SaveOurState
07-01-2005, 12:41 PM
Baldwin Park Draws Large Numbers of Protestors, Police (http://www.coremg.net/newspapers.php?paper=pasadenaindependant&i=0&storyid=694)
Groups, protestors feud over sculptures text, ideology
By By Sahra Susman
Over 500 protestors and counter-protestors showed up at Baldwin Parks Metrolink station on Saturday with signs and flags, chanting and shouting to show their support or voice their opposition for what turned out to be a peaceful protest at a public sculpture.
At the center of contention on the corner of Ramona Boulevard and Downing is a 12-year-old sculpture commissioned by the city of Baldwin Park that contains, among others, phrases such as it was better before they came, and this land was Mexican once Indian always and will be again.
Anticipating the magnitude of the protest were almost 200 police officers from over 15 police agencies, including officers and equipment from the Glendale, Pasadena, Arcadia, Sierra Madre and Monrovia police departments. Captain Mike Taylor with the Baldwin Park Police Department said approximately 24 arrests were made Saturday, the majority for trespassing on the railroad tracks and other misdemeanors.
For the number of people that were here today it was relatively non-eventful and it was somewhat peaceful, Taylor said. Youre going to have a few agitators in the crowd. Thats normal, but other than that it was peaceful.
Fewer than 100 protestors, comprised mainly of the Southern California based group Save Our State (S.O.S.), but including some members of Arizonas Minute Man Project, claim that the public sculpture is anti-American, seditious and racist.
WHO THEY ARE
The counter protestors, comprised of some 40-50 different groups totaling an estimated 400-500 people, including Los Angeles artist Judy Baca, who sculpted the arch, say the sculpture has never been a point of contention and that it is the target of a racist hate group. Some Baldwin Park citizens say the group has descended on their community, made an issue where there was none and is costing the taxpayers money.
Police diverted traffic away from the intersection and cordoned off the sculpture itself. A parking lot divided the two groups of vocal demonstrators and restricted the movement of people between the two sides.
Im here supporting my people [the Mexican people] and speaking out against Save Our State, said counter-protestor Beatrice Viramontes. I was taken aback- these people are obviously educated and their statements were very ignorant and very malicious. One of the things that really got me was the statement that said the way our people are impacting the community is by turning it into a third-world cesspool. And that is, I believe, very offensive and very ignorant.
Joseph Turner, founder of the Ventura County based group S.O.S. said hes offended that a government entity would fund the monument. I find the language on the monument seditious and anti-American. I cant believe the monument was paid for by tax payer money and on tax payer land, he said.
Visual artist Judy Baca was at the protest and maintains that race, not her art, is at the center of this protest.
Pretty much what you can read on their [S.O.S] blogs, what they say is they think California is turning into a cesspool of immigrants, Baca said. Were not talking about people that are particularly interested in the monument at all, were talking about a hate group that is particularly interested in attacking the landscape- anything- that is Mexican.
Turner, a 28-year-old Ventura County stay-at-home dad, said by telephone, Its clearly, as far as Im concerned, referring to white Europeans. Turner, who noted the massive police presence, said his group wants to inflict economic pain on the City of Baldwin Park.
If they want to spend $100,000 every time we go to Baldwin Park, were going to find out how much they want the monument there, he said.
Turner said writing and e-mailing government representatives is a waste of time and believes in being aggressive in the face of opponents.
Baldwin Park resident Pacheco Eliso watched the protest from the sidewalk and commented on the cost to him and his city.
The last time was a $100,000, I bet you its going to be another $100,000 [and] for what- because we dont have freedom of expression? This guy [Joseph Turner] thats coming over here just because he wants to come in and demonstrate; and now he says he is trying to stop the immigration. What is supposed to [happen]? Knock the monument down? In the meantime, the city of Baldwin Park is paying attention to him and letting him come in and let him demonstrate here-and were spending my money.
Yaotl, a musician from the San Fernando Valley attending the protest, said that dialogue is the key for human understanding and harmony.
The people that were here demonstrating against the Minute Man, their idea was to use art and music as a way of dialoguing instead of a shouting match, Yaotl said. I think if you really want to believe or agree with the tenants of a democracy then everyone has the right to speak whatever they want to speak. But when you impose your ways through violence or through instigating people to get arrested, then thats unjust.
Turner, who says his group has been called racists, refused a request by the city to sign a peace pledge, but said he notified the city that they would be protesting and worked with them to satisfy their concerns.
Were supposedly the vigilantes but (e) havent violently attacked anybody, he said.
Baca says the group has slandered her from beginning to end and blames the media for giving a voice to those who have misinterpreted her artwork. She compares it to taking one line out of the context of a poem.
Its really important for people to study the monument and if they do that I think intelligent and reasonable people will see what it means, Baca said. She said the monument is not just about the two phrases that have sparked contention but about the other statements, too.
It has many statements on it and in fact the most important statement is missed entirely.
After the three-hour protest on Saturday the city of Baldwin Park has remained quiet. The police department said they were prepared, although they did not foresee any action in the immediate future.
Were monitoring it but as of now were not anticipating any [future protests], said Taylor of the Baldwin Park Police Department. In any event, well be prepared for it.
Groups, protestors feud over sculptures text, ideology
By By Sahra Susman
Over 500 protestors and counter-protestors showed up at Baldwin Parks Metrolink station on Saturday with signs and flags, chanting and shouting to show their support or voice their opposition for what turned out to be a peaceful protest at a public sculpture.
At the center of contention on the corner of Ramona Boulevard and Downing is a 12-year-old sculpture commissioned by the city of Baldwin Park that contains, among others, phrases such as it was better before they came, and this land was Mexican once Indian always and will be again.
Anticipating the magnitude of the protest were almost 200 police officers from over 15 police agencies, including officers and equipment from the Glendale, Pasadena, Arcadia, Sierra Madre and Monrovia police departments. Captain Mike Taylor with the Baldwin Park Police Department said approximately 24 arrests were made Saturday, the majority for trespassing on the railroad tracks and other misdemeanors.
For the number of people that were here today it was relatively non-eventful and it was somewhat peaceful, Taylor said. Youre going to have a few agitators in the crowd. Thats normal, but other than that it was peaceful.
Fewer than 100 protestors, comprised mainly of the Southern California based group Save Our State (S.O.S.), but including some members of Arizonas Minute Man Project, claim that the public sculpture is anti-American, seditious and racist.
WHO THEY ARE
The counter protestors, comprised of some 40-50 different groups totaling an estimated 400-500 people, including Los Angeles artist Judy Baca, who sculpted the arch, say the sculpture has never been a point of contention and that it is the target of a racist hate group. Some Baldwin Park citizens say the group has descended on their community, made an issue where there was none and is costing the taxpayers money.
Police diverted traffic away from the intersection and cordoned off the sculpture itself. A parking lot divided the two groups of vocal demonstrators and restricted the movement of people between the two sides.
Im here supporting my people [the Mexican people] and speaking out against Save Our State, said counter-protestor Beatrice Viramontes. I was taken aback- these people are obviously educated and their statements were very ignorant and very malicious. One of the things that really got me was the statement that said the way our people are impacting the community is by turning it into a third-world cesspool. And that is, I believe, very offensive and very ignorant.
Joseph Turner, founder of the Ventura County based group S.O.S. said hes offended that a government entity would fund the monument. I find the language on the monument seditious and anti-American. I cant believe the monument was paid for by tax payer money and on tax payer land, he said.
Visual artist Judy Baca was at the protest and maintains that race, not her art, is at the center of this protest.
Pretty much what you can read on their [S.O.S] blogs, what they say is they think California is turning into a cesspool of immigrants, Baca said. Were not talking about people that are particularly interested in the monument at all, were talking about a hate group that is particularly interested in attacking the landscape- anything- that is Mexican.
Turner, a 28-year-old Ventura County stay-at-home dad, said by telephone, Its clearly, as far as Im concerned, referring to white Europeans. Turner, who noted the massive police presence, said his group wants to inflict economic pain on the City of Baldwin Park.
If they want to spend $100,000 every time we go to Baldwin Park, were going to find out how much they want the monument there, he said.
Turner said writing and e-mailing government representatives is a waste of time and believes in being aggressive in the face of opponents.
Baldwin Park resident Pacheco Eliso watched the protest from the sidewalk and commented on the cost to him and his city.
The last time was a $100,000, I bet you its going to be another $100,000 [and] for what- because we dont have freedom of expression? This guy [Joseph Turner] thats coming over here just because he wants to come in and demonstrate; and now he says he is trying to stop the immigration. What is supposed to [happen]? Knock the monument down? In the meantime, the city of Baldwin Park is paying attention to him and letting him come in and let him demonstrate here-and were spending my money.
Yaotl, a musician from the San Fernando Valley attending the protest, said that dialogue is the key for human understanding and harmony.
The people that were here demonstrating against the Minute Man, their idea was to use art and music as a way of dialoguing instead of a shouting match, Yaotl said. I think if you really want to believe or agree with the tenants of a democracy then everyone has the right to speak whatever they want to speak. But when you impose your ways through violence or through instigating people to get arrested, then thats unjust.
Turner, who says his group has been called racists, refused a request by the city to sign a peace pledge, but said he notified the city that they would be protesting and worked with them to satisfy their concerns.
Were supposedly the vigilantes but (e) havent violently attacked anybody, he said.
Baca says the group has slandered her from beginning to end and blames the media for giving a voice to those who have misinterpreted her artwork. She compares it to taking one line out of the context of a poem.
Its really important for people to study the monument and if they do that I think intelligent and reasonable people will see what it means, Baca said. She said the monument is not just about the two phrases that have sparked contention but about the other statements, too.
It has many statements on it and in fact the most important statement is missed entirely.
After the three-hour protest on Saturday the city of Baldwin Park has remained quiet. The police department said they were prepared, although they did not foresee any action in the immediate future.
Were monitoring it but as of now were not anticipating any [future protests], said Taylor of the Baldwin Park Police Department. In any event, well be prepared for it.