Group Urges Probe of Immigration Protest
A San Fernando Valley-based organization harshly critical of illegal immigrants called Wednesday for a congressional investigation into an Independence Day melee in Westwood between groups on opposing sides of the immigration issue.
Glenn Spencer, president of Voice of Citizens Together, called the July 4 confrontation pitting his supporters against a group of immigration proponents an “unprovoked attack” launched by the communist Progressive Labor Party in alliance with “radical Chicano Mexicano organizations.” At least four people were injured.
The heavily publicized incident, Spencer said, has resulted in an outpouring of support for his organization, which has demanded the immediate deportation of millions of illegal immigrants. Spencer addressed the media at the site of the fracas.
A few minutes later, Californians United for Immigrants’ Rights, a coalition of pro-immigrant groups, held its own news conference across the street and blamed Spencer’s organization and the communists for the clash.
Susan Walker, a spokeswoman for the communist group, charged that Voice of Citizens Together has incited “racist violence” against Latinos.
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