Garden Grove : Punk Rockers Protest Church’s Building Plans

Churchgoers leaving Sunday services at the Crystal Cathedral were greeted by punk rockers protesting the Garden Grove church’s plans to raze nearby apartments and replace them with a six-story family center.

“We’re concerned about the people being evicted,” said Marc Eric Ely-Chaitlin, a spokesman for the group. “No one is doing anything to help them, and we’re outraged that he (the Rev. Robert Schuller) thinks he can do this.”

Earlier this month, Schuller announced plans for a $15-million family center on 3.5 acres along Jetty Circle, where an 84-unit apartment complex stands, raising concerns among some residents and neighbors. Schuller has promised to help relocate residents, many of whom are low-income Latinos.

Most of the 40 or so protesters Sunday were members of the newly formed International Music Workers Union, with locals in New York, England and Argentina as well as Orange County, said Ely-Chaitlin, who conceded that none of the apartment residents had sought his group’s aid.

They clustered on a sidewalk outside the church and chanted, “Stop the family center evictions,” and held signs that read “Rev. Schuller is a Nazi Landlord” and “The Reformed Church in Amerika--Pro-Apartheid,” an apparent reference to last year’s barring of a member of the African National Congress from speaking at the church because of the South African group’s alleged ties to “violent elements.”

Ron Martinez, a Buena Park resident and vocalist with the punk band Final Conflict, said he would protest against “any form of oppression. We don’t believe in organized religion. . . . We decided to show our discontent.”

Anaheim teen-ager Rick Frustockl brought a friend to the demonstration--his pet rat, The-The. “I just heard about this last night, hanging out with some of these guys,” Frustockl said, as the animal squirmed across his belly underneath his sleeveless T-shirt. “We’re for all rights--animal or human. We’re just protesting to survive.”

Schuller’s flock did not seem enthralled with the protesters. “I think it’s very offensive,” said Judy Fillman of Santa Ana. “If these people only realized the good the church is doing.”

Her husband, Jerry Fillman, said it was “sad” that anyone would be displaced by the church project. “But it happens, and I think it’s for the betterment of the community,” he said. “It’s free enterprise.”

A few blocks away, Jetty Circle resident Juan Diaz said he had heard that the church had bought the apartments, but was unaware of Sunday’s demonstration. “If we have to move, we’ll move,” Diaz said.