Protestors set to return to Simi on Sunday
By Darleen Principe darleen@theacorn.com

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers BATTLEGROUND- Michael Miller of Hollywood waves a Save Our State sign at the first rally outside of United Church of Christ held Sept. 16. Save Our State plans to stage a second demonstration this Sunday.

United Church of Christ in Simi Valley is likely to be the site of a second major antiillegalimmigration rally this weekend, despite the mayor's plea for protest groups to direct their efforts toward the federal government.

During a meeting of the City Council Monday night, Mayor Paul Miller addressed illegal immigration opponents, including those from Save Our State, the group that organized a demonstration last month in front of the church, bringing national attention to the city.

"I would like to see the energy that gets expended on Sunday mornings to go towards Washington, D.C.," Miller said. "The issue belongs there, not in front of the United Church of Christ."

On Sept. 16, Save Our State organized a rally that attracted more than 120 protesters and counterprotesters to the church- an event that cost the city $39,306 of unbudgeted money for police response.

The city sent the church a bill for that amount, but then placed it on hold after the mayor and the church's pastor signed a statement agreeing to keep an open dialogue.

The congregation joined the New Sanctuary Movement in July and has been providing shelter to a 29-year-old undocumented Mexican woman since late August.

Liliana, who goes by her first name only out of fear of repercussions to her family, is wanted for deportation even though her husband and three children are U.S. citizens.

Prior to Miller's statements on Monday, Save Our State cofounder Don Silva told the City Council that the group would be back at the church to demonstrate on Sunday, Oct. 14.

"It's not anyone's intention to intentionally cause any type of duress directly to the actual city of Simi Valley in a fashion which would be malicious and out of line with American principles and Christian standards," Silva said.

"We feel that the precedent that's being set (at the church) is just in a long line of traditions that are being done on this issue to make it worse."

Tensions escalated between the city and the congregation last week when Miller, who has been openly opposed to the church's decision to act as sanctuary, sent a letter to Secretary Michael Chertoff of the Department of Homeland Security on Oct. 3 asking for help in ending the "current stalemate."

The Rev. June C. Goudey, the church's pastor, responded with an official statement detailing her disappointment with the mayor's decision to send the letter without prior notification being sent to the church.

"Although our joint statement said that we would work together to encourage Homeland Security to expedite a hearing on Liliana's case, no one consulted with me regarding the letter sent to Secretary Michael Chertoff," Goudey's statement read.

Jeanie Mortensen-Besamo, a member of the United Church of Christ, attended Monday's meeting and reiterated the congregation's frustration with the council.

"We've been faced with disregard for an agreement we thought we had with the City Council to keep an open dialogue, and that seems to have been betrayed," Mortensen-Besamo said. "That is very disappointing to us as members of the church."

Still, City Manager Mike Sedell told the Simi Valley Acorn this week that a secretarial error prevented the pastor from receiving a copy of the statement and letter in a timely manner.

"As soon as we became aware of that, I immediately got in the car and drove her a copy of it," Sedell said. "I explained that it was a clerical error, and I apologized for that. They've chosen not to accept that."

Goudey refused to comment on the matter.

Sedell said the letter was a follow-up to a meeting that he and Miller had with Jamie Zwieback of Homeland Security on Oct. 1.

Both the mayor and the city manager flew to Washington, D.C., for a meeting with Zwieback that was organized with the help of Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Thousand Oaks).

The trip cost $1,547.76 and was paid for with budgeted money that is set aside annually for legislative trips, Sedell said.

"On the phone, it will never have the same impact," Sedell said. "It sends a much stronger message when you take the time to go back there for a meeting. It gives a whole different level of emphasis.

"Ultimately, it was recognized that there was a policy at Homeland Security that when someone is in sanctuary, they have a policy not to go in (and make an arrest) even though there's not a law that states that," Sedell continued.

"Our objective is to let them see the impact of their administrative policy to not enforce the law- that it has very real community impacts."

Sedell said that in the meantime, the city will continue to make the public safety of the community their "primary obligation."

The police department is currently monitoring the plans for this weekend's potential protest, he said.