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Scuffle reported in front of Simi Valley church
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More from County NewsSimi Valley police responded Sunday morning to a complaint about a scuffle between a neighbor and a protester at a church sheltering an illegal immigrant as part of a national sanctuary movement.
A church neighbor confronted one of three protesters in front of the United Church of Christ on Royal Avenue around 11:11 a.m. One of the protesters claimed to have been assaulted by the neighbor, and the neighbor claimed to have been sprayed with pepper spray, Lt. Greg Riegert said.
"There was no videotaping and no independent witnesses," Riegert said.
The incident was documented and referred to the District Attorney's Office, Riegert said. In the past, there have been scuffles between protesters and counterprotesters.
"This is the first that I'm aware of a neighbor being involved," Riegert said.
Posted by dumpsterr on December 24, 2007 at 5:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If this church wants to get into politics they should have to start paying taxes.
Posted by UncleRico on December 24, 2007 at 6:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I know. Lets bill the Church for this little incident. After all, by taking a stance on a hot button issue, the Church "invited" the three protestors to show up and protest. And by taking a stance against the Church's position, the three protestors "invited" the neighbor to effectively protest the protestors which "invited" the protestors to pull out the pepper spray. This, in turn, "invited" the neighbor to assault the protestor which resulted in the police being called which may ultimately result in the DA prosecuting someone. So you see, it really IS all the Church's fault so they should be held finanically accountable.
Posted by GuideDog on December 24, 2007 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Such is the stuff of which the careers of local office holders is made.
Merry Christmas.
Posted by Poppa on December 24, 2007 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The neighbor is probably sick of these hatemongers coming from outside of Simi Valley and illegally using bullhorns to disrupt a church service. These Christ haters need to stay out of Simi and their GOP backers should stop paying them to come here as I have heard they are paid trouble makers!
Posted by AnnaWhaat on December 24, 2007 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Doc,I agree! Im sure the neighbors are sick and tired of the bullhorns and yelling going on all the time. They need to just back off for awhile ! This is getting out of hand by a bunch of hot heads! Good grief! Christmas Sunday and this goes on.......... Obviously the hate mongers were not in Church ! Not saying I agree or disagree with what the Church is doing but come on enough is enough and people are there to worship NOT to hear bullhorns from these protestors!!!!!
Posted by 3rdAmmnendment on December 24, 2007 at 11:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Doc and AnnaWhaat!
It sounds like you are the hatemongers!!
If I was a neighbor I am sure it would annoy me also but , for whatever reason, the church is getting away with scheltering illegals. As usual there is no federal or local enforcement of our laws. So who is left to enforce our laws but a militia, or protesters in this case, which is stated in the constitution.
Posted by vcsexplorer11 on December 24, 2007 at 12:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
3rdAmmendment
I agree with you.
Every time someone speaks up on enforcing illegal immigration law they play the race card. I wonder what these same people would say if another race, lets say chinese, had broken the same laws and millions of chinese immigrants were protected by the church. Would they be willing to press 1 for chinese when they make a call. It's not a race issue, though some want to make it that way, it's a American issue and a law issue.
Posted by Poppa on December 24, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am willing to bet if the illegal in the church was a blond and blue eyed model type from Sweden no one would be protesting. The California GOP had an illegal working for them from 2001-2006, despite the person being ordered deported in 2001, and guess what, no protestors.
Posted by rg on December 24, 2007 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What evidence do you have that the protesters are backed or funded by the GOP? In this state they could be anything.
Frankly, if I lived next door and had to put up with this week after week. I'd make sure to install a sprinker that was "mis-installed" or find other ways to keep these idiots away.
Posted by SimiValley on December 24, 2007 at 7:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What I don't understand is how the SVPD hasn't been able to devote a single officer to watching this out of town violent group from assaulting people. This is the second time they have pepper sprayed someone and so far no arrests have been made.
This group targeted the neighbors because they thought they were illegal aliens. Why? The color of their skin? Did they look illegal?
An out of town group is coming here and provoking people for their race.
Please SVPD watch them! Their type of antics don't belong here.
Posted by SimiValley on December 25, 2007 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a race issue because the neighbors were targeted because of their race. How many weeks does it take a person with a bullhorn outside of a home calling a family illegal aliens before something happens. There is a clear and present danger being created that should be carefully watched.
Posted by KathrynAsh on December 25, 2007 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This doesn't have anything to do with the GOP, the GOP are the idiots refusing to build the Fence or doing anything to deport the 600,000 absconders. The Save Our State protesters are patriots. Every country has the right to defend their borders and stop illegal immigration, it's not about race, it's about national sovereignty. The illegal alien defenders are just playing the race card because they know they've broken the law. Legal immigrants have to wait up to 10 years to legally immigrate to the US, why should illegals get to sneak in and stay? The US is a country of laws, not absconders.
Posted by SimiValley on December 25, 2007 at 8:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree that not everyone that wants to enforce our laws is a racist but Save Our State and their followers work with racists.
Check out minute 4 and on from this video and you will see proof they work with Neo-Nazis. One of their leaders is on a first name basis and thanks them for their support.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=CW-bbs-zOaU
SOS works with and encourages Neo-Nazis. Last time I checked being a patriot would mean supporting the America that smashed Nazism, not supporting it.
Posted by johnsmith on December 25, 2007 at 10:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
KathryAsh, Funny how I hear "US is a country of laws" when the very birth of the US was a crimimal act - treason againts England. Just because something isn't legal doesn't mean its morally right after all it was once illegal to be free in this country if you were black. The simi Valley Church obeys higher laws of morality... the laws of Christ.
Posted by santabarbarasand on December 27, 2007 at 12:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Churches and citizens have housed illegals since this country began. Just look at the Underground Railroad! Those immigrants were here against their will! The problem isn't the issue of immigration, or that people are harboring immigrants. The problem is that some people have too much time on their hands and NEED to find an issue or a cause to devote themselves to because they do not have enough of a personal and professional life to keep them busy. Maybe we could get those people to donate their time doing something that actually helps the US, like pick up trash, feed the homeless or paint over grafitti...
Patriots support the country by being positive influences to the community. They work hard, support the troops, support their local community, teach others about tolerance (considering that this country was FOUNDED on immigration, tolerance should be front and foremost) and be a positive influence to our youth. To protest outside of a church is silly and stupid. Go get a job or volunteer somewhere!!
Posted by santabarbarasand on December 27, 2007 at 1:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh and if someone was picketing out near my house and throwing around hate, I'd call the cops every 5 minutes until they were banned from the area. The church could have gotten a restraining order... so could the residents. There ARE legal ways to deal with nuasances and the cops WILL comply, especially if there are several complaints. We had a car that's alarm was going off every 10 minutes one night. After a few hours of this, I called the police and found that they had several complaints but couldn't locate the owner. The police came out and the alarm didn't go off during the 5 minutes he was here. I got him to come out again and while here, the alarm went off. He saw what was driving the neighborhood crazy and they towed it out of here. Technically, they aren't supposed to do that unless the alarm goes off for 30 minutes solid but after seeing how many neighbors were outside glaring at the vehicle and my opinion that if he didn't get it towed, it would be damaged by sleepy people who wanted the noise to stop, the officer made the choice to take it away. Officers have a great deal of discretion and their job is to do what is BEST. Complaints spur them to action, especially if they see there may be a situation where violence could occur, they will want to avoid it.
Posted by finnmcgowan on December 27, 2007 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
@johnsmith - Interesting points. Thanks.
Posted by ministep3 on January 3, 2008 at 10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Those protesters are backed by Social Security. They are just a few old and ignorant fools with nothing better to do. If they want to really protest, I defy them to stand in front of Home Depot in the Valley.
Posted by archer on January 4, 2008 at 7:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Has anyone here even READ the US Constitution?
I sure sounds like they haven't and are a bunch of whiners defending a law breaker. This women has already convicted of breaking into the US.
The namecalling is the refuge of an empty mind.
If the church decided to 'sanctuary' a convicted male pedofile, what then? it's the same thing folks. US citizens can freely protested in from of the church until the police arrested the criminal. Don't like it, tough. It's about obeying a legitament law. Without law, we have anarchy.
Posted by archer on January 9, 2008 at 1:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
YourTube video of this matter at LINK ..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daxOhU...
More Found OFF 'No More invasion' eyewitness comments and PHOTOS LINK:
http://www.nomoreinvasion.com/forum/i...
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