Posted on 05/15/2005 9:02:34 AM PDT by LouAvul
BALDWIN PARK, Calif. (AP) - A 12-year-old piece of public art has sparked a protest by a group that opposes illegal immigration.
The 20-foot-high arch has inscriptions that read, "It was better before they came" and "This land was Mexican once, was Indian always and is, and will be again."
It has angered members of Save Our State, a 7-month-old organization based in Ventura, which organized a protest Saturday that gained attention when it was announced on a local radio station.
"I find it incredibly offensive," said Joseph Turner, the group's executive director. He said the quotation "is seditious in nature. It essentially talks about returning this land to Mexico."
Turner said he wants the offending quotations removed before the Fourth of July.
The artwork, called "Danza Indigenas," was created by artist Judy Baca and commissioned by the city.
She said the structure is a "layered history piece" that honors American Indians, immigrants and others who have lived over the centuries on the land now known as Baldwin Park.
Baca said that Save Our State's complaint over one of the quotes was misguided.
"It was better before they came" was uttered by someone Baca described as "a white man from Arkansas, a civic leader" who was complaining about the arrival of Mexican Americans after World War II.
"When it went on the arch, its ambiguity became profound," she said. "The 'they' could be any 'they.'"
The protest turned into a heated two-hour rally with protesters on both sides taunting each other and arguing face-to-face before police arrived.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Hello Everyone,
XXXXX just called me (8:00 pm Texas time) and wanted me to tell you all that she was just released and that they expect
her to be allright. She was held overnight and after another Doctor read her CAT scan, they realized that she didn't have bleeding in her brain as was reported.
She was amazed how many people were concerned about her and how we all knew what had happened. Max made contact with
her today and told her that the internet was buzzing about it. I told her that I had heard that the Terry Anderson show would be talking about the Baldwin Park
rally/riot and she asked that I ask XXX to let them know that she is allright, she said that she has a bad headache, but will recover and is now at home.
She also said that there will be an ongoing investigation as to who may have been the one that assaulted
her with the bottle. They are now asking for any photos and tapes that were taken, to check to see if any would show evidence. So please review your tapes and photos
and if you have anything that may be needed, contact them at S.O.S. (save our state.org).
She said that she doesn't feel up to giving interviews at the present time, but does appreciate everyones concern and
prayers! She said "we really ARE Family, aren't we!?!"
Please pass this along to others that were concerned so they'll know, our Dottie is home and will be allright after
some rest. And keep those prayers going! They work!
~##### XXX' (Texas Minuteman Volunteer)
I agree. A turning point was reached with this rally. At one time I did not believe those who predicted there'd be a civil war and blood in our streets over this issue. I believe them now.
Let's not get melodramatic.
This should be a huge black eye for the AP, the LAT, and (as if they needed more black eyes) ANSWER.
If you want to do something about this, let me suggest contacting all forms of news media and show where the AP and the LAT were lying and suggest that those sources cover the truth.
"News media" includes popular bloggers. If a large number of bloggers covered this, it might eventually seep its way into fairly truthful MSM reports.
As it is now, there are dozens of AP reports just released that say no one was injured and that have the headline "Artwork angers Calif. immigration foes".
If you have the time, search at news.google.com and contact a few of the papers that printed that AP report. Suggest that they vet future AP reports for accuracy, and CC feedback at ap.org on your emails.
And, contact readers.rep at latimes.com with your polite comments suggesting that they have little or no credibility.
And, contact so-called media watchdogs suggesting that they compare the LAT's report with the pictures and video here.
So great to here she's going to be alright. I thought for a moment that the lady was "I'dRatherBePainting" but realized this was California, not Arizona where she spreads terror upon illegal invaders.
U.S. Constitution Article 1 Section 8 Clause 15:
"The Congress shall have Power to provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections
"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,
2. A warlike or hostile entrance into the possessions or domains of another; the incursion of an army for conquest or plunder. [1913 Webster]
3. The incoming or first attack of anything hurtful or pernicious; as, the invasion of a disease.
I don't know why, but every time I see that boy's picture I have this overwhelming urge to check actions, clean and relube. I'd much rather have the guy from "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" living near me than that tattooed career criminal.
What's the deal with those gangers, anyway? Since they feel their skin is their life record do they have it peeled and cured upon passing? I'm not up on the new neotribalism.
I think we could all have a great time drinking tequila shots with the old guy from the Treasure of the Sierra Madre. The tattoo gangster would kill you and your entire family.
More like ...Recepción a los mohows de los Estados Unidos de América.
¡Las manos arriba !
How do you do upside down exclamation marks in FR replies? I can do them in MS Word, but not here.
It's on my keyboard.....Logitec wireless....¡¡¡¡¡....;o)
There's a first-hand report from the opposition here:
polizeros.com/2005/05/15.html#a5412
He posted more pictures here:
la.indymedia.org/news/2005/05/126478.php
Once again, the best thing you can do about this is try to discredit those who are covering for these people, and perhaps force them into telling the truth.
Please contact news services including bloggers and let's see if we can get some accurate coverage of this incident.
Any word about the condition of the woman?
Any declaration of overthrow of the United Sates should be met by enforcement of federal law.
They are always referred to as zenophobe, racist, etc. Nothing new here. The open border crowd is so quick to use the racist card here that being called a racist by them means absolutely nothing.
Thanks for posting the information about the lady's condition. Big BUMP to the top.
Yep. It's usually best to just ignore the French wing.
Seditious bastards.
I wonder if there will be another demonstration soon??
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