Protest calls for boycott of businesses ("immigrant rights" group)

The Daily Pilot ^ | February 2, 2006 | Alicia Robinson

[LNewman]

Group opposed to city's immigration policy announces boycott, which local leaders call futile.

A Santa Ana-based immigrant rights group that opposes Costa Mesa's immigration enforcement decision today planned to repeat its call for a boycott of Costa Mesa businesses and for civil disobedience.

Local leaders disparaged the boycott plan as divisive and unproductive.

Nativo Lopez, a spokesman for Hermandad Mexicana Latinoamericana, first called for the boycott in late January. On Wednesday he announced he'll take the issue to Costa Mesa City Hall, where he planned a press conference for today.

Lopez, along with several local labor unions and Latino advocacy groups, wants to force the Costa Mesa City Council to reconsider plans to train police to do immigration checks on people suspected of serious crimes.

The city's plan is still being developed, and no police have yet had training from federal immigration authorities.

Protesters intend to create a sign to post in businesses that oppose the city's plan, and to avoid businesses that won't post the sign, Lopez said. He also will urge people not to cooperate with police, though he doesn't advocate violence, confrontation or resisting arrest.

"You have to demonstrate that without the cooperation of the populace, the police cannot do its job, and there's no reason for people to cooperate if they run the risk of being a target of inquiries about their status," Lopez said.

He added that the tactics could be expanded around Orange County if Sheriff Mike Carona proceeds with plans to train deputies for immigration enforcement.

As the only commercial business operator on the council, Councilman Gary Monahan may take a more personal hit if many people participate in the boycott.

Protesters on Wednesday scrambled to organize in time for an evening fundraiser for state Senate candidate Diane Harkey at Skosh Monahan's, the councilman's restaurant.

Protesters oppose Harkey because she co-chaired the failed initiative to form a state border police force, said organizer Naui Huitzilopochtli, who is a member of the immigrant advocacy group the Tonantzin Collective.

And because Monahan voted for the immigration enforcement plan, his restaurant is "a perfect target for us," Huitzilopochtli said.

Monahan said the protest wouldn't change his mind.

"I walked outside my door and got called an ... [expletive] four times in 15 seconds.... This is not an educational protest; it's confrontational, and if they think they're going to convince this council member that what we did was wrong, this is not the way to do it," he said.

He was unconcerned about a possible boycott.

"My customers are loyal," he said. "This will not scare them away."

Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce President Ed Fawcett said he hasn't heard any concerns from local businesses about the possible boycott.

Fawcett does not support the city's immigration enforcement proposal, which was led by Mayor Allan Mansoor, but he said a boycott would unjustly punish businesses.

"This approach to solving the problem is not productive," Fawcett said. "I'm opposed to it just as strongly as I'm opposed to Mansoor's plan."

Mansoor dismissed Lopez's protest as "just trying to stir the pot."

The protest effort may increase the workload for Costa Mesa Police Chief John Hensley, who has been meeting with community groups to explain the immigration plan. Failing to cooperate with police won't help victims of crime, he said.

"I'm going to constantly get the message out that we do not want to be enemies of the community," Hensley said.

To Councilwoman Katrina Foley, an open and honest debate is exactly what's been missing since the council voted to pursue the immigration plan in December. Foley was one of two council members who voted against the plan.

"It's a political stunt that the mayor has pulled, and we're all suffering the consequences of it," she said.

"There's no dialogue going on; there's been no committee set up to vet concerns and come up with a fair, compassionate, responsible plan; there is no discussion. There's basically a lot of attacks and controversy."

Councilman Eric Bever, who voted in favor of the immigration enforcement plan, and Councilwoman Linda Dixon, who opposed it, did not return calls for comment.

[clawrence3]

Since the 1st of the year, my wife and I (okay, mainly my wife) have spent THOUSANDS at South Coast Plaza and Crystal Court. We did most of our Christmas shopping there too. Are you 2 planning to spend more than that?

[clawrence3]

That may make more "sense" to you, but how exactly are YOU going to verify which businesses employ illegals? Part of this boycott is to protest the harassment of AMERICAN-BORN, United State Citizens who happen to be the wrong color . . .

[ncountylee]

I'll switch from Newport Plaza to South Coast Plaza and Crystal Court.

[ncountylee]

Correction - Fashion Island - it's my wife too. LOL

[clawrence3]

You do realize, from this very same article, there are those who oppose Costa Mesa's plan who are NOT Communists, correct?

"Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce President Ed Fawcett . . . does not support the city's immigration enforcement proposal . . ."

"To Councilwoman Katrina Foley, an open and honest debate is exactly what's been missing since the council voted to pursue the immigration plan in December. Foley was one of two council members who voted against the plan. 'It's a political stunt that the mayor has pulled, and we're all suffering the consequences of it,' she said."

Councilwoman Linda Dixon also voted against the plan. We are ALL Communists?!

[clawrence3]

We live in Irvine (my wife is going to Crystal Court tonight BTW). How often do you shop there?

[ncountylee]

A couple of times a month but the wife probably weekly. I'm in Newport Beach.

[VeniVidiVici]

Mexicans organize boycott against American business = activism

Americans organize boycott against Mexican business = racism

[clawrence3]

Yeah - ain't that the way it is with women - I don't prefer Fashion Island as much as Crystal Cove, down PCH from you, which has plenty of the shops we like too.

[clawrence3]

Who said "Americans organizing a boycott against Mexican business = racism"? I said "good for you" and good luck matching our boycott of Costa Mesa.

[kcvl]

Nativo Lopez, formerly of the Corrupt 'Hermandad Mexicana Nacional' Now Head of MAPA

Lopez plays a prominent dual role as a local school board member and as national co-director of Hermandad Mexicana Nacional -- the Mexican National Brotherhood -- a sizable non-profit community service organization for immigrant families.

Lopez is no stranger to controversy. The voter-registration efforts of HMN were at the heart of the lengthy but inconclusive Congressional investigation into the results of the 1996 House election in which Loretta Sanchez narrowly defeated incumbent Bob Dornan.

******

LOPEZ IS PRESIDENT of the Mexican American Political Association and a leading force behind Hermandad Mexicana Nacional (Mexican National Brotherhood), a tax-exempt non-profit formed to aid undocumented workers which nevertheless dabbles in partisan affairs--so much so that it's been the subject of an election-fraud investigation.

Until last year, "Nativo" (his real first name is Larry) was a Democrat. Then he switched to the Green party to join the Nader-Camejo presidential juggernaut. Lopez's own brush with elected office was even more calamitous. Elected a decade ago to a seat on the Santa Ana school board of trustees, Lopez was recalled by residents of Orange County (just months before Gray Davis met the same fate) for his refusal to comply with California's Proposition 227, which ended bilingual education in public schools. The recall vote wasn't close: Lopez lost by a 40-point margin. He said he wanted to make Spanish California's primary language; he was rejected in every precinct of the most Spanish-speaking city in America.

http://tinyurl.com/9m72v

[kcvl]

* President of the Mexican American Political Association

* Routinely hurls charges of "racism" at his political adversaries

* Supports the granting of drivers' licenses to illegal aliens

* When asked about an alternative that would place a special mark on California drivers' licenses to distinguish between legal residents and illegal aliens, Lopez declared that the latter "do not want to be the Jews of Nazi Germany in California" and "will not be the new black slaves of the sureños states of the United States in this state."

* Participated in voter fraud


During his 2000 reelection bid, Lopez was accused of raising nearly $150,000 from architects with business before the school board. Two years later, an Orange County Register exposé alleged that Lopez received $100,000 in contributions to his nonprofit group, Citizens in Action, from Del Terra Real Estate Services--before that company received a no-bid contract to build schools in Santa Ana. That same year, the Register also reported that "a Santa Ana nonprofit has agreed to pay more than $600,000 to the U.S. Government to settle a case in which prosecutors alleged that Hermandad Mexicana Nacional leader Nativo Lopez wrongly diverted grant money meant for English classes for immigrants."


Lopez is wont to hurl accusations of "racism" at those who disagree with him politically. Over the past two decades, he has used "racism" or "racist" to describe INS drug raids, rental standards, and the state positions of local candidates and ballot measures. Small wonder the Wall Street Journal once labeled him "the Al Sharpton of Southern California for his ethnic demagogy."

[kcvl]

Sep 2005 11:14 PM PDT

As a result of publicity about the advocacy of cock-fighting that Nativo Lopez has pushed through his organization, the Mexican American Political Association, Lopez appears to be drawing back somewhat from his whole-hearted embrace of this repulsive back-alley entertainment.

[kcvl]

Police sweeps are nothing new, Lopez said, but now police and politicians are using fears brought on by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to justify a public policy that they say will help cut crime.

“The fallacy of these arguments about crime and security is that they have been tried before, but previously the anti-immigrant crowd did not have the Twin Towers as their big fig leaf,” Lopez said.

[NewRomeTacitus]

We are ALL Communists?!

If your allies are ANSWER and the ACLU you can't help people mistaking you for one. "Lie down with dogs..."

[ozarkgirl]

Since the 1st of the year, my wife and I (okay, mainly my wife) have spent THOUSANDS at South Coast Plaza and Crystal Court. -snip- Are you 2 planning to spend more than that?

I've been reading your posts and trying to figure you out. Obviously OBL's are business driven by cheap labor. So here's my take, you are wealthy, you love your possessions, you will do whatever it takes to acquire more wealth and more possessions trying to boost your own sense of worth (i.e. the boastful remark "are you planning to spend more than that?"). Keeping up with the Joneses is not an option, you ARE the Joneses.

You will do whatever it takes to increase your possessions even if it means selling out your country.

These patriots who are standing up for America may not be rich, but they have morals and character. I admire them greatly. You may not be a Bible believing man but it was written "For the love of money is the root of all evil", then there's "You can't take it with you" and of course "The one who dies with the most toys...Wins!".

I'm curious, what are you trying to achieve in your lifetime?

[clawrence3]

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

[spectre]

"I said "good for you" and good luck matching our boycott of Costa Mesa."

You said "our"? Care to elaborate?

sw

[spectre]

Girl..I've been around FR for a long time, and the one thing I've learned is there are people who come here and claim all sorts of things that aren't necessarily so.

Most of us can see right thru BS..and you know what I mean :)...sw

[ozarkgirl]

Girl..I've been around FR for a long time, and the one thing I've learned is there are people who come here and claim all sorts of things that aren't necessarily so.

Oh I see. I guess I've been fortunate in my life, I grew up in an area where we can still take a person for their word. On a forum like Free Republic, anyone could say anything. I like my world better.