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Additional ‘Actions’ Planned by Outside Organizers to Have Statue Removed
By Brian Hews and Randy Economy
After an unsatisfactory response from Mayor Bruce Barrow demanding removal of Cerritos’ Gandhi statue, a coalition of local citizens promised to continue the protest to have the statue removed from the front of Chugh Law Firm.
The Organization for Minorities of India, OFMI, a Central California-based human rights group, is organizing local families and business-owners for a campaign seeking legal removal of the statue.
The disdain for the statue is palpable in Cerritos. The statue located at the corner of Carmenita Road and Alondra Boulevard has been a target of vandalism. Recently, officials bolted the statue down to help deter future theft attempts.
Ricky Pal, owner of a Cerritos deli, said, “the statue of a pervert does not belong anywhere.”
“The City of Cerritos has rejected our initial overtures, but this is only the beginning of our conversation,” said Arvin Valmuci, Coordinator at OFMI. “If they will not answer us, we will speak louder and more frequently. We are organizing locals opposed to the statue to speak at upcoming city council meetings and demonstrate on the streets so the city cannot fail to hear us.”
Cerritos Mayor Bruce Barrows comes under fire from a human rights group over the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Alondra Boulevard and Carmenita Road in Cerritos. Randy Economy Photo
Mayor Barrows’ e-mail to OFMI basically said the Chugh Law Firm chose the statue and that the Fine Arts and Historical Commission and the City Council “received and approved” the statue.”
Barrow’s e-mail tersely concludes, “your comments have been noted.” Hews Media Group-Community Newspaper was provided a copy of the email.
“It claims the controversial statue belongs to the Chugh Law Firm on Carmenita Road, but also states both the City Council and Fine Arts and Historical Commission approved the statue after first requiring the law firm contribute to the “Art in Public Places” program,” said Valmuci.
“So it is clear the FAHC and the City Council approve of the statue.”
The statue, donated to the program in 2012, is drawing harsh censure from many local South Asian minorities who claim to suffer psychological damage from its presence.
Among their detailed reasons for opposing the statue are that Gandhi promoted racial segregation in South Africa shortly before Apartheid, that he sexually abused his underage grandnieces Manu and Abha at the height of his popularity, and that he entrenched caste, a system of social division, in India.
“It seems, due to their support for the Gandhi statue, Cerritos and its City Council are destined to receive a history lesson on the struggle for human dignity halfway around the globe,” said Valmuci.
Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948), political and spiritual leader of India. Location unknown. Français : Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948), Guide politique et spirituel de l’Inde. Lieu inconnu. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Emails sent to all Cerritos City Council-members for response went unanswered.
Monday, September 02, 2013.
http://www.cerritos.us/VISITORS/art_in_public_places/fact_sheets/gandhi.php
►►►► BTW: Tues. 9/10/2013, PPC will be holding a non-televised TREE STUDY, open to all 42,000 home owners in the city!!!!!
CCC does not have the time to discuss emails, as they are the run, chasing events in:
1. Sacramento,
2. China,
3. DC.
4. Palm Springs Drunken Conventions.
5. Writing Korean Memoirs.
6. Receiving Pre Paid awards out of Florida.
7. Studying Trains in Europe.
8. Feeding butts, fannies and guts.
9. Inner city marathons.
Most of the CCC is not intelligent to write emails or letters, as they are too old, dementia, shacking & too feeble to write. This council along w/ other past councils has never spent the time to work out in the ditches of homeowners neighborhoods, to talk and listen. This council can not even have neutral TOWN HALL MEETINGS, or TELEVISED STUDY SESSIONS.
Everything this city does is in cognito, behind closed door sessions, or behind barn doors corrals. Elected Republican Elephant stench is chest hi in manure.
FAC Art is the product of having a Closed Binder Art Commission (FAC) and staff. 100% of the FAC are females, along w/ 100% female staffers. Out of the 5 FAC appointees, only 2 were born in USA, per their forms filed w/ city clerk. There are no red heads, no blonds, no handicap, no teens, and no male appointees on this FAC nor staffers.
Commissioners most be appointed from resume applications and stop the personal friend appointees!!!
Said questionable art piece should be transferred to more protected area of the city. The target area the art piece is on display is redlined in a trucking area, w/ min. security and lights.
Examine the FAC on Del Amo | Pioneer | at Starbucks, female washing underwear or Hygiene Napkin in Fountain. THIS IS DISGUSTING AND DEGRADING TO –ALL– USA FEMALES.
http://cerritospublicworks.blogspot.com/
✔✔✔✔✔✔Most serious offense is the lack of maintenance city wide, in and around all art in public places, including the horrendous condition of the waterfalls at the Shoemaker- 91 Fwy Gore, where over 200,000 cars view daily. Green filthy waters, overtaken by weeds, dead tree stomps, homeless camps, debris manure, stained rock veneers et al. Not Kodak moment, for the Town Center!!!!!!
http://hmg.theserver.me/loscerritosnews/2013/09/02/cerritos-mayor-bruce-barrows-rebukes-gandhi-statue-protesters/
Why is Cerritos City Council scared to start a dialogue with community members about this issue? Why won’t they answer any questions or concerns about this statue? How are they being representatives of the people by refusing to talk to the people?