Posted on 05/26/2005 3:01:03 AM PDT by calcowgirl
GARDEN GROVE — An event honoring an anti-illegal immigrant leader tonight was marred by altercations between anti-immigration activists and protesters, resulting in an arrest when two demonstrators were hit by a slow-moving van.
The driver was Hal Netkin of Van Nuys, said Barbara Coe, chairwoman of the California Coalition for Immigration Reform.
Protesters were blocking a driveway when Netkin tried to drive through and knocked two demonstrators to the ground, Deputy Police Chief K.J. Raney said.
Netkin was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. At least one of the protesters was hospitalized.
"Knowing (Netkin), he panicked," Coe said.
Billy Hall, a member of Coe’s group, said shortly afterward that his car window was broken by a protester. Hall said he filed a police report.
The event sponsored by Coe’s group honored Aliso Viejo resident Jim Gilchrist. Gilchrist’s Minuteman Project last month attracted nearly 900 people to patrol a stretch of Arizona border in an effort to stop entry by illegal immigrants. The effort was praised by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger but condemned by President George W. Bush, who called the volunteers "vigilantes."
"I’m damned proud to be a vigilante," Gilchrist told the 150 people assembled at the Garden Grove Women’s Club. "How about you?"
He received a rousing ovation. He also said that deporting the millions of people in the country illegally would lower home prices, reduce traffic congestion and lower taxes.
Nearly 100 protesters picketed and chanted on the sidewalk. One sign read, "Beat Back the Racist Attack."
"Their racist acts are being masked by patriotism," said Obed Sanchez of Garden Grove. "To say illegal immigrants are coming over here and ruining our lives is ridiculous. We need immigrants like a tree needs water. Even President Bush recognizes that."
(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/state/la-me-minuteman26may26,1,2210132.story?coll=la-news-state
Los Angeles Times
May 26, 2005
By Monte Morin and David Reyes, Times Staff Writers
Violence Erupts at O.C. Protest
Crowd gets rough and police swarm in after a Minuteman event in Garden Grove.
Three people were injured and at least eight arrested Wednesday in Garden Grove after a motorist drove into a crowd of 300 demonstrators protesting a speech by the founder of the Minuteman Project, authorities said.
The Minuteman Project is a citizens group that patrols the U.S.-Mexico border in an effort to stop illegal immigration.
The demonstrators had gathered at the Women's Civic Club of Garden Grove on Chapman Avenue about 7:30 p.m. to protest an appearance by James Gilchrist, charging that he and his group were racist.
Gilchrist has denied those claims and insists the group is stopping only illegal immigration. His talk was sponsored by Citizens for Action Now, an anti-illegal immigration group.
The motorist had attended Gilchrist's speech and was leaving when protesters began hitting his van with placards and other objects, said Garden Grove Police Lt. David Kivler. The driver, who was not identified but spoke to a KCAL-TV Channel 9 reporter, said he gunned his car engine to get away from the crowd. The man was arrested.
Authorities said the incident occurred when 100 listeners attempted to leave through the crowd of demonstrators. Kivler said protesters gathered around one of their cars.
"They surrounded it and started beating on it," Kivler said. Then, a second car tried to get through the crowd as well.
"As he was doing so he hit at least three people," Kivler said. All three were transported to a local hospital. None had major injuries, he said.
Kivler said the crowd grew increasingly boisterous after the injuries.
He said protesters began throwing filled soda cans at the assembled Garden Grove, Anaheim and CHP officers. At least eight people were arrested on suspicion of felony assault, while others were booked for disturbing the peace.
(snip)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002288984_ndig26.html
Seattle Times
May 26, 2005
Garden Grove, Calif.
Driver rams protesters at Minuteman speech
At least two people were injured and at least eight arrested yesterday in Garden Grove after a motorist drove into a crowd of 300 demonstrators protesting a speech by the founder of the Minuteman Project, authorities said.
The Minuteman Project is a conservative citizens group that patrols the U.S.-Mexico border in an effort to stop illegal immigration.
A man and a woman were struck and injured by the motorist, who had attended the speech by James Gilchrist and was leaving when protesters began hitting his van with placards and other objects. The driver, who was not identified but spoke to a KCAL-TV reporter, said he gunned his engine to get away from the crowd. The man was arrested.
Someone please tell Bush that we're drowning already.
Don't drink from that well!
The protestor is nuts. All he wants is to give precedental entry to lawbreakers.
Name brand soda purchased with food stamps?
300 Protestors throwing rocks, bricks etc and the guy in the car leaving gets busted. What absolute bullsh*t.
Even if TV news was there, you'll never see it on the tube. It's against media policy to show Mexicans in bad form.
The folks at the Minuteman meeting should have had numerous video cameras hidden at every angle. With these morons, it's the only way to go.
How did I know that the Minutemen were the ones that were goin to be made out to be the bad guys?
Its like illgals are immune to most our laws. They can come here and commit all sorts of crimes that citizens are not allowed to commit.
Hell, they have more rights than anyone else......
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
"Their racist acts are being masked by patriotism," said Obed Sanchez of Garden Grove. "To say illegal immigrants are coming over here and ruining our lives is ridiculous. We need immigrants like a tree needs water. Even President Bush recognizes that."
Sanchez is a liar.
These people are not "immigrants". Immigrants follow the law, apply for citizenship and contribute to our society.
These criminals are illegal invaders. They steal jobs, lower salaries, rob our citizens of benefits and committ other crimes once they get here. Sanchez is employing the doublespeak of the far left and the tactics of the "protestors" here are just like those of leftists everywhere. Attack your opponents physically and then when they defend themselves, cry assault. The rqcist canard here exists only inSanchez' warped mind. It has nothing to do with race and everything to do with stopping illegal invaders and allowing the American people to determine who comes here and from what countries and when.
I wonder if Mr. Sanchez was born here or slipped across the border during one of those many previous "amesties".
As for quoting Bush on this subject, Bush is just wrong, which is one of the reasons his ratings in the polls have been dropping.
Americans have had it with illegal aliens and individuals like Sanchez who defend them.
Give the protestors to mexico, i'm sure they will take care of them in a real nice way. ;)
Could have been a Reginald Denny moment, I dont blame the diver for panicing. Hundreds beating on my vehicle, I would have done the same thing. It seems the only way to stop illegals is by vigilantism, I suppose Bush is waiting for full scale immigrant riots before waking the hell up.
Yes, and I hope every single one of them has at least one camera when they go on patrol. Confrontations are going to happen with protesters when the Minutemen are at the border, I think. I hope they also have photo ID badges or some other way of ensuring that these agitators cannot either infiltrate the Minutemen or impersonate them to the press.
Two hurt, eight arrested in Orange County protest against Minuteman Project
May 25, 2005
After the speech, a driver trying to leave the club slowly drove through the crowd and two people fell and suffered minor injuries. The protesters surrounded the van and started banging on it.
The driver, Hal Netkin, was arrested for investigation of assault with a deadly weapon. At least eight protesters were arrested for investigation of felony assault.
ping
Hal Netkin just called in. He was released by the police last night and he was not charged with anything.
Regarding last night, he said he was trying to enter the parking lot (using the only entrance that hadn't been cordoned off) and as he approached the entrance, he was surrounded by people on the sidewalk blocking his car.
They were banging on his car, ripped off one of the windshield wipers while (according to Hal) the police did nothing but stare at him. He then starting slowly moving forward trying to enter the lot and didn't know that anyone had been injured.
Hal Netkin was just on with Doug McIntrye (KABC radio, Los Angeles) and gave his version of the story. He claims the media reports are full of errors. First of all, the incident occurred at the beginning of the rally, not the end. The counter-protestors, approximately 150, were well-organized and hostile. When Netkin drove up a group of around 40 of them surrounded his car and began banging on it, ripped the windshield wiper off, throwing projectiles (rocks, etc.) and he began to fear for his life. He looked to the 6 Garden Grove police officers right in the near distance for help but insists they just stood there, stared at what was unfolding, and did absolutely nothing. He figured if the police wouldn't come to him, he would go to them. He began moving his car slowly forward towards the police, which did seem to break up the protest group. The police then came and removed him from his car and took him to jail in handcuffs, charging him with assault with a deadly weapon.
Once in jail he was put in a cell with a few other protestors. When he asked what they were being charged with they said, "Disturbing the peace." Netkin was later released and, as far as he knows, not charged.
Doug McIntyre commented that he was interviewed Netkin a number of times previously and has found him to be a truthful person. His comment was "What can we expect when our government endorses lawlessness?" (i.e., supports illegal immigration.)
Doug McIntyre is the best thing on talkradio. I nominate him as an honarary FReeper.
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