Monday on 630 WMAL in Washington, DC. Listen over the web at www.michaelgraham.com
Go figure ,
Illegals ping
bump
Too funny! This guy can't get in to an anti-identification rally because he doesn't have the "proper" identification!! Hahahahahahahahahahaha!! I can't wait 'til Malkin rips 'em a new one.
This was the very sort of left wing behavior I was arguing against in the thread about that idiot who got arrested at the Ann Coulter event at UT.
Dont be surpised when the silent conservative majority in this country rises up and starts treating these scumbags the same way. If you want to threaten the general public with violence and shout "no license, no justice, no peace", don't be surprised when you get your ass kicked. We have had enough of lawbreakers and the people whow support and defend them.
"After several phone calls and conversations, the police official in charge made a very disturbing comment. "Look, we can't stop you from going in there in that shirt," he said. "But if do, I can't guarantee your safety." "And when people in there start jumping on you, I've got to send my officers in to get you out and that puts them in danger."
How is that such a disturbing comment? Although I support his right to be at this rally, and I am against allowing illegal aliens to having the same rights as American citizens, I felt this guy was a wee bit selfish. It's one thing to want to risk your life for a cause, it's another to drag someone else into your mess. I thought he was just too selfish to see that his actions could cause someone else to get hurt....like the police. Rant away!
Inciting.
He/she needed an undercover person taping all of this.
Most excellent report, BTW. But, be careful out there. If they support illegal immigration, they have already proven that the law means nothing to them.
DC Chapter ping !!
Pro illegal immigration thugs assault and threaten ABC Radio host, Michael Graham, in a blatant violation of his civil rights!
Listen to Michael Graham's show on Monday, 9am, WMAL-AM 630. If you're not near a radio or you live outside the WMAL area, you can listen live.
Yeah. The way things are, IMO, no one should enter the enemies camp alone.
Montgomery County (where I live) is becomming worse and worse by the day. I truly hate living here. The County Executive, County Coucil and School Board are all a disgrace. Looks like the Police Chief can be added to that list.
That's when he should've whipped out a matricula consular card. For a little extra, I'd bet anyone can get one. Get one, then never leave home without it.
"We have had enough of lawbreakers and the people whow support and defend them."
Unfortunately it appears that it's going to come to riots and a perhaps not-so-civil war to get the attention of the elected elite.
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