A vocal group of people eager to see President Donald Trump’s border wall completed gathered in East Otay Mesa on Saturday at a rally event that briefly turned violent during a clash with counter-protesters.

The “Build the Wall” rally was held in a dirt lot within view of eight border wall prototypes, which were recently finished and are undergoing testing.

Dozens of supporters came from around the county, and as far away as Arizona, to cheer on the president’s campaign promise. Sheriff’s officials estimated the crowd to be about 60 people, although there appeared to be at least 100.

Though the event was scheduled for noon, some attendees arrived as early as 10:15 a.m. sporting gear with the president’s tagline “Make America Great Again,” carrying or wearing American flags, toting megaphones and blasting border-wall themed music.


“We felt like it was time to give (the border wall effort) a boost to show that the American people are watching, and they expect the ... wall built early next year,” said Jeff Schwilk, a rally organizer and founder of the San Diegans for Secure Borders group.

Schwilk and fellow organizers — Ben Berqguam, founder of Frontline America, and Will Johnson, founder of Unite America First — addressed attendees shortly after noon. They also secured speakers such as Rep. Duncan Hunter, former Assemblyman Tim Donnelly and Chis Harris, a union representative for National Border Patrol Council’s Local 1613.

“This is probably my 50th rally asking for the federal government to just do its job,” Donnelly said in an interview after his speech. “It is an enumerated duty of the Constitution to secure the border.”

A wall, he said, is needed to ensure the safety and security of Americans and border agents, referencing Border Patrol Agent Rogelio Martinez, who was killed while on patrol in West Texas last month.


“I’m for Trump and for building the wall,” said Suellen Shay, 74, of Vista. “I just think (the wall) is needed for the sovereignty of our country. … It’s the same as having your own home. Would you leave your doors open and let everyone come in?

It’s good for everybody. It’s not at all racial. That’s the thing that bothers me.”

Pro-wall and anti-wall activists clash as law enforcement stands by. (Nancee E. Lewis / San Diego Union-Tribune )

The atmosphere, however, turned from peaceful to hostile when a small group of protesters marched down Enrico Fermi Place toward the rally site. The group of about 15 arrived around 20 minutes into the rally and chanted, “No ban. No wall. Amnesty for all” and “Racists, go home.”


Though sheriff’s deputies were already in place, lined up to separate protesters from the rally site, some rally-goers confronted the marchers, leading to several heated exchanges and at least one fight. Deputies broke up the scuffle within minutes. No one was arrested and sheriff’s officials said no injuries were reported.

The border wall is a “xenophobic act, reminiscent of Nazi Germany,” said Rafael Bautista, 33, of southeast San Diego. Bautista, who helped organize the protest but isn’t affiliated with a single group, said he migrated to the U.S. from Mexico at the age of 4 and has family on both sides of the border.

“They want to put up walls between two shades of color,” he said. “This is exactly the opposite of what we want in this country.”

Despite the interruption, the rally continued with speakers, including Hunter, R-Alpine, who advocated for the wall and said it was his No. 1 goal. He also told attendees that Republicans in the Senate would likely need to compromise on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, legislation in order to secure the Democratic votes needed to get the wall built.


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jennifer.vangrove@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1840 Twitter: @jbruin