Republican Darrell Issa in CA49 is really pissed. He’s been the object of mockery in social media and he’s irritated. The persistent weekly protests, protesters showing up at fund raisers at hotels and country clubs, relentlessly humorous protesters, respectfully assembling and exercising our rights. It looks as if he’s rattled and beginning to EXPECT US, hopefully. And that hurts Darrell. We understand.
As a kid from Brooklyn I must say these SoCal protests are no black arm band type mobs. Issa’s constituents begin each protest with a Pledge of Allegiance to a US flag. The organized crowd amiably follows directions from our traffic and security details. Everyone is cheerfully responsive when Issa’s staff asks us to park here, then there, or stand on this side, or that, stay off the grass. When they complained that the protesters blocked the sidewalks we said, “Yes, sir!” Protesters divided onto the two sides of the walkway as our wheelchair’d protesters freely passed by the cheering protesters. It’s astonishing how radically polite these determined folks are.
But no, that would not be sufficient for Issa to meet and listen to us. Right away Issa took direct action to stop us. When we were lined up on the sidewalk in front of Issa’s office he had the sprinklers turned on us. What an asshole. The following week protesters arrived with umbrellas, some wore shower caps and brought beach balls.
Next, we were told to cross the street and restricted to protest from there, not on the same side of the street as Issa’s office. Maybe it’s easier for Issa to see us from the roof at the other side?
Now Mayor Judy Ritter and the City of Vista have employed a series of escalating, though unsuccessful, intimidation actions and threats to our extraordinary organizer, Ellen Montenari, of Indivisible North San Diego County.
If protesters chant too loudly the City of Vista will issue her personal fines! We got louder.
Then she had to purchase protest insurance.
Then this bad news email from Ellen:
I know this is a long email. Please read it. It comes from my heart.
May 30 at 10 am
Rep Darrell Issa's office
1800 Thibodo Rd
Vista 92081
I continue to be disheartened by Darrell Issa’s behavior. Secret codes to attend his Town Hall. Flipping off one reporter and telling another that his AHCA vote was “none of her business.” A hateful letter to his donors, accusing us of “…literally trying to steal our Republican-Democracy right out from under us with strong-arm tactics.” And that doesn’t include his voting record! According to this website, Issa has voted to choose Trump over the truth 11 times with his vote.
Through MoveOn, I originally started hosting weekly Issa rallies shortly after the inauguration, because the Trump administration scared me and I wanted to talk to my Congressman. Each week, when I saw no one was signing up to host on their website, I did it. Now we are a powerful force! Did you know that our rallies are the largest weekly rallies in the country? I'm so proud to be part of this with you.
And most of you know about the problems we’ve had with the City of Vista special events permit. While getting the first permit was relatively easy, renewing it has been a long and difficult process. Here are just a few of the new restrictions:
- I am now personally responsible to pay all costs if the Sheriff’s deputies are called to our rallies.
- We cannot be over in the shade on the sidewalk.
- There are significant restrictions on our sound system.
- And the city required me personally to obtain special event insurance (they have since waived this requirement after I gave them the insurance quote and objected to paying).
As a result, I have requested (and received) ACLU Observers at all future rallies. Our current permit expires May 30, even though I requested it to be extended until Aug 30. This has been incredibly stressful and time-consuming, both for me and my family.
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Are you with me? Because as the Washington Post says on its masthead, “Democracy Dies in Darkness.”
May 30 rally
This week’s theme is “Darrell, You’re Toast!” Feel free to attach a toasted piece of bread to your sign this week :) We will deliver a gift to Issa's office during the rally.
Issa's Town Hall: June 3, 9am
Sign up HERE after 12 noon today for Issa's San Juan Capistrano Town Hall. Yes, I know it’s the day of the March for Truth and I know it’s really far away—that’s why Issa planned it there. He doesn’t want us to come! We will hold our own Truth Rally right after the town hall. CNN will be there, along with most other major news networks. Let’s show them that we do NOT support Issa!
Like last time, please sign up even if you can’t come. You can forward your tickets to me and I’ll give them to people who couldn’t get in.
More details about the town hall and Tuesday’s rally in my Monday email.
Yours in resistance,
Ellen
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I was irate, incensed, that anyone would be harassed or that our rights to assemble and speak out would be threatened by Mayor Ritter or this poor man soon to be the unemployed ex richest person in Congress. Like Benghazi, this Issa scheme will sink like a lead balloon..
The ACLU has shown up, attended the protest, took notes, and are all over the case.
We learned that threats from the public to our organizer personally have already begun.
Then some good news this afternoon:
We’re good. There’s no way this community of activists will relent. And we will not allow any one of us to be picked off for fines. Obviously, no one is intimidated.
Issa is a cold, rude and nasty man and has been at his nastiest to our organizer. Wouldn't even shake her hand as she cheerfully approached. He stopped her saying, “You’re a protester. Back away!”
Then, what do you, he shows up on the roof watching safely from up there.
Nah, this disrespect for constituents will not stand.
Saturday, Rep. Isaa will not get any peace and quiet in beautiful San Juan Capistrano in Southern Orange County. An Issa Townhall. Love it! The lame duck Congressman managed to limit attendance by issuing coupon codes, most of which did not work. The Townhall was sold out as registration opened up to the public. Darrell will learn that won’t work either.
The North County San Diego protesters will travel north to join our sisters and brothers in Orange County and Issa’s constituents will protest there at the Northernmost border of CD49. We’ll welcome Darrell to the Townhall with our voices, artful signs, the fantastic freewayblogger’s signs, tambourines, drums, songs, chants, and anger at his horrific policies.
I so enjoyed the roof escapade that I can’t wait to see what he’ll try at the Townhall. I wonder if he scoped out the roof access yet.
Tuesday protests grew each week from a few to over 800 protesters at times. We take moments together to express gratitude for the fortune of having the time and availability to show up in the middle of the day as our neighbors , many at risk every day from the Trump/Issa agenda and ICE raids, are at school and work.
As we show up to represent all constituents suffering under the Republican policies, no one has as yet reported getting paid, not even a thank you note from Soros!