Senator Stone met with passion & protest at public forum

There was passion and protest at Sips Coffee House in Indio Friday morning. A group of concerned citizens made their voices heard to State Senator Jeff Stone as they support SB 54, which would make California a sanctuary state.

Senator Stone has previously voiced his opposition to the bill.

News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2’s Jeremy Chen was at the public forum Friday morning, which was scheduled by Senator Stone. The senator was late due to issues with a flight delay. That delay boiled over into frustration at times.

VJ Sleight with the group Courageous Resistance said, “We have a lot of undocumented aliens here in the Coachella Valley and we need to support them. They add so much to our economy and they’re so important to every aspect of life here.”

When Senator Stone arrived, citizens wanted to know why he opposed the bill. One woman said SB 54 would reduce fear among immigrant populations, allowing local police to focus on protecting their communities.

Lynn O’Neill, also with Courageous Resistance, said, “They [local police] are not paid to be commandeered by ICE (Immigration Custom Enforcement) or act as deportation agents, they are paid with our tax dollars to act as local law enforcement.”

Senator Stone agreed with the sentiment, but says he is worried about the undocumented immigrants who have committed felonies. He says he wants to make sure his constituents remain safe.

“I think the number one responsibility of an elected official is keeping your community safe and that’s where I think SB 54 falls short,” Senator Stone said at the public forum.

The senator said he knows the vast majority of undocumented immigrants are law abiding and came to the country wanting a better life.

Senator Stone’s views though were not popular with many people that showed up to the forum, as they were showering him with boos. He said that’s what Democracy looks like and respected opposing opinions.

“I do my best to represent what I think is in the best interest of my constituents and you are going to have people that disagree with you. That’s just the way politics work and I respect differing opinions,” Senator Stone said.

Senator Stone’s office is expected to schedule another public meeting in May at a larger venue. No date or venue has been finalized yet. KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 will deliver updates as more specifics are released.