Credit: Indivisible 49
It was supposed to be just another Tuesday on the picket line outside the Thibodo Road building housing Congressman Darrell Issa’s office in Vista. Little did organizers know the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department had a surprise waiting for them.
Roughly 300 people showed up, as they have every week for the past nine months, urging the 49th District Republican to disavow President Trump’s policies. To keep interest up, there are weekly themes and protest subjects. This week’s theme was “It’s a Bird It’s a Plane It’s the Resistance!” the matter at hand was the GOP budget coming before Congress in the coming weeks.
In keeping with their weekly theme, protest organizers obtained a 20-foot tall inflatable chicken, complete with Trump hair styling, and arranged for a plane to fly overhead towing a banner “Not One Penny in Tax Cuts for Issa and the 1%.”
Credit: Indivisible 49
The San Diego Sheriff’s Lieutenant at the scene was upset about the arrival of the chicken, which was tethered on the sidewalk, telling protest organizer Ellen Montanari “code enforcement” would be called as the inflatable fowl represented a public “hazard.” She indicated a willingness to speak with those officials but didn’t offer to remove the chicken.
Shortly thereafter, the street was blocked, by Sheriff’s Deputies doubled parked as they inspected parked vehicles along the road–many of which did belong to demonstrators–looking for excuses to write tickets. And citations were written… …for missing front license plates, wheels not turned enough to the curb to meet the deputies’ liking, and even to a passing motorist who –gasp!– honked her horn in solidarity with the demonstration.
Protest organizers say they will contest each and every ticket. (Here’s a link in case you need to appeal on your own)
Is ticketing citizens for supposed parking violations outside of @DarrellIssa’s office really the best thing the Sheriff had to do this AM? pic.twitter.com/qDOI4p4Zhc
— Mike Levin (@MikeLevinCA) October 17, 2017
Sheriff Bill Gore has been an enthusiastic endorser of Congressman Issa, and made a joint video with the Orange County Sheriff in support of his 2016 campaign.
Congressman Issa wrote two letters, on May 30 and June 21, urging the Vista mayor and city council to take action on the protests, saying protests posed “dangers for passing traffic” and made unsubstantiated — and disputed — claims that protestors damaged property.
Credit: Indivisible 49
The ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties jumped into the picture as Vista officials sought to impose conditions on protesters, calling those actions “inappropriate and unconstitutional.” City officials threatened to deny access to the public sidewalk, restrict use of a sound system, and charge the permit holder fees for police services.
Following nationwide publicity, Vista officials backed down.
Doug Porter
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Hi,great headline and article. I just love the protestors in front of Issa’s office!
Yes, everyone who got a ticket should fight it,as you suggested, and they should ask for a jury trial. That really ties up the court, and judges don’t appreciate their court being bogged down with frivolous bs tickets. I’m pretty sure the cops would be discouraged from harassing people in the future.
Thank you for your activism!
Connie Flores
I agree 100%!!
Hahaha. I love the inflatable chicken. Just know that the Vista Sherriffs have many many MANY issues that go way back. Example:
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/california/Vista-Deputy-Shooting-Jonathon-Coronel-Sergio-Weick–434111643.html
https://www.google.com/amp/www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-police-shootings-on-the-rise-in-north-county-2003nov28-story,amp.html
Cops in Vista beat unarmed bicyclist unconscious and plant dope on him after the fact:
https://youtu.be/RbjV3KOR4Ww
Here we go again in Vista:
https://youtu.be/nUzysBM-nn8
So if you live in the city of Vista and protest parking tickets, unfortunately, they usually will show up at the court and fight you and then they remember your name forever. This is a whole other problem that somebody should definitely write an article about. I have sent it to various publicayions and was told it was outside of the locality or their category of journalism. Keep up the good fight. I am slightly scared to even run into a Vista Sherriff because of the videos I saw in these links above. The encounters I have had with them were not good ones either. Once, I was stopped and searched walking home doing nothing wrong and the other time I was assaulted and called for help and they made me feel like a criminal. I would not call them if I was bleeding to death knowing what I know now. Good luck fighting those tickets though. If everyone bands together, you can hopefully get them to change their ways.
We now have a wonderful candidate for sheriff. His name is Dave Myers. Dave Myers will be speaking at Indian Joe Brewing in Vista, this Wednesday, October 25, at 7:00 pm at the monthly meeting of Our Revolution North County San Diego. We have both a Meetup group and a Facebook page, so check out our event, and please drop in to meet Dave Myers this Wednesday evening. You’ll get some background and perspective on the current problems with San Diego County Law Enforcement. We’re hoping to present a number of candidates at our meetings and we’d like you to vote for the candidates you think we should endorse.
Ticketing for the wheels not being properly turned in a parked car? That is definitely hunting for an infraction and when done to people who are peacefully protesting an elected official it is border line oppression. Once you turn the wheels of government to guide a government vehicle directly at political protesters you are probably violating our Constitution which protects political speech. Enforcing codes or laws that infringe on political behavior is questionable and when done at the behest of the politician being protested it appears to be actionable on its’ face. Of course Issa has never been deterred by political niceties. Sheriff Gore should definitely be investigated and targeted for his next election. This is Nixonian.
Hear, hear!
oh, come on, Mr. Rohde, surely you’ve heard tell of other instances like this. or, perhaps, seen it in a film? it’s been going on in San Diego since way before “Sheriff Joe” came upon the Arizona scene.
truth is, SD has a long and huge history of oppression and shoddy, corrupt politics. this is nothing. notice how quickly the action mobilized. perhaps they’ve done this before?
Sounds like Bill Gore is an Joe Arpaio wannabe, abusing his office to advance his politics. Good luck replacing this idiot – he’s elected by the sort of people who like using the police to advance their politics.
The Sheriff’s position is a county-wide office. We can all vote no matter where we live. Please tell your friends how important the office of Sheriff is to encourage your friends, throughout the district, to come out and vote during the 2018 mid-terms. Everyone can help elect Dave Meyers. Believe me, there will be a different tone in the Sheriff’s Department with Dave Meyers as the new Sheriff in town! Come hear Dave Myers and ask him some questions this Wednesday, October 25, at 7:00 pm. Dave Myers will be at Indian Joe Brewing, just up the street from Issa’s office.
Indian Joe Brewing
2123 Industrial Court
Vista, CA 92081
DIRECTIONS:From the 78 freeway, exit on Sycamore Avenue, and proceed south. Make the first right at the light, onto Thibodo Road. Turn right at the stop sign, onto Watson Way. Proceed north to where Watson Way abuts the freeway. Turn right and park in the Indian Joe Brewing area. There is ample parking. When you enter Indian Joe’s, go up the stairs. You’ll find us behind closed doors on the west side of the building. Open the door to the southern, back end of Indian Joe’s Event Room. Walk right in. Welcome!