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Residents tell council they felt intimidated after city worker and officers removed protest flags; council asks for follow-up
Summary
Multiple residents described weekly protests at La Paz and Marguerite and recounted an April interaction where a city staff member accompanied by two uniformed officers asked protesters to remove flags without offering identification or explanation; councilmembers asked staff to investigate and report back.
Residents and community leaders used public comment time at the Mission Viejo City Council meeting on April 8 to raise concerns about a series of weekly protests at La Paz and Marguerite and an April incident they described as intimidating.
"Freedom to speak and the right to peacefully protest is a very important thing," said Lisa Robinson, who said she has attended the weekly gatherings. Robinson urged the city to continue to protect peaceful demonstrators.
Several speakers said that during an April encounter a city staff member arrived with two uniformed officers and ordered protesters, including two elderly women, to remove small flags placed in garden beds without explaining the legal basis for the order. "They were not there to protect us... Instead, apparently, they were there to protect a man who identified himself only as a city worker," said Carolyn Gatto.
Heidi Prescott asked the council to require two-way, professional communication from staff and to identify the employee who attended the site. "There was no reason given," Prescott said, "and we still would like to know the name of the person who came down with the officers." Several commenters urged clearer communication and more visible protection for protesters who had requested police presence.
Council response: Councilmember Cynthia Vasquez said she had heard different versions of the incident and asked staff to help gather information and connect with speakers to clarify what occurred. The council did not take formal action at the meeting but directed staff to follow up.
Context: Speakers framed their comments as both a defense of free-speech rights and a request for improved protocols when staff or deputies interact with community demonstrations. One speaker also connected the topic to broader concerns about surveillance and data collection raised elsewhere in public comment.
Next steps: Councilmembers asked staff to report back with names, context and whether policies or training changes are warranted.
