We the People's City Council Meeting in Huntington Park

One of Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals states: “A good tactic is one your people enjoy.”

Another radical rule: “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.”

In Huntington Park, CA, pro-enforcement activists known as “We the People Rising” have not stopped protesting, embarrassing, and harassing the four city council members who appointed two illegal aliens to city commissions. And we are loving every minute of it.

The frustrated city council hates our attacks so much, they tried to alter the times for public comment, hoping that Robin Hvidston and her merry crew (including myself) would slink away in defeat. Instead, we found a way to turn “lemons into something wonderful”, in the words of Wes Parker. While the council fled into closed session, we removed to a side meeting room, and held a forum on our efforts. For months, we struggled to find a quiet meeting place to plan our next events and discuss strategy. Sometimes, members of our group would talk over each other or lose focus. Now, in the think of the battle, we can work together, discuss our progress and the next steps to remove the illegal aliens, force out the city council, and send the right message to all cities in the state of California.

Having fun is essential to good, conservative activism. Without the enjoyment, people taper off and stop showing up. Another Alinsky rule: “A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag.”

Instead of simply showing up and yelling, We the People Rising are relying on every method to keep up the pressure on the Huntington Park City Council, and bring down the rogue members who have broken the law with impunity.

November 3^rd, 2015 was not just a victory for pro-life, pro-liberty, and pro-family forces across the country, but in the “City of Perfect Balance”, more residents and concerned citizens throughout Southern California turned up to turn up the heat.

The city council misjudged their calculated folly in appointing Julian Zatarain and Francisco Medina. Because of the city’s long relationship with fellow amnestarian state senator Ricardo Lara (who already violated the First Amendment rights of We the People Rising before), our group has twice the incentive to stay and fight on.

Traffic has gotten tighter for our group traveling to HP every two weeks, but we still manage to make it and make our case. This time, I brought a vocal fighter for the constitutional cause, Arthur Plourde. A man who wears his patriotism on his heart and sleeve (and even his neck tie), he took up my offer to ride with me. Omar Navarro, another Torrance, CA resident and candidate for Congress. He arrived  late, but came in strong. The son of Cuban immigrants, he blasted the city council’s lawlessness. Hear his comments here.

Vaughn Becht of Westminster, CA, had shouted at the council: “God bless Donald Trump. And. . .You’re Fired!” On November 3^rd, he brought an empty suit, and compared the unoccupied clothing with the city council, holding seats at the bidding of someone else.

Robert Newman, the same pastor whom the council threw out for saying “Yes!” three times, related some dark humor: “My Spanish is college learned. One man told me, if I really wanted to learn street Spanish, I should go to Huntington Park.” Loud laughter ensured. He then shamed the city council for avoiding the celebration of “Immigrants Day”, an obligation per federal law. Armed forces attended a wonderful event at the home and shop of HP resident Nick “The Greek” Ionnidis. Nick is a taxpayer, Chanell Temple announced to the council, and you should treat him with respect. For a city which boasts about its love and respect for immigrants, the city council could not take one hour to attend the October 28^th “Immigrants Day” celebration: “Shame on you for not taking care of this man and persecuting him,” Stella Stephens railed.

Raul Rodriguez lectured the officials about the First Amendment, then seconded a motion to allow participants to write not just the day but the time in which they submitted their speaker cards :”We’re going to continue coming here, and tell you to wake up. . .We are constituents without borders.”

Wes Parker offered the best routine. First, he strolled up slowly to the podium, then ridiculed the council’s petty attempts to silence public, first moving comments on the agenda: “Welcome to criminal night in Huntington Park, once again! We want to know about your Christmas Day Parade!”

My turn. I didn’t crack a lot of jokes, but I had something better:  a letter from the Public Integrity Division of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. Putting force to measure, we have initiated an investigation against the city, and  we’re planning an Enforcement Tour to major law enforcement agencies in the next week.

Then came the other Arthur. First, he threatened to contact the US Attorney’s office to investigate the city, the the board of supervisors to have the city decertified. Ouch! His best quote of the night, excoriating the city council: “What a joke you are! Shame. Shame Shame! If you have any brains, you’re sitting on them!”

Mike McGetrick pointed out the potential in the city. He’s famous, too, for confronting Congressman Steve Knight (R-Palmdale) about his vote to continue funding executive amnesty. When McGetrick called him a liar, Knight threatened: “If you touch me again, I will drop your ass!” Getrick continues to drop in and oppose illegal immigration, and the politicians who enable it, particularly in Huntington Park,

At the end of the meeting, which none of us had attended before the public comment moved, I called out to Mayor Karina Macias: “Why won’t you answer my questions? You were so proud of what you did two months ago. Why are you running away?”

“I’m still proud”, Macias mouthed at me, very silently, turned away.

No she isn’t. None of them are. Ashamed and disgraced, the Huntington Park city council is receding.

And We the People are rising!