Fight Erupts at Anti-Immigration Protest

A protest by two anti-immigration groups in Anaheim turned into a shouting match and fistfight Saturday, but the crowd settled down before police arrived.

Nobody was arrested, though several men were bloodied and bruised early in the demonstration, which drew about 200 people. Among the crowd were several people in black-hooded sweatshirts and bandanna masks who called themselves anarchists. They and others confronted the protesters, yelling, “Nazi scum!” and “Fascists!”

The protest in front of Anaheim City Hall was dubbed a “Defense of the Homeland” rally and was the second within a week by Sherman Oaks-based American Patrol and the California Coalition for Immigration Reform in Huntington Beach. Dozens of members had attended Tuesday’s Anaheim City Council meeting to demand that Orange County police chiefs reconsider accepting Mexican consular cards as identification.

Police said they are standing behind their decision to accept the cards, which bear the holder’s photograph, address, birthplace and signature, cost $27 and are good for five years.

“This action is even more unconscionable since it immediately follows the 9-11 attack,” said Barbara Coe, who heads the California Coalition for Immigration Reform. “Does the Mexican consulate know or care if they are terrorists?”

Demonstrators carried signs that read, “No more phony IDs” and “What part of ‘illegal’ don’t you understand.” Among their concerns is that the cards eventually will be accepted statewide. San Francisco last week became the first city in the nation to officially recognize the cards, issued by the consulate to any Mexican who supplies a birth certificate and proof of local residence.

“If we don’t stop illegals from coming into this country, our children will be dumbed down more . . . and we will continue to have the worst schools in the nation,” said Nick Jessup, the Reform Party candidate for governor. He spoke at the invitation of protest organizers.

Opinions from the other side were just as strong.

Members of Anti-Racist Action, a group based in Los Angeles, carried signs reading “Attacks on immigrants are attacks on all” and chanted, “Asians, Latinos, blacks and whites--to smash racism we must unite.”

“These people are racist,” said Michael Novick, an Anti-Racist Action member. “They are using Mexicans as the scapegoats for all the problems of society.”

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Times staff writers John M. Glionna and Kimi Yoshino contributed to this report.