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

[Elle]

I was born here in california from mexican parents. I agree 100% with what Mr. Kellar said ( one flag one language) if you come into this country legally or illegally then you should learn to speak english and love the american flag. It really upsets me when immigrants from all over the world not just mexicans come here and take advantage of our welfare system. My parents have lived here for over 40 years and they learned to speak english and they never stood in a welfare line, unemploment line and they never accepted any type of free government services or aid. This complaint by the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition is a joke.

[Moatly Informed]

Get over it people... citizens of many other countries have no problem whatsoever embracing and learning other languages... and quite often that second language is English... only in this country to do people go on and on about the virtues of being monolingual as if enacting law that allow people to be more stupid than they already are was something to be proud. What kind message do you think this sends to your children... It's no wonder that American children increasingly lag many other nations when it comes to reading and math... It's that kind of thinking that has lowered this country's competitive edge and has created an environment where an increasing number of graduate degree in math and science are earned by foreign born students...Ignorant attitudes like those surrounding bilingualism only succeeds in creating a culture of stupidity where the only real loser is the USA.

[Luis Lomeli]

It takes a great mind to understand the complex issue of immigration. It is the consumer that sets the price of goods. Therefore, American industry could not bring its goods to market were it not for these immigrants. The new American talent that I see often lives within these immigrants. The undocumented have paid billions into various social programs, including unemployment, disability and social security. Though they have contributed to such systems, the “undocumented” workers are denied the very services they’ve paid for. The undocumented keeps the aforementioned systems funded. Demagogues can incite the ignorant and uneducated into attacking a population that has done so much for America. Many of these immigrants also carry the genes that are found with the first Americans, the Native Americans.

[Jim]

Strange. I come from a town where many who lived there felt they hadn't enough money to make them happy, so each of them decided that they would rob the town's few banks in order get what they wanted. Yes, there was a law against robbing banks, but so many people ignored the law that the mayor and coucil people deemed as undesireable any effort to enforce that law. I mean, even bank-robbers vote. Anyway, the town went broke and so did everyone who lived there. The last I heard, the town had been razed and people were fighting in the streets with each other just to make it to the next day.
The End

[ScottyDog]

Don't you just love this gutless statement;"Other council members suggested organizing a study session on the matter"

Maybe the other council members are afraid to voice their opinions because they are intimidated by an illegal immigrant group that aids and abets illegal immigration into the USA. The Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition should be investigated for conspiracy to aid and abet illegal aliens and there so called lawsuit should be thrown out with prejudice.,

I say forget the study group and start deporting illegals that break our laws.
The laws and studies have already been done but the gutless council members do not have the balls to enforce existing laws against illegal immigrants living in Santa Clarita.
Kudos to Councilman Bob Kellar for having the guts and integrity to face this issue.

[Scotty]

Seems that the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition is more racist than most. Where do they stand for other ethnic groups other that Hispanic? They have a single objective and are proud of their self glorification.

[Carlos Rodriguez]

So advocating a policy of personal accountability for acts made in conscious violation of the laws or our country is cause for a complaint? No wonder we are fostering here a culture of illegality, corruption and impunity that has little to envy the same scourge in Latin America.

We have laws for a purpose which is the Greater Good of our citizens. Not of the citizens of other countries who broke into our country. To not enforce those laws only invites the kind of mayhem that begat the chaos that Mexico lives today and that is already present along our border communities and Latino ethnic enclaves where outfits like the Familia Michoacana and the Zetas are already dealing drugs and death.

What are we going to wait for? Will it take for our country to rch the depths that Mexico is plumbing today? I hope not. Problems are best solved while still small. Let's not let this purulent festering mess get any bigger. Enforce all immigration laws currently on the books with no regard to color, race, origin, creed, gender or economic station.

[Kelly Benson]

MOVING TO MEXICO

Dear President Obama:
I'm planning to move my family and extended family into Mexico for my health, and I would like to ask you to assist me.

We're planning to simply walk across the border from the U.S. Into Mexico, and we'll need your help to make a few arrangements.

We plan to skip all the legal stuff like visas, passports, immigration quotas and laws.

I'm sure they handle those things the same way you do here. So, would you mind telling your buddy, President Calderon, that I'm on my way over?

Please let him know that I will be expecting the following:

1. Free medical care for my entire family.

2. English-speaking government bureaucrats for all services I might need, whether I use them or not.

3. Please print all Mexican government forms in English.

4. I want my grandkids to be taught Spanish by English-speaking (bi-lingual) teachers.

5. Tell their schools they need to include classes on American culture and history.

6. I want my grandkids to see the American flag on one of the flag poles at their school.

7. Please plan to feed my grandkids at school for both breakfast and lunch.

8. I will need a local Mexican driver's license so I can get easy access to government services.

9. I do plan to get a car and drive in Mexico, but, I don't plan to purchase car insurance, and I probably won't make any special effort to learn local traffic laws.

10. In case one of the Mexican police officers does not get the memo from their president to leave me alone, please be sure that every patrol car has at least one English-speaking officer.

11.. I plan to fly the U.S. Flag from my house top, put U S. Flag decals on my car, and have a gigantic celebration on July 4th. I do not want any complaints or negative comments from the locals.

12. I would also like to have a nice job without paying any taxes, or have any labor or tax laws enforced on any business I may start.

13. Please have the president tell all the Mexican people to be extremely nice and never say critical things about me or my family, or about the strain we might place on their economy.

14. I want to receive free food stamps.

15. Naturally, I'll expect free rent subsidies.

16. I'll need Income tax credits so although I don't pay Mexican Taxes, I'll receive money from the government.

17. Please arrange it so that the Mexican Gov't pays $4,500 to help me buy a new car.

18. Oh yes, I almost forgot, please enroll me free into the Mexican Social Security program so that I'll get a monthly income in retirement.

I know this is an easy request because you already do all these things for all his people who walk over to the U.S. From Mexico. I am sure that President Calderon won't mind returning the favor if you ask him nicely.

Thank you so much for your kind help. You're the man!!!

[Rik]

I feel that what Mr. Kellar said was not a racist remark, rather something taken WAY out of context, and blown WAY out of proportion. I am a proud American and a patriot. I love my country. For those who do immigrate to this nation, embrace it. I feel that this lawsuit is counterproductive, asinine, and hurts their cause more than anything.
Also, please do not confuse ILLEGAL immigrants with Americans of Mexican descent. There are some who feel there is no distinction between the two. Let’s remember that being American is a privilege not a birth right. Believe it or not, there are many "Mexicans" whom are very much American, even more so than some of us whom were born here...if you don’t believe me click on the LA Times California War Dead...let me know how many Rodriguez, Gutierrez, Perez, Parra, Campos you find...get my point.

[pmg]

Kellar is following the law, more than can be said for the people that these groups are representing.

[Rik]

RE/ african AMERICAN father...please know that along with "one language, one flag" Teddy Roosevelt also said a hyphenated American is no American at all...think about it...

[carol ann]

to patty.
yes ,we are still sick of it.pay an american worker a living wage and they will do any of those jobs.We are also sick of this kind of stupid talk too.

[Estela]

Mr Kellar for governor. Only in USA illegals demanding for what ever they want give me a break, go back to your country and come back when you are legal. Im proud to be a LEGAL IMMIGRANT and the language is english and only one flag "USA FLAG".

[ecila]

This is ridiculous. What happened to free speech. He was taken out of context-.!?
What do they want a big pay-off.-??

[ecila]

This is not working-??

[Ernest]

God bless Mr Kellar and the community that stands with him!

[MaryJ]

This just shows that the Mexican culture is not compatible with ours. They have no respect for free speech, a bedrock American right.

[Alberto Ramirez]

What really shock me is how some people can relate illegal immigration with welfare and unemployment. There is no way that an illegal person will receive welfare for themselves or unemployment or any other benefit without a legal status. Do people really care about learning before they write? Since when illegal immigrants are all from Mexico? Or having a society with two or three different languages is bad? I am a proud american citizen and belive in every aspect of our constitution and consider English to be our official language, but denying the importance of being a multicultural and multilingual society is just plain ignorance. What are people like this councilman affraid of? I am a proud racist? To me is as stupid as saying, I am proud ignorant. Give me back my country? What a pathetic statment. Who are the ones who are whining? We should be concern about better causes. Why we are not concern about creating jobs, universal health care, or other big issues. Defending a small time political figure.

[Jimi]

LA has Tony Villar and Gil Cedillo. What's wrong with the other side having a voice?

Oh, they don't want another side, that's it.

[Lornaj]

Luis Lomeli Genes does not make you a citizen in any country.. Citizens are not going to keep their mouth shut over this issue.

[Randy]

You're all kidding yourselves. Mexicans will never have to assimilate because there's no reason for them to. Every company will let them press numero dos por Espanol. All products have instructions in Spanish. All voting materials, drivers license info, medical assistance, school aides, etc.... are in Spanish. And if any person or company refuses, they're branded as racists and acquiesce to avoid a lawsuit. Within a generation, their superior birth rate will make them the majority and California will return to being a Mexican state.

[Joel Wischkaemper]

Ah but... he didn't say he was a racist... the cheesy group that filed the complaint took it out of context. What he did say is that if apposing illegal aliens is racist, than I am a proud racist. Good for him.

And if anyone wants to know how that would work out, have an election and ask the CITIZENS... and make sure the illegal aliens don't vote, if they want to continue apposing the illegal aliens and their bazillion dollars worth of welfare. Biff boom bang.. Councilman Bob Kellar wins with a knockout.

FairUS and NumbersUSA are good sources of information on this issue. Give them a try for good background that is correct.

[Thought Crime]

For years anti-white groups have controlled public figures with the ‘R’ word.

Kellar has threatened the power of that word. Let us not miss the significance of Kellar’s action - his opponents certainly haven’t. They interpret it as the opening shot of a revolt against their politically correct establishment.

They fear that if they don’t publicly lynch Kellar now, and quickly, the spark he’s created could turn into an unstoppable blaze.

[I am german]

First and foremost, California has always been known for its diverse roots. Just travel along the coast or inland- the names of towns in beautiful spanish...Second, If you want to be angry about the situation in California and most of the country, look to the greedy developers, House flippers, mortgage banks these
people have raped this country. And, they were Americans. On Christmas morning you can find men, decent men wanting to work standing by a home depot. It is not a crime for a human being (they are not aliens) they are human, to want a better life.
I have found far too many AMERICAN born Takers, than I have my amigos from mexico.
Tell me, If a group of german Illegals were invading our country waving their flag and playing polka music loud would you be as offended? search your soul.

btw Chelene Nightingale is one shady character.

[Bowman]

Immigrant - An alien who has been granted the right by the US government to reside permanently in the United States and to work without restrictions in the United States. Also known as a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR). (US government definition)

Since the LA Times sides with the 5% of their readers who think illegal aliens are also immigrants, I think the other 95% of us should BOYCOTT THE LA TIMES and it's advertisers.

The LA Times obviously does not believe in the US Constitution, Rule of Law, or representative democracy, but I do think they will believe in voting with your dollars.