Santa Ana rocked by Chicano rioters
It took me an hour and a half to pick up my daughter from Santa Ana High School today. Normally I can pick her up in half an hour. Today however the rioters ruled the night. Reportedly there were police officers from ten cities engaged in protecting the County Hall of Administration, the County Courthouse and the Ronald Reagan Federal Building.
I saw plenty as I inched down Bristol, then Raitt, then McFadden. There was an endless parade of cars and light trucks. Many of the latter featured Latino youths in the beds of the trucks, holding Mexican flags. That is of course not safe, but it is also quite stupid. What were these people thinking? All they did was scare the area voters. Lupe Moreno should do quite well now in the upcoming primary for the 34th State Senate District.
The real damage wrought by the protestors lies in the moderate voters that they ar now turning against them. One of the ladies at my office had Clipper box seat tickets this weekend. She got caught in the maelstrom of rioters. She and her son never made it to the game. She never thought about immigration before – now she wants the border secured. Can’t say that I blame her.
I have to wonder if Nativo Lopez orchestrated the riots in Santa Ana? It sure looked like his handiwork. He is famous for convincing young people to skip school in order to work on political campaigns. He is now the head of MAPA, an organization dedicated to Latinos interested in political power. I guess he has a subcommittee dedicated to rioting.
So much for the Santa Ana City Council’s effort to portray this city as the heart of Orange County. The PR campaign was trashed by the protestors today. There was not much to be proud of in Santa Ana today.
This was the largest in-kind-contributionthis year–from thousands of kids in Santa Ana & Garden Grove to Lupe MOreno’s campaign.
Yes, even though I am not supporting Lupe, I agree.
Art,
I will be posting on the rediculous display by the students in Santa Ana tomorrow. There is no defense in the way many behaved. But think about what you posted about your co-worker wanting to secure the border because she missed the Clippers game. First of all, the event on Saturday was not a riot, even though you claim it was. Even law and order LA Police Chief William Bratton commended the bahavior of the protesters on Saturday. Of course Reps rarely care about THE TRUTH and embrace their own form of truthiness.
Think about the statement- We should stop immigration because I missed the Clippers game. That makes as much sense as me calling for the removal of all Caucasians from America because a caucasian kid ruined my special edition copy of Uncanny X-MEN #300.
Therefore get the facts straight. Saturday, large protest, not a riot. Today, not a riot but a very unruly protest with those who got out of hand deserving punishment. Oh I forget, Republicans are allergic to facts- my bad!
Either way, the behavior of those who tried to storm the county building, the behavior of those who spit on Villaraigosa when he told them to go back to school is inexcusable. Those who behaved like hoodlums are an embarassment to all that the Immigrants rights movement have faught for.
Activists set their cause back 50 years with that display in Santa Ana. Did you notice how many Vietnamise students were protesting? (and there are tens of thousands in Santa Ana, G.G., Westminster) No, the Vietnamise kids were too busy preparing for college and exit exams. Yes, one or two percent of the protesting kids may make it into college but the vast majority will get married too young and raise another generation of protesters. And another generation of bleeding heart bloggers will blame it on everyone and everything other than the cause….bad parenting…..and bad kids. Art, Why would you choose to have your kids in SAUSD? Hopefully if you have more you will allow them to escape from that mess.
Art,
Why is that every time anything politically happens in Santa Ana, which goes to the contrary of your beliefs you blame Nativo Lopez. Nativo was in Los Angeles alongside the Mayor urging the students to go back to their schools. Shame on you for continuing to blame a person without evidence of any involvement. Let it go Art, please.
I agree with Luis on Nativo…Let it go…he does not spend much time in S.A. these days. He has bigger pescado to fry. At least Nativo was consistant. His message never changed depending on who he was talking to like Solario and Alvarez. I may not have liked everything he said or stood for, but I admire Mr. Lopez for being a man and not wimping out everytime the political winds changed. And for all the damage he supposedly did in Santa Ana unified school district, I don’t see any vast improvment. The only guy on that board who makes any sense is John Palacio. I wish Mr. Palacio would run for the City Council and shake things up at the city. He like Nativo, is a strong Latino leader, unlike many of the feminized Latino types that gravitate towards politics today.
I am one of the many student protesters in Santa Ana. Let me get some things clear. We were peacefully protesting! Doesnt the first amendment say “The right to freedom of peaceful assembly?” The only reason why things got out of hand was because one of the police officers pushed and shoved a young man while he was standing near him. Would you expect us to stand there and take it? I think not! You wouln’t either. For the ignorant people who say ‘yes’ i would like to be there when some one slaps you and not take action for that! As for the “where were the vietnamese?” That makes no sence my family comes from no mexican background and I was there.
While the debate continues on the immigration issue, I would like all of us to be mindful that what we are debating affects human beings and more importantly the children. I fully understand how emotional this issue is and as the debate continues can we be mindful that the children are scared.
I just left an intermediate school where the children were given an opportunity to voice their fears and concerns. I was overwhelmed and in awe on how many of the 7th/8th grade students were extremely articulate in discussing their fears and concerns regarding the events of the week and just how well-informed they were.
Not all Santa Ana students participated in the protests and I was very impressed with what I heard today.
We really can be proud of 95% of our students.
Sincerely,
Bernedette Medrano
Executive Director
Santa Ana Education Foundation
Sylvia –
The First Amendment guarantees freedom of expression and numerous SAUSD students peacefully exercised that right.
I’ve struggled to write something
profound and moving to calm this debate and I keep going back to the time I and several classmates ditched class to protest the Viet Nam war. Parents were not pleased with our actions, however the wisdom of the priests and nuns prevailed.
They took our action as a sign to
open up the communication between parent, student and community. Meetings and special assemblies were implemented to discuss the war, draft, nationalism and killing.
School administrators and parents could have been heavy handed, but they seized the opportunity to recognize that our generation was scared, frightend and angry that we were being saddled with fighting a war that we did not support or understand. Not only was this war being fought thousands of miles away but it was also being fought in our living rooms every night and thousands of Americans were dying. Family members and friends were dying. We could no longer be silent if our government was expecting us to bear the burden of this war. A war we believed to be unjust.
Too often adults disregard the voice of our youth and that’s a mistake. It’s unfortunate outside agitators ruined what was to be a peaceful demonstration. I do not support violence of any kind, but I understand why the students left their classrooms to protest. People will say the students should have protested over the weekend, but the student effort would have been overshadowed. It is my hope that this protest opens the doors of communications with your parents,neighbors, and fellow students.
Most seniors will be eligible to vote in June. It’s important that you vote. Take to the streets and encourage your peers to register and vote.
Many people will attempt to discredit what you did, but do let them discourage you. What’s taking place in Washington DC will have an impact on many families in our community. I ask you to join me and others as we protest this Saturday in Costa Mesa.
BTW … I’d do it again in a New York minute. It was a life defining moment for me.
Imagine
I was very suprised in what you had to say. I appriciate it. Of coarse I would like to join you for the protest this Saturday. Let me know the basic information and I will try to make. Chances are I will. I would not want to miss an event like that.
Imagine
I was very suprised in what you had to say. I appriciate it. Of coarse I would like to join you for the protest this Saturday. Let me know the basic information and I will try to make. Chances are I will. I would not want to miss an event like that.
Imagine
I was very suprised in what you had to say. I appriciate it. Of coarse I would like to join you for the protest this Saturday. Let me know the basic information and I will try to make. Chances are I will. I would not want to miss an event like that.
Sylvia,
You can say that again!