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Revision as of 08:08, 27 October 2009 editWill Beback (talk \| contribs)112,162 edits sprot← Previous edit		Revision as of 21:10, 28 October 2009 edit undoWill Beback (talk \| contribs)112,162 edits →Campaign: delete material sourced to defunct blogNext edit →
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	Minuteman founder Jim Gilchrist filed a lawsuit in Orange County, California, against the group's board of directors, Marvin Stewart, Deborah Courtney and, Barbara Coe, after they fired him over allegations of fraud, failure to secure nonprofit status, mismanagement and falsifying documents.<ref name="Delson1">{{cite news \|url= http://articles.latimes.com/2007/mar/11/local/me-gilchrist11 \|title= A Minuteman meets his hour of crisis: Jim Gilchrist, co-founder of the anti-illegal immigrant group, battles three board members for the organization's control. \|author= Jennifer Delson \|format= ] \|work= ] \|date= ] ] \|quote= In early February, papers were filed with the state of Delaware showing that Stewart was the organization's new president and Courtney was the new treasurer. An official with the Delaware secretary of state's office said no one but Gilchrist could legally make those changes. Less than three weeks later, Gilchrist sued Coe, Courtney and Stewart, alleging they illegally voted him out of his organization, misallocated organization funds and commandeered his website. A ruling is expected March 21 on his application for a restraining order against the three.}}</ref> A partial injunction was issued preventing the board members from using the preprinted fund raising letter head with Jim Gilchrist signature on it and from dissipating funds. The Board of Directors is still in control of the name of the "Minuteman Project, Inc.", and Jim Gilchrist was ordered to post a $15,000 bond to continue his efforts to regain control, but a final ruling was not yet made.<ref name="Delson2">{{cite news \|url= http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-gilchrist24mar24,1,7366862.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california&ctrack=1&cset=true \|title= Both sides claim a win in Minuteman suit \|author= Jennifer Delson \|format= ] \|work= \|date= ] ] \|quote= Minuteman Project co-founder Jim Gilchrist and his opponents within the anti-illegal-immigration group both claimed victory Friday after an Orange County Superior Court judge put Gilchrist back in charge of the organization's funds but indicated that those assets might soon be put into receivership.**}}</ref>		Minuteman founder Jim Gilchrist filed a lawsuit in Orange County, California, against the group's board of directors, Marvin Stewart, Deborah Courtney and, Barbara Coe, after they fired him over allegations of fraud, failure to secure nonprofit status, mismanagement and falsifying documents.<ref name="Delson1">{{cite news \|url= http://articles.latimes.com/2007/mar/11/local/me-gilchrist11 \|title= A Minuteman meets his hour of crisis: Jim Gilchrist, co-founder of the anti-illegal immigrant group, battles three board members for the organization's control. \|author= Jennifer Delson \|format= ] \|work= ] \|date= ] ] \|quote= In early February, papers were filed with the state of Delaware showing that Stewart was the organization's new president and Courtney was the new treasurer. An official with the Delaware secretary of state's office said no one but Gilchrist could legally make those changes. Less than three weeks later, Gilchrist sued Coe, Courtney and Stewart, alleging they illegally voted him out of his organization, misallocated organization funds and commandeered his website. A ruling is expected March 21 on his application for a restraining order against the three.}}</ref> A partial injunction was issued preventing the board members from using the preprinted fund raising letter head with Jim Gilchrist signature on it and from dissipating funds. The Board of Directors is still in control of the name of the "Minuteman Project, Inc.", and Jim Gilchrist was ordered to post a $15,000 bond to continue his efforts to regain control, but a final ruling was not yet made.<ref name="Delson2">{{cite news \|url= http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-gilchrist24mar24,1,7366862.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california&ctrack=1&cset=true \|title= Both sides claim a win in Minuteman suit \|author= Jennifer Delson \|format= ] \|work= \|date= ] ] \|quote= Minuteman Project co-founder Jim Gilchrist and his opponents within the anti-illegal-immigration group both claimed victory Friday after an Orange County Superior Court judge put Gilchrist back in charge of the organization's funds but indicated that those assets might soon be put into receivership.**}}</ref>

		⚫	Former MMP, Inc. Board Member Barbara Coe, leader of California Coalition For Immigration Reform (CCIR.net) was awarded attorney fees of over $9,000.00 against Jim Gilchrist.<ref name="Orange County Register, Frank Mickadeit">{{cite news \|url= http://www.ocregister.com/articles/gilchrist-coe-lula-2117272-courtney-minuteman \|title= Minuteman leader Gilchrist loses another biggie in court (8/7/08) \|author= Frank Mickadeit \|format= ] \|work= \|date= ] ] \|quote= in the case of Coe, ordering Gilchrist to pay her more than $9,000. Courtney, et al, will be seeking the same sanctions, and there's no reason to think Gilchrist and Eichler won't end up owing all the folks they've been harassing a whole lot more. Just remember that the next time you see Jimbo with his hand out.**}}</ref>
	Both the Gilchrist and Eichler defamation lawsuits were stricken by MMP, Inc.'s Board Members Stewart and Courtney's new Attorney Daniel F. Lula's "Special Motion to Strike" the Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP), as per the California Anti-SLAP legislation and both Gilchrist<ref name="ImmigrationWatchdog2">{{cite news \|url= http://www.immigrationwatchdog.com/?p=7050 \|title=Jim Gilchrist Loses In Court, Must Pay Defendants Attorney Fees \|author= The Watchdog \|format= ] \|work= \|date= ] ] \|quote= Second Frivolous Defamation Suit Against Patriots Deborah Courtney, Marvin Stewart and Paul Sielski Stricken; Jim Gilchrist’s Suit Follows the Same Path As That Of His Associate Stephen Eichler”}}</ref> and his associate Eichler<ref name="ImmigrationWatchdog1">{{cite news \|url= http://www.immigrationwatchdog.com/?p=7021 \|title= Judge Rules Against Stephen Eichler, Defamation Lawsuits Thrown Out \|author= The Watchdog \|format= ] \|work= \|date= ] ] \|quote= Frivolous Defamation Suit Filed by Steven Eichler Against Patriots Deborah Courtney and Paul Sielski Stricken; Orange County Superior Court Finds Their Special Motion “Meritorious”}}</ref> are subject to paying legal fees and costs of the defendants. Former MMP, Inc. Board Member Barbara Coe, leader of California Coalition For Immigration Reform (CCIR.net) was awarded attorney fees of over $9,000.00 against Jim Gilchrist.

⚫	<ref name="Orange County Register, Frank Mickadeit">{{cite news \|url= http://www.ocregister.com/articles/gilchrist-coe-lula-2117272-courtney-minuteman \|title= Minuteman leader Gilchrist loses another biggie in court (8/7/08) \|author= Frank Mickadeit \|format= ] \|work= \|date= ] ] \|quote= in the case of Coe, ordering Gilchrist to pay her more than $9,000. Courtney, et al, will be seeking the same sanctions, and there's no reason to think Gilchrist and Eichler won't end up owing all the folks they've been harassing a whole lot more. Just remember that the next time you see Jimbo with his hand out.**}}</ref>

	==2005 election bid==		==2005 election bid==

Revision as of 21:10, 28 October 2009

For other people named the American activist, see other similarly-named people and James Gilchrist.

Jim Gilchrist
Born	(1949-01-13) January 13, 1949 (age 76) North Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Occupation(s)	Activist, Author
Political party	Republican

James "Jim" Walter Gilchrist, Jr. (born January 13, 1949) is the American co-founder, along with Chris Simcox, of the Minuteman Project, a group whose aim is to prevent illegal immigration across the United States's southern border.

Early life

Gilchrist holds a B.A. in newspaper journalism from the University of Rhode Island, a B.S. in business administration from California State Polytechnic University, and an MBA in taxation from Golden Gate University. He is a former newspaper reporter and a retired California CPA (Certified Public Accountant).

Gilchrist is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and recipient of the Purple Heart award for wounds sustained while serving with an infantry unit in Vietnam, 1967 - 1969.

He currently resides in Aliso Viejo, California.

Co-founder of the Minuteman Movement

Jim Gilchrist and Chris Simcox are widely recognized as the founders of the Minuteman Project. The two staged a month long border watch project and that event catapulted the Minuteman movement into the national spotlight.

Campaign

Gilchrist made an impressive showing in the December 6, 2005 Special election, running as an independent Gilchrist received greater than 25% of the vote. The congressional campaign afforded Gilchrist the opportunity to move immigration law enforcement to the forefront of the national debate.

Minuteman founder Jim Gilchrist filed a lawsuit in Orange County, California, against the group's board of directors, Marvin Stewart, Deborah Courtney and, Barbara Coe, after they fired him over allegations of fraud, failure to secure nonprofit status, mismanagement and falsifying documents. A partial injunction was issued preventing the board members from using the preprinted fund raising letter head with Jim Gilchrist signature on it and from dissipating funds. The Board of Directors is still in control of the name of the "Minuteman Project, Inc.", and Jim Gilchrist was ordered to post a $15,000 bond to continue his efforts to regain control, but a final ruling was not yet made.

Former MMP, Inc. Board Member Barbara Coe, leader of California Coalition For Immigration Reform (CCIR.net) was awarded attorney fees of over $9,000.00 against Jim Gilchrist.

2005 election bid

Main article: California's 48th congressional district special election, 2005

Gilchrist unsuccessfully ran as an American Independent Party candidate for the United States House of Representatives representing California's 48th Congressional District to replace Republican Chris Cox, who resigned to become Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

In the low-turnout open primary for Cox's seat held on October 4, 2005, Gilchrist finished behind two Republicans but ahead of all other candidates, including Democrats. He received 14.8% of the vote (a total of 13,423 votes). He was the only one running under his party, and therefore automatically advanced into the run-off.

Gilchrist lost to Republican state Senator John Campbell in the December 6 general election, receiving 25.5% (26,507) of the vote. Campbell received 44.4% (46,184), Steve Young (Democrat) 27.8% (28,853), Bea Tiritilli (Green) 1.4% (1,430), Bruce Cohen (Libertarian) 0.9% (974).

Gilchrist has provided conservative opinions on various issues but emphasized that immigration and the border is the primary issue from which the others flow.

He has stated that he would consider a presidential run in 2008 with the Constitution Party, should the two major parties offer candidates with no proactive history on the issue of illegal immigration. He stated "If John McCain enters the race for president I will definitely run. John McCain should have forfeited his right to run for president on the Republican Party the moment he put his name on immigration legislation with Sen. Ted Kennedy." However, McCain did enter the race, but Gilchrist later withdrew his intention to run, citing concerns about viability in third parties.

Political views

Gilchrist holds conservative views on education, health care, and taxes. Gilchrist was registered with the American Independent Party, the California affiliate of the Constitution Party, but has since re-registered as a Republican, and is an adamant immigration enforcement, law enforcement and military advocate. Despite all this, he has announced his endorsement of Mike Huckabee for President in December 2007. The endorsement of Huckabee by Gilchrist met with strong criticism from other minutemen and anti-illegal immigration activists. It should also be noted that this was a personal, individual endorsement by Gilchrist, not an endorsement by any minuteman organization.

Criticism

According to a report from the Southern Poverty Law Center, Gilchrist willingly allowed members of the National Alliance, one of the United States' largest neo-Nazi organizations, to help with his 2005 House run. Gilchrist has claimed that he refuses to work with white supremacists, but the SPLC report questioned his sincerity. The report interviewed a former volunteer in Gilchrist's campaign who said that "they were basically allowing Nazi skinheads and white nationalists to work the phone banks and do IT and distribute National Alliance fliers targeting non-whites," and that " that didn't want to work for a campaign that was tainted by white supremacy in any way, they told me not to cause a stir." Gilchrist has denied allowing racist individuals in the project.

In October 2006, Gilchrist appeared on Democracy Now and abruptly ended the interview after Karina Garcia started accusing him of being a murderer and said that he has ties to the National Alliance.

In a March 2006, interview with the Orange County Register, Gilchrist stopped just short of calling for his followers to pick up their guns: "I'm not going to promote insurrection, but if it happens, it will be on the conscience of the members of Congress who are doing this," he said. "I will not promote violence in resolving this, but I will not stop others who might pursue that."

Books

Minutemen: The Battle to Secure America's Borders, by Jim Gilchrist, Jerome R. Corsi, and Tom Tancredo. Los Angeles: World Ahead Publishing (2006). ISBN 0-9778984-1-5.

References

Minutemen Project: About Us from www.minutemenproject.org
Minuteman Project founder finds inspiration in Concord from The Boston Herald 14 December 2006
Sean Hannity Visits the Minutemen Volunteers in Arizona, Tuesday, April 19, 2005, Interview Archive, a partial transcript from "Hannity & Colmes," April 18, 2005, that has been edited for clarity. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,153908,00.html
Orange Country Registrar of Voters site, http://www.ocvotes.org, results of previous elections, 48th Congressional District General Election Results, December 6, 2005, Gilchrist received 26,507 votes or 25.5%of votes cast in the election.
Jennifer Delson (11 March 2007). "A Minuteman meets his hour of crisis: Jim Gilchrist, co-founder of the anti-illegal immigrant group, battles three board members for the organization's control" (html). Los Angeles Times. In early February, papers were filed with the state of Delaware showing that Stewart was the organization's new president and Courtney was the new treasurer. An official with the Delaware secretary of state's office said no one but Gilchrist could legally make those changes. Less than three weeks later, Gilchrist sued Coe, Courtney and Stewart, alleging they illegally voted him out of his organization, misallocated organization funds and commandeered his website. A ruling is expected March 21 on his application for a restraining order against the three. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
Jennifer Delson (24 March 2007). "Both sides claim a win in Minuteman suit" (html). Minuteman Project co-founder Jim Gilchrist and his opponents within the anti-illegal-immigration group both claimed victory Friday after an Orange County Superior Court judge put Gilchrist back in charge of the organization's funds but indicated that those assets might soon be put into receivership.** {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
Frank Mickadeit (07 August 2008). "Minuteman leader Gilchrist loses another biggie in court (8/7/08)" (html). in the case of Coe, ordering Gilchrist to pay her more than $9,000. Courtney, et al, will be seeking the same sanctions, and there's no reason to think Gilchrist and Eichler won't end up owing all the folks they've been harassing a whole lot more. Just remember that the next time you see Jimbo with his hand out.** {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
Founder of Minutemen targets run for president
About at Jim Gilchrist’s Official Website
Mike Huckabee for President - Blogs - Minuteman Founder Endorses Huckabee
^ Marc Ambinder (December 13, 2007) - Minutemen Bash Founder Over Huckabee Endorsement
VDARE.com: 12/11/07 - Meet the GOP's Border Control Cross-Dressers
SPLCenter.org: Racists join Minuteman Project
MMP: Minuteman Project Shuns Supremacist Group at Jim Gilchrist’s Official Website
Democracy Now! | Minuteman Founder Jim Gilchrist Storms Off Democracy Now! Debate With Columbia Student Organizer
News: Minutemen to patrol border in 4 states - OCRegister.com

Revision as of 08:08, 27 October 2009 editWill Beback (talk \| contribs)112,162 edits sprot← Previous edit		Revision as of 21:10, 28 October 2009 edit undoWill Beback (talk \| contribs)112,162 edits →Campaign: delete material sourced to defunct blogNext edit →
Line 28:		Line 28:
	Minuteman founder Jim Gilchrist filed a lawsuit in Orange County, California, against the group's board of directors, Marvin Stewart, Deborah Courtney and, Barbara Coe, after they fired him over allegations of fraud, failure to secure nonprofit status, mismanagement and falsifying documents.<ref name="Delson1">{{cite news \|url= http://articles.latimes.com/2007/mar/11/local/me-gilchrist11 \|title= A Minuteman meets his hour of crisis: Jim Gilchrist, co-founder of the anti-illegal immigrant group, battles three board members for the organization's control. \|author= Jennifer Delson \|format= ] \|work= ] \|date= ] ] \|quote= In early February, papers were filed with the state of Delaware showing that Stewart was the organization's new president and Courtney was the new treasurer. An official with the Delaware secretary of state's office said no one but Gilchrist could legally make those changes. Less than three weeks later, Gilchrist sued Coe, Courtney and Stewart, alleging they illegally voted him out of his organization, misallocated organization funds and commandeered his website. A ruling is expected March 21 on his application for a restraining order against the three.}}</ref> A partial injunction was issued preventing the board members from using the preprinted fund raising letter head with Jim Gilchrist signature on it and from dissipating funds. The Board of Directors is still in control of the name of the "Minuteman Project, Inc.", and Jim Gilchrist was ordered to post a $15,000 bond to continue his efforts to regain control, but a final ruling was not yet made.<ref name="Delson2">{{cite news \|url= http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-gilchrist24mar24,1,7366862.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california&ctrack=1&cset=true \|title= Both sides claim a win in Minuteman suit \|author= Jennifer Delson \|format= ] \|work= \|date= ] ] \|quote= Minuteman Project co-founder Jim Gilchrist and his opponents within the anti-illegal-immigration group both claimed victory Friday after an Orange County Superior Court judge put Gilchrist back in charge of the organization's funds but indicated that those assets might soon be put into receivership.**}}</ref>		Minuteman founder Jim Gilchrist filed a lawsuit in Orange County, California, against the group's board of directors, Marvin Stewart, Deborah Courtney and, Barbara Coe, after they fired him over allegations of fraud, failure to secure nonprofit status, mismanagement and falsifying documents.<ref name="Delson1">{{cite news \|url= http://articles.latimes.com/2007/mar/11/local/me-gilchrist11 \|title= A Minuteman meets his hour of crisis: Jim Gilchrist, co-founder of the anti-illegal immigrant group, battles three board members for the organization's control. \|author= Jennifer Delson \|format= ] \|work= ] \|date= ] ] \|quote= In early February, papers were filed with the state of Delaware showing that Stewart was the organization's new president and Courtney was the new treasurer. An official with the Delaware secretary of state's office said no one but Gilchrist could legally make those changes. Less than three weeks later, Gilchrist sued Coe, Courtney and Stewart, alleging they illegally voted him out of his organization, misallocated organization funds and commandeered his website. A ruling is expected March 21 on his application for a restraining order against the three.}}</ref> A partial injunction was issued preventing the board members from using the preprinted fund raising letter head with Jim Gilchrist signature on it and from dissipating funds. The Board of Directors is still in control of the name of the "Minuteman Project, Inc.", and Jim Gilchrist was ordered to post a $15,000 bond to continue his efforts to regain control, but a final ruling was not yet made.<ref name="Delson2">{{cite news \|url= http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-gilchrist24mar24,1,7366862.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california&ctrack=1&cset=true \|title= Both sides claim a win in Minuteman suit \|author= Jennifer Delson \|format= ] \|work= \|date= ] ] \|quote= Minuteman Project co-founder Jim Gilchrist and his opponents within the anti-illegal-immigration group both claimed victory Friday after an Orange County Superior Court judge put Gilchrist back in charge of the organization's funds but indicated that those assets might soon be put into receivership.**}}</ref>

		⚫	Former MMP, Inc. Board Member Barbara Coe, leader of California Coalition For Immigration Reform (CCIR.net) was awarded attorney fees of over $9,000.00 against Jim Gilchrist.<ref name="Orange County Register, Frank Mickadeit">{{cite news \|url= http://www.ocregister.com/articles/gilchrist-coe-lula-2117272-courtney-minuteman \|title= Minuteman leader Gilchrist loses another biggie in court (8/7/08) \|author= Frank Mickadeit \|format= ] \|work= \|date= ] ] \|quote= in the case of Coe, ordering Gilchrist to pay her more than $9,000. Courtney, et al, will be seeking the same sanctions, and there's no reason to think Gilchrist and Eichler won't end up owing all the folks they've been harassing a whole lot more. Just remember that the next time you see Jimbo with his hand out.**}}</ref>
	Both the Gilchrist and Eichler defamation lawsuits were stricken by MMP, Inc.'s Board Members Stewart and Courtney's new Attorney Daniel F. Lula's "Special Motion to Strike" the Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP), as per the California Anti-SLAP legislation and both Gilchrist<ref name="ImmigrationWatchdog2">{{cite news \|url= http://www.immigrationwatchdog.com/?p=7050 \|title=Jim Gilchrist Loses In Court, Must Pay Defendants Attorney Fees \|author= The Watchdog \|format= ] \|work= \|date= ] ] \|quote= Second Frivolous Defamation Suit Against Patriots Deborah Courtney, Marvin Stewart and Paul Sielski Stricken; Jim Gilchrist’s Suit Follows the Same Path As That Of His Associate Stephen Eichler”}}</ref> and his associate Eichler<ref name="ImmigrationWatchdog1">{{cite news \|url= http://www.immigrationwatchdog.com/?p=7021 \|title= Judge Rules Against Stephen Eichler, Defamation Lawsuits Thrown Out \|author= The Watchdog \|format= ] \|work= \|date= ] ] \|quote= Frivolous Defamation Suit Filed by Steven Eichler Against Patriots Deborah Courtney and Paul Sielski Stricken; Orange County Superior Court Finds Their Special Motion “Meritorious”}}</ref> are subject to paying legal fees and costs of the defendants. Former MMP, Inc. Board Member Barbara Coe, leader of California Coalition For Immigration Reform (CCIR.net) was awarded attorney fees of over $9,000.00 against Jim Gilchrist.

⚫	<ref name="Orange County Register, Frank Mickadeit">{{cite news \|url= http://www.ocregister.com/articles/gilchrist-coe-lula-2117272-courtney-minuteman \|title= Minuteman leader Gilchrist loses another biggie in court (8/7/08) \|author= Frank Mickadeit \|format= ] \|work= \|date= ] ] \|quote= in the case of Coe, ordering Gilchrist to pay her more than $9,000. Courtney, et al, will be seeking the same sanctions, and there's no reason to think Gilchrist and Eichler won't end up owing all the folks they've been harassing a whole lot more. Just remember that the next time you see Jimbo with his hand out.**}}</ref>

	==2005 election bid==		==2005 election bid==

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