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Racists Chased
out of Baldwin Park Again
June 26, 2005
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 On
Saturday, June 25 over 600 counter-protesters took to the streets to
defeat a racist anti-immigrant demonstration called by Save Our State
and the Minutemen. On their second attempt in a month to intimidate the
overwhelmingly Latino community of Baldwin Park, Save Our State only
mobilized 45 bigots for their racist attack on Danzas Indigenas, a
monument that honors Indigenous, Mexican and Latino Heritage.
Anti-racist protesters organized a rally to defend the monument and the
community from these racist groups.
By 12:30 pm, many counter-protesters had made their way around police
barricaded streets to face off with the racists. The racists were
gathered a block away from the monument at the Corner of Downing &
Pacific.
By 1 pm counter-protesters were pouring down Pacific Avenue toward the
racists. Police then moved to protect Save Our State and the Minutemen,
blocking new counter-protestors from reaching the corner. In response,
counter-protesters took over the street, swelling to 300 people and
chanting loudly, "Racists Go Home!" and "The Streets Belong to the
People!"
Across the whole street a line of banners and placards pressed up
against the police line. The ANSWER banners read, "Say no to Racism!
Diga No al Racismo! Down with SOS/Minutemen/KKK" and "Alto a la Guerra
Contra los Inmigrantes" Protesters chanted and drummed, shaking their
fists until Save Our State was forced to disband in defeat just like
they were on May 14 in Baldwin Park and on June 18 in Alhambra.
Counter-protesters then staged a victory march back to the monument. At
the monument hundreds of protesters greeted the march with raised fists
in a powerful symbol of militancy and solidarity.
Anti-racists protesters pledged to continue to defend the monument and
confront Save Our State whenever and wherever they mobilize to attack
the immigrant community. Along with other anti-racist groups, ANSWER is
mobilizing to protest the Minutemen along the Mexico/California border
in July 2005. Call 323-464-1636 to get involved.
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