Kurt Isobe, a 19 year-old-Yonsei (fourth generation Japanese American) from

Laguna Niguel in South Orange County. Kurt is a full-time student at Saddleback

College and he also works about 30 hours a week at a part-time job to help pay for some

of his college and other personal expenses. He has a clean police record and no prior

arrests.

On May 25, 2005, Kurt attended a protest rally at the Garden Grove Women’s Club

where inside, Jim Gilchrist of the Minuteman Project was scheduled to receive an award

from the California Citizens for Immigration Reform and was also the guest speaker for

the event. The Minuteman Project was co-founded by Jim Gilchrist. Gilchrist describes

the Minuteman Project as a "Citizen’s Group" whose goal is to protect our country from

the tide of illegal immigration , primarily focusing on our southern Mexican border

states. Many believe that the Minuteman Project’s real agenda is a racist driven effort to

rid the U.S. of honest, hard working laborers who do the work that those here in the U.S

choose not to because the work is too hard and the wages are too low. As low as the

wages may be, the immigrant laborers continue do the work for the survival of their

families both here and at home in Mexico and Central and South America..

Kurt was exercising his constitutional right to protest at the Garden Grove Women’s Club

where the Minuteman Project were speaking. The Minutemen scapegoat immigrants,

primarily Mexican immigrants and blame them for the shortcomings and failings of our

US Society. Kurt chose to participate in the rally to show his support for his coworkers

and other immigrant workers who are trying to scratch out a living here in America for

themselves and for their loved ones at home whose lives depend on the money earned in

the fields here.

By the end of the evening, Kurt and 4 other demonstrators were arrested and placed in

custody. The Garden Grove 5, as they later became known, were facing a variety of

charges including, Felony Assault with a deadly weapon (soda cans) on a police officer,

resisting arrest and interference with a police horse to name a few.

Earlier that day, one of the Minuteman supporters, Harold "Hal" Netkin, drove his van

like a weapon through a picket line set up by demonstrators. He claimed he was just

protecting himself from the "rowdy" demonstrators.. He injured several people in the

process. Netkin was taken in for questioning but incredibly, no charges were filed against

him and he was released from custody. He later returned to the Garden Grove Women’s

Club to attend the Minuteman event.

Kurt and the others arrested weren’t as fortunate; Kurt’s bail was placed at $50,000

although he has no prior arrests or records. The DA’s office argued that he was a "flight

risk" and so they argued against releasing him on his own recognizance. Kurt’s lawyer

was able to get his bail reduced to $25,000 and so, after spending a few days in Orange

County Jail, Kurt was bailed out by his parents. Throughout all of the many court

proceedings, he has had the strong support of his parents, Cheryl and Craig Isobe, as well

as many of his relatives and friends.

One might wonder, what was Kurt doing at the Minutemen Project protest rally to begin

with? It all started at his first job with a Mexican fast food restaurant. Many of Kurt’s

coworkers are Mexican or from other Latin American countries. He quickly made

friends with them and grew to understand the plight of the immigrant laborer in America

and what life was like for an immigrant worker in the U.S. Their struggle is 24/7. It is

common that many of the workers carry two full-time jobs plus work overtime so they

can send money home to their families. And no matter what anyone says, if you think

immigrant workers are taking our jobs away, go visit any farm on the first harvest day

and try and find one local citizen laborer in line ready to work. The work is too hard and

the wages are too low for our local work force.

At a recent showing of the anti-drug abuse, anti discrimination organization Yellow

Brotherhood Film, Kurt’s situation became known to some of his parent’s friends from

‘back in the day. Learning about his situation has prompted us to take a stand in firm

support of Kurt’s right to express his beliefs and exercise his constitutional right to

demonstrate. We need the community to rally around this courageous young man for

standing up in defense of the rights of immigrants and to protest the racist and violent

actions of the Minutemen Project.

We will continue to release updates on the progress of this case in this publication. Court

dates will be posted for those of you who would like to attend the court proceedings to

show your support for Kurt and for all people who just want to work hard and make a

better life for their families here in America and at home. There are plans to organize

support groups, fund raisers for his legal defense, and maybe some informal "Get

togethers" so we can all discuss strategies for Kurt’s release. Kurt will know he is not

alone in the battle for human rights for all people who want a better life for themselves

and their families. And to not have to live in the shadow of prejudice and persecution.

Is that so much to ask for?

WHERE?

Department C40    -   (updated 6-20)
Tenth Floor
Central Justice Center
700 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701

See map for directions:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=700+Civic+Center+Drive+West,+Santa+A
na,+CA+92701&ll=33.750124,-117.875125&spn=0.008421,0.021458

..........I sailed the ship all alone................................never think I'll make it home..............