Residents urge Chino to withhold public support for Calvary Chapel summit; mayor says event organizers fund police

More than two dozen residents used the Oct. 7 public-comment period to press the Chino City Council on an upcoming "Pray, Vote, Stand" summit at Calvary Chapel that organizers announced would include Israeli official Ron Dermer. Speakers urged the council to refuse use of public funds or city-subsidized security for the event, to require a safety and permit review, and to pass a resolution condemning genocide and refusing to platform officials they described as complicit in atrocities.

Catherine Morales, who identified deep family and civic roots in Chino, said the city was "allowing Christian nationalism to take hold" by giving the event a platform and argued the summit was dangerous for non-evangelical residents. Ashraf and other residents urged the council to require the eventorganizers to pay for any police or security response and to evaluate crowd-control and fire-safety plans.

Speakers representing Palestinian, Muslim, immigrant, LGBTQIA and other communities described fear for personal safety and urged the council to "take a stand." One commenter, Hashat Al Muqawama, said the event "is a political rally to promote anti-Palestinian, anti-queer, anti-migrant, and fascist ideologies" and asked whether the city would use tax dollars to underwrite security. Multiple speakers asked the council to pass a resolution condemning genocide and to refuse city facilities for events that they said platform war crimes apologists.

Mayor Eunice Simulo responded that private organizations are responsible for their speaker selection and that the City of Chino does not fund private events or approve a speaker lineup. The mayor said the city processes event permits through its standard procedures and that, "If our police respond by request, they are funded by that organization," whether the organizer is a church, nonprofit or business.

Several speakers also raised concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the region and asked whether Chino Police collaborate with ICE. Police Chief Minson addressed the council later in the meeting and said the department "do[es] not participate in immigration enforcement" and that Chino complies with the California Values Act (Senate Bill 54).

The public-comment block prompted a council reminder that the city can require event permits and public-safety plans but does not determine the speaker roster for private events. Speakers urged the council to consider formal responses, including resolutions and determinations about permitting and law enforcement funding for major private events.

Ending: The council heard the comments and staff confirmed event-permit processes; the mayor reiterated that organizers are responsible for policing costs and that the city does not sponsor private speaker lineups. Chief Minson said the police department does not participate in immigration enforcement.