The effort to block busses of Central American refugees travelling through Murrieta, California, over the July 4th weekend drew any number of fringe right-wing extremists, including radio host Pete Santilli, who offered a 24/7 live webcast of his stay.
In one webcast posted on July 4, Santilli approached a number of local police officers demanded that they bring him the county sheriff. He also told them that he had called 911 but that that strategy had also failed to summon the sheriff. (Many militia groups maintain that the sheriff is the only legitimate law enforcement officer).
“I almost died at Bundy ranch because the sheriff didn’t show up,” Santilli told one officer, referring to his time at the Bundy ranch in Nevada, where he spent time harassing a Mexican-American reporter.
Santilli told one Murrieta police officer that he was “here for a peaceful protest” but that by failing to put him in contact with the sheriff “what you guys are creating is a violent one.”
“Are you guys domestic terrorists now?” he yelled after the officer walked away. “You guys are terrorizing the public.”
“They’re going to deliver a bus here with a bunch of anarchists and create a volatile situation on the 4th of July. That’s an incitement,” he yelled.
At one point, Santilli got his hands on a bullhorn and earned a cheer from the crowd when he told the officers, “You want to send a bus to us right in front of the media so Obama can publicly display what happens to people who stop busses with infected immigrants. Obama wants to send a message and you’re helping to facilitate it.”
