Civic Center
This building is used for meetings, dances, and other activities. It can be rented and used by anyone. It has a kitchen and eating area too.
http://www.selah.k12.wa.us/PartnerLink97/AnsteyH/recreation.html
Posted on 10/19/2006 11:03:05 AM PDT by Res Nullius
Minutemen can't meet at Selah venue By ROD ANTONE YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC
Citing safety and manpower concerns, Selah Civic Center administrators have denied meeting space to a local chapter of the controversial Minuteman Civil Defense Corps.
The group had asked to hold regular Sunday afternoon meetings in the center, which is owned by the city of Selah and operated by a city-appointed board.
But Vern Larson, the board's chairman, confirmed the board turned down the application on the police department's recommendation.
"We usually abide by what police suggest," Larson said.
Bob Dameron, the Minuteman chapter leader, said a letter denying the request -- and a check refunding the group's $75 deposit on the space -- arrived in the mail Wednesday.
"It's absolutely removing our constitutional right to meet," Dameron said. "We have good, clean outstanding people in our organization. Personally, I'd like to fight this, but it's not up to me. I'm going to take it up our chain of command and see what they want to do."
The Arizona-based Minuteman organization has gained national attention as a citizen watchdog group whose members patrol U.S. borders and report illegal activities to law enforcement. Although the group claims to be nonviolent, Chief Rick Gutierrez of the Selah police said he was concerned about documented clashes in other parts of the country between the organization and those protesting them.
"If 20 protesters and 20 Minutemen get into it, the four officers I have on day shift won't be able to handle that," Gutierrez said. "I'd have to call in officers on overtime, Sheriff's Office, State Patrol, Yakima (police). We just don't have the resources to handle something like that."
Dameron couldn't say how many people Minuteman meetings could draw. A number of local members are out of town patrolling borders, he said. The civic center can accommodate 105 people.
Earlier this week, Minuteman protesters at a Portland day-labor pick-up site encountered some rock throwing and shouting matches. And earlier this month, students at New York's Columbia University attacked Minuteman founder Jim Gilchrist, who'd been invited to speaker to the Columbia College Republicans.
Minutemen have also been being arrested or placed under police protection during demonstrations in largely Hispanic neighborhoods in California.
Chief Gutierrez noted that his concerns are not just for the community and residents, but for protesters and Minuteman members themselves.
"It's a double-edged sword. If we allow them to meet and someone gets hurt, we'll be blamed. And if we don't let them meet, people will say we're discriminating against them," he said.
Local immigrant-rights advocacy groups -- whose members worry about the fact that Minutemen are armed while they patrol borders -- are closely watching the organization and promise protests if the group gathers.
"We would definitely be there," said Maria Cuebas of Aguilas De Norte. "Undocumented immigrants are protected by our Constitution, and no one has the right to detain another person.
"But I would hope that this wouldn't erupt into anything violent or negative."
Selah Mayor Bob Jones said the Minuteman request puts the city in a "tough spot."
"It puts us in a curious decision, because we don't have a lot of police officers in case there is a confrontation," he said. "But people have constitutional rights, freedom of speech, freedom to gather. That's what this country is built upon."
* Rod Antone can be reached at 577-7628 or rantone@yakima-herald.com
I was just wondering the same thing; since when did "budget concerns" have anything at all to do with whether the people have the right to assemble and speak their piece?
Basically what they are saying is if anybody objects to your being there they can deny your right because it might cost too much?
I don't think so.
I don't need a permit if I have a gathering on my property.
Some places you do. Being a political gathering as opposed to a family gathering.
Yes, they can deny you the use of their facilities if it would risk busting the municipal budget.
"It's a double-edged sword. If we allow them to meet and someone gets hurt, we'll be blamed. And if we don't let them meet, people will say we're discriminating against them,"
So it seems you choose to discriminate against the Minute Men in favor of the Protestors.
Careful with the P.A./music/noise ordnances -- just meet in the park or in front of city hall...
Mayhaps they weill see it is better to permit them to meet inside in public spaces...
If they go nazi... and try to forbid the peaceable assembly.. and/or the redress of grievances...
Cry havoc ---> loose the dogs of courtroom drama...
IMHO
No, we'll say you're too chicken-sh** to stand up to mobs that seek to stifle basic Constitutional rights of the Minutemen to peaceably assemble.
Try thinking through this a bit.
Because the Minutemen are threatened unlawfully, the town will not allow them to meet. What kind of message does that send?
Be MORE violent next time and you'll REALLY be able to stifle your opposition. That is why the town needs to stand up to the thugs, and call in help from the State Police if needed to arrest the thugs.
Then call in the State Police to stand up to criminal intimidation. Or else we'll just get more if it by rewarding it.
Bump.
No, FREEDOM OF PEACEABLE ASSEMBLY is protected by our Constitution. And your goons are trying to prevent such. Which is not a right, BUT A CRIME.
The State of Washington needs to crack down on this.
Problem: the municipality must then compensate the state government for the cost of the State Police coverage. The cost is still there. The usual rule of thumb is that the group requesting the facility covers the additional costs incurred, whatever their nature or their cause.
Then the city should have thought about that before building a PUBLIC convention center with PUBLIC funds.
That's the last thing we need now. Whatever one's views might be on illegal immigration and the Minutemen, rewarding left-wing thug behavior by denying them a permit will only engender a lot more left-wing thug behavior.
Civic Center
This building is used for meetings, dances, and other activities. It can be rented and used by anyone. It has a kitchen and eating area too.
http://www.selah.k12.wa.us/PartnerLink97/AnsteyH/recreation.html
Funny, I don't recall the Klan getting billed for the police costs of one of their marches.
A critical role of government is to enforce basic Constitutional provisions. At all levels. Kowtowing to thugs is a gross abdication of such, and only encourages more of such. And that is the case no matter what you might feel about the Minutemen.
That's a fairly idiotic argument.
The general rule of thumb is that if your event is likely to impose large unplanned costs on the municipality in question, your organization gets to cover those costs. Always has been, always will be.
She said, checking the shine on her jack boots in the mirror.
And you would know the detailed bits and pieces of the Klan's budget because . . . ?
They get billed, at least around here. I once pulled overtime to protect Tommy Metzger's fat a$$ when he lived in Fallbrook and had a march down in San Diego. Yes, the KKK covered the costs.
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