Terry S
01-27-2006, 03:38 PM
Taken from: http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_970017.php
Friday, January 27, 2006
Minutemen founder sues over parade
Jim Gilchrist's lawyer says it's a First Amendment issue that the Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade is excluding the anti-illegal immigration group.
By JOHN McDONALD
The Orange County Register
SANTA ANA – Anti-illegal immigration advocate Jim Gilchrist filed a lawsuit today seeking to force Laguna Beach and organizers of the city's Patriots Day Parade to allow the Minuteman Project, which he co-founded, to participate in the March 4 event.
Minuteman lawyer Richard Ackerman said the lawsuit is based on First Amendment issues and takes to task the parade committee's decision to ban the Minutemen as a controversial organization while allowing a peace group that opposes the war in Iraq to march in the parade.
Charles Quilter II, a parade committee member, said earlier this week that the privately run nonprofit's bylaws state that no group with a political or religious agenda can participate.
The Minutemen gained national notoriety last year when they staged patrols along the border seeking to stop illegal immigrants from entering the U.S. from Mexico.
The case will be heard next week by Superior Court Judge Sheila Fell.
*****
Laguna Beach FTL!
Terry S
Friday, January 27, 2006
Minutemen founder sues over parade
Jim Gilchrist's lawyer says it's a First Amendment issue that the Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade is excluding the anti-illegal immigration group.
By JOHN McDONALD
The Orange County Register
SANTA ANA – Anti-illegal immigration advocate Jim Gilchrist filed a lawsuit today seeking to force Laguna Beach and organizers of the city's Patriots Day Parade to allow the Minuteman Project, which he co-founded, to participate in the March 4 event.
Minuteman lawyer Richard Ackerman said the lawsuit is based on First Amendment issues and takes to task the parade committee's decision to ban the Minutemen as a controversial organization while allowing a peace group that opposes the war in Iraq to march in the parade.
Charles Quilter II, a parade committee member, said earlier this week that the privately run nonprofit's bylaws state that no group with a political or religious agenda can participate.
The Minutemen gained national notoriety last year when they staged patrols along the border seeking to stop illegal immigrants from entering the U.S. from Mexico.
The case will be heard next week by Superior Court Judge Sheila Fell.
*****
Laguna Beach FTL!
Terry S