As High Desert For Palestine continues to ask local elected officials to support a cease fire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, tensions mount between the group and Hesperia Councilman Cameron Gregg.
Video footage taken after the May 7 city council meeting shows Gregg using profanity and spitting in the direction of the Palestinian support organization.
"Go back to your own [incoherent] cities," he said in the video. As he walked away, Gregg also called those he was speaking with "(expletive) nuts."
The confrontation occurred after a lengthy city council meeting in which 16 people addressed Gregg regarding comments he made during a recent council meeting.
At the April 16 meeting, High Desert For Palestine asked the council to sign a ceasefire resolution and support divesting from any Israel-owned businesses on the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions list .
"Not only do I think that that is ludicrous, but I'd also like to propose that we do a resolution from our city council supporting Israel," Gregg said in response to the group's request.
Gregg continued that he hoped the student group wasn't from Hesperia but "it's a new generation we're living in of 'uneducatedness'." He followed these remarks with a statement saying that he won't be giving sympathy to anyone who wants him to "support terrorists."
Not the apology 'you guys want'
At the May 7 meeting, 13 High Desert For Palestine advocates publicly addressed the Hesperia City Council, most of whom spoke directly to the left side of the council panel, in the direction of Gregg.
Among them were organization leaders Cresenciana Rios and Roo McMahon, as well as members Maria Neto, Alexis de Jesus, and Layla Abdugani.
All asked for an apology from Gregg.
"Represent the people of Hesperia and our request for an apology along with a ceasefire resolution," de Jesus said in front of the council, "or these will be your last terms in those seats."
The group was met with a Uno reverse type of apology by Gregg that's "not going to be the one you guys want."
Gregg stated that he was sorry that "society has failed you." He continued that the group was "coddled" and led down a misguided path of supporting Hamas terrorists invading another country.
Gregg also mentioned the GoFundMe.com that have been started by Hesperia residents trying to evacuate their families from the warzone. He threw money across the meeting podium in the direction of the activists, stating that he wanted to donate so that Palestine supporters could go to Middle Eastern countries and witness the lack of freedom.
"And yet, you stand here, fighting for something that's a thousand miles away," Gregg shook his head.
The group has also made demands for Gregg's recall.
"Won't be the first and it won't be the last," he said.
'They're here and they're Hesperians'
Also on the agenda for most High Desert For Palestine members was debunking Gregg's previous allegations that members weren't actually High Desert residents, they weren't seasoned Eastern Hemisphere travelers, and members were uneducated.
Although most of the High Desert For Palestine members say they are college-aged, many have already graduated, and others are well into their careers.
Two High Desert residents not affiliated with High Desert For Palestine, Chris Ochoa and Derek Marshall, a California congress nominee, sported an understanding of Gregg's past comments but still asked for empathy for their local Muslim communities.
Ochoa highlighted why this argument matters, despite the distance. As a community health worker, he's noted over 1,000 Muslims that live in the Hesperia community, many of whom are from Palestine.
"It's a small community but they're here and they're Hesperians," he said. "We can't disrespect them."
He went on to say that he was hopeful that Gregg could find a way to apologize and "make right for this community."
The next meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, and High Desert For Palestine say they have plans to be in attendance.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: 'You guys are (expletive) nuts': Hesperia Councilman confronts pro-Palestine protestors
Local News
