Immigrant rights group files complaint against Santa Clarita councilman over 'proud racist' remark

Los Angeles-based immigrant rights advocates announced Tuesday that they have filed formal complaints against a Santa Clarita councilman they say deserves to be censured for violating the city’s code of ethics and conduct by declaring himself “a proud racist.”

The Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition has sent letters to state Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley and the U.S. Department of Justice, alleging that Councilman Bob Kellar “breached the public’s trust and has acted in an unethical, racist, xenophobic and biased manner by making public comments scapegoating so-called illegal immigrants.”

The group also alleges that Kellar violated at least eight provisions of Santa Clarita’s ethics and conduct policy, which requires that municipal leaders be “independent, impartial and accountable to the people they serve.”

The complaint further targets the remaining members of the Santa Clarita City Council, who the immigrant rights’ advocates charge violated their “fiduciary duties and responsibilities...by not speaking out and condemning” Kellar’s statements.

The legal complaint stems from a Jan. 16 anti-illegal-immigration rally in Santa Clarita, where Kellar, a veteran councilman and two-time mayor, spoke. In his comments, Kellar referred to a statement by former President Theodore Roosevelt that the United States has a place for only one flag and only one language.

Kellar, a former LAPD officer, said those remarks caused some people to accuse him of being racist, to which he replied that if believing in America causes people to think he's a racist, "then I'm a proud racist."

The councilman has said that he stands by his remarks, which he said were personal and have been misconstrued. He insisted that he abhors racism, and he has received zealous support from many Santa Clarita residents.

But the immigrant rights advocates said that Kellar was introduced as a councilman during the anti-illegal immigration rally, and they quoted from a transcript of Kellar’s remarks in which he spoke about conducting business at City Hall the day before the gathering.

They also accuse Kellar of being a member of the Santa Clarita Valley Independent Minutemen group -- a staunch anti-illegal immigration organization whose members sometimes patrol the U.S.-Mexico border in an attempt to prevent illicit crossings. Kellar has denied being a member of the group, which helped organize the rally at which he spoke.

“He should have explained that he was speaking as an individual and not as a public figure,” said John Fernandez, a member of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition.

“When a duly elected leader promotes divisive speech, that is essentially hate speech,” said Robert Gittelson, another coalition member.

Supporters of Kellar jeered the immigrant rights advocates, chanted the councilman’s name and at one point physically tried to prevent the advocates from briefing the press in front of Santa Clarita City Hall before a scheduled council meeting Tuesday.

“A man voiced his personal opinion; that is not a violation,” shouted Randy Thompson, a Santa Clarita resident since 1967. “Bob Kellar stated that he is against illegals. He supports American laws.”

“Get of my town right now,” one woman screamed from her car. “Who do you think you are? Do you read the papers? Everyone here is behind Bob Kellar.”

Chris Hall, who has lived in Santa Clarita for four years, said he was saddened by the rowdy spectacle between the rival groups. “This is painful for me to watch,” said Hall, who has worked in the city for 15 years. “It’s getting totally out of control. It affects our community.”

Speaking at the council meeting, Kellar said he had been bombarded with calls and e-mails, and had had several conversations with residents who expressed concerns about the affect illegal immigrants were having on the city. He suggested the council include the issue of illegal immigration on a future agenda. Other council members suggested organizing a study session on the matter.

-- Ann M. Simmons in Santa Clarita

Comments

[Tirau]

Americans don't have to take the invasion of their country by illegal immigrants lying down. No, there are those who are fighting back for the greater good, and Kellar is one of these brave souls. He is saying what many other Californians of all political persuasions, Left or Right, are thinking. We need to stand up for our rights as American citizens before it's too late, and Los Angeles becomes yet another impoverished barrio.

[Warren]

The Full Rights for ILLEGAL Immigrants Coalition

[noespanol]

I agree with Kellar. Roosevelt was right - one flag, one language. The Mexicans better get used to it because I think more and more Americans are getting tired of the invasion.

[Auntie Bigot]

His statements were unethical and racist. "English only" is an apartheid mentality. Anti-immigrant attitudes is also hypocritical and xenophobic --at best. (We're all illegal immigrants, with the exception of First Nations people, if one looks to our history.)

[Shame on you]

Oh give me a break, they need to start denouncing some of these violent acts some immigrants are committing and running across the border to evade prosecution. One of the major problems I have with these organizations, they are, keeping silent is condoning it, so don't start complaining about everyone else, when your constituents are never held to account in your eyes.

[Louweegie272]

The Pro Amnesty special interest groups will do anything to tie opposition to illegal immigration to racism. Their argument is absurd. I don't know anything about Kellar, but was he singling out a particular group other than illegal immigrants? Immigration status has nothing to do with race.

[Omar Rodriquez]

I would vote for Bob Kellar again and again. MY HERO SPEAK FROM THE HEART.

[Robert]

Does not Mr Kellar Have the right to speak his mind ? Just because he speakes his mind and a small minority group doesnt like what he says ,we file a lawsuit!this is what our world has came to ,maybe Mr Kellar is right and we do need a one flag ,one language United States ,if that statement makes him racist,there are millions of us running around that do not consider ourselves racist but would support this .turn it how you want ,because i know you will try ,just as you have turned his words against him.

[R S Bibbo]

Immigrants have no rights!!!! Tell that to the illegals already here trying to increase their invasion force.

[illegals hate amercians]

And what RACE is illegal? I thought it was an immigration status.

[sickofit]

Let's rephrase that"The Citizens" he serves. I'm so tired of these so called Immigrant rights groups skewering everything to make anybody who does'nt agree with them a racist,when they're the ones who are racist demogogues who have no use for anyone who disagrees with them.

[Pissed off American]

I'm a proud African AMERICAN father. I agree with Kellar......i want my country back

[ken]

Are we talking legal immigrants or illegal? then there is a difference of who gets rights to begin with. If they are illegal they have the right to be deported, the right to come here legally, the right to respect our laws, the right to stay in their counrty until they obtain a visa, green card or citizenship. I support this council person and do not call me a racist my daughter is half hispanic and I am proud of that.

[me]

These comments were made regarding illegal immigrants. And since when is it a sin to say what you really feel? Instead of wasting money and time suing for anything and everything, they should spend time and energy towards integration of the LEGAL immigrants into American life. Teach them English and how to be a useful member of our society. I am tired of these politically correct people...
And I am a proud LEGAL immigrant, who spent money and time waiting for a legal immigrant visa before I came to this country...

[Joseph Stanislawski]

It is on unfair to take Bob Kellar's comment out of context and brand him a racist. His reference to Theodore Roosevelt's statement of only having a place for one flag and one language directly ties into him responding to allegations of him being a racist. His response, "then I'm a proud racist" was trying to prove that White Americans get branded as racists for being proud a citizen of our country. What I don't understand is, why do Americans get branded a racist when celebrating their nationalism. I think the problem is that people do not understand the difference between the words "nationality" and "ethnicity". I'm not against immigrantion, My family immigranted here at one point. America has lost it "nationalism" over the last decade or so because of the way the immigrant rights advocate groups act. I have one message to all Americans, (you are an American if you reside in America and make a living in America; legally or illegally) our freedom to celebrate our ethnicity should not prevent us from celebrating our "nationality" as Americans.

[Concerned]

I wonder when the citizens of California can discuss the problems of illegal immigration in this state without being shouted down and threatened with lawsuits every time the words "illegal immigrants" are even mentioned. This is a ridiculous lawsuit. There is such a thing as free speech in this country.

[Michael Smith]

Hat's off to Bob Kellar, my parents came through Ellis Island as legal immigrants, and I support legal immigration, English language, one flag (I fly it proudly at my house and my offices), all these illegals should stop whining, go home, and do it the right way. The silent majority all support Bob Kellar and his personal opinions as well. The loud vocal illegal supporters should stop collecting welfare and unemployment, worry about their own personal code of ethics that allows them to support law breakers and criminals.

[ALopez]

My family emigrated and has been here for over 100 years, I'm a 5th generation Native Californian, and a proud latino. This man is entitled to his opinion, what upsets me about this story is the fact there is a group calling themselves "Full Rights for Immigrants"......let's see, if you immigrate to the US legally you would have full rights, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out.

[Martin B Serkin]

I guess most of the world is racists. When I lived in Europe surprise they made me learn French. When I went to Italy they expected me to speak Italian. I guess if I am proud of being an American I am a racist also. Since it is a requirement to read and write English to become a citizen, please explain why ballots, which cost the taxpayer money, written in other languages than English. In addition I guess all the founding fathers of our great nation were racists since they wrote the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution in English while there where many other languages spoken in the Americas.

Lets get real. Go back to the mass immigration during the turn of the last century. All those people from all over Europe coming here and what did they do? LEARN ENGLISH. My family spoke Russian and German and they made all of us, who were multi lingual, speak only English. My wife’s grandparents spoke Spanish by their children had to learn to speak English. Funny how things have changed in the US.. Now people coming here expect us to speak their language and why should they bother to learn English.

Please he spoke for a majority of people not only in Santa Clarita but I think in the US.

[T Haley]

I have to agree with Mr. Kellar on this one. We have been quiet way to long. Our beautiful state is now a welfare state with way to much free money for non-citizens. I am all for helping out the american citizen but we must draw the line so that we can be solvent. The civil rights people have it all wrong. They are attacking the wrong people. Why don't they help the legal citizens with their troubles?

[Mike G.]

I hope Bob Kellar can hang in there and resist the bullies who are trying to silence him. I don't think that he has technically violated the city's ethics code by speaking out against lawbreakers because they cannot be considered people served by the city of Santa Clarita since that would be aiding and abetting. I'm a little shocked but not surprised by the amount of hate directed towards him by members of groups who support illegal immigration. It's a disappointment to see a person who has such a huge amount of patriotism for America be slurred and disparaged in the name of "justice" for lawbreakers.

[pppppp]

immagrents dont have rights in the USA if you ask me. come here legaly and i will say WELCOME!

[Don Marshall]

I would like to file a formal complaint against the Illegal Immigrant rights group for aiding and abetting Illegals in their quest to violate the United States Immigration laws. I would like to file a Formal complaint for their continued efforts to subvert our laws by committing fraud in obtaining false and stolen documents for the use in obtaining employment which is also Illegal in the United States...and the list could go on and on....

[Logan]

Bob Kellar is totally right and it is one nation, one flag and one language and id you got a problem get the heck out of here. We are proud of America and if this dumb organization is going to kick him out, good luck cause i stand by him 100%

[Lucy Lu]

The Mexicans better get used to it !!

I think this is the most stupid statement ever, the last time I ck Mexicans were not the only illegal immigrants living in the USA!! So it is racism against the Mexican community...
Immigrants come from all over the world, remember we are the United States of America, We are a United Country so instead of fighting that we should only be speaking one language try learning it because that will never happen...