So it appears that Pete Aguilar is so scared of his chances of losing to Republican Congressional Candidate Paul Chabot that he asked Vice President Joe Biden out to Colton to try and stir up the Democrat Base. Well Paul Chabot supporters took to the street near the high school to have a pro Chabot rally and they were impeded by the Secret Service. We interviewed Sara Johnson Hector the event coordinator for the Paul Chabot Event for this story.
Sara how many people did you have?
For the Chabot side we had apprx 65, I believe the Press Enterprise reported 320 Biden/Aguilar side.
When did everyone arrive at the Paul Chabot part of the event? What was the reaction from the Vice President Biden’s Secret Service Detail?
The majority of us arrived at 8:30am. I arranged the event. I was approached within minutes by two Secret Service men informing me we could stand on the curb until 11:15am. They anticipated Biden to arrive at that time. Then, we would have to leave the area. I informed them that I had approval from the owners of the home (510 Rancho Ave.) to use their front yard. They said we could go on the front yard because it was private property.
So you were there peacefully and obeyed the wishes of the Secret Service?
We were there almost three hours without any problems.
What happened after that?
At about 11:30am, all streets were closed off. They didn’t allow any traffic and no one was allowed to cross the street. We were all on the grass at this time.
At about 11:40am, two U Haul trucks parked in front of us, blocking us. We tried to cross the street to not be blocked by the U Hauls, but we’re told by the Colton PD that we couldn’t.
Wait nobody was allowed to move on the street but they brought U Hauls to block you from view?
I knew it was Secret Service because they talked to me when I arrived that morning.
We moved to the very corner of the grass, where we could see the parade of police and limo pass us. Aguilar had his window down and mad-dogged all of us. We did not see Biden.
Pete Aguilar took time in the rain to stare the Paul Chabot Rally down?
Yes. I want you to know I worked on this for days. I went to City Hall, City Managers, City Development Department. I asked for an area were we could peacefully sit-in. Not one person assisted me. I was given a run around. Finally, the City Managers Assistant called me and said they had no involvement with the event; if I wanted an area, I would have to ask Aguilar. The Police Department told me we could sit-in wherever we wanted, as long as we didn’t disrupt traffic. I actually rented the front yard from the homeowners.
So it appears that Colton City is just playing games with peaceful demonstrators. Not surprising to those who have watched a City Manager be remove a Police Chief take over temporary duties of the City Manager only to leave frustrated with the game playing and childish attitudes of city council members. So it looks like Pete Aguilar shut down one of the busiest freeways and streets in the IE to show off to a few hundred people that were already going to vote for him?
rialtonow 