Confrontation Over Woman in Sanctuary

A woman named Liliana and her infant are staying at a church in Simi Valley as part of the New Sanctuary Movement. The anti-immigrant group (Save Our State) was actually going to try an make a citizen's arrest. Is this even legal?

Someone was using chemical spray - which injured a pro-immigrant protester.

Sounds like "Save Our State" is going beyond civility. Remember this is Simi Valley where the officers who beat Rodney King were acquitted. Maybe I need to post an article I found from the 1880s that talks about the South and the "barbaric" actions of the Southerners...

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Groups Clash Over Immigration at Church
The Associated Press
Washington Post
Monday, September 17, 2007; 8:14 AM


SIMI VALLEY, Calif. -- Dozens of activists on both sides of the illegal immigration debate faced off outside a church where an illegal immigrant is being sheltered with her U.S.-born infant son.

One immigrant-rights advocate was injured with a chemical spray during Sunday's confrontation at the United Church of Christ, and police were investigating allegations that an opposing protester was responsible, police Capt. John McGinty said.

Members of the anti-illegal immigration group Save Our State, which organized the rally that drew about 120 protesters and counter-protesters, said they had hoped to make a citizen's arrest of the woman, who has identified herself only as Liliana.

The woman has been living in the church's former parsonage as part of the New Sanctuary Movement, which arranges church accommodations for illegal immigrants in the U.S.

Group members shouted for Liliana, who lived in Oxnard before taking shelter at the church, to give herself up.

"I'm here because I'm for the movement for the illegals to go home," protester Dee Barrow said.

Daniel Smallwood, one of the counter-protesters, accused the anti-illegal immigration activists of racism and said members of his group joined the rally because they didn't want their ideological opponents "to get all the attention."

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