Protesters call for bulldozing of restaurant

Press, 24 July 1984, Page 10

Protesters call for bulldozing of restaurant

NZPA-AP . San Ysidro Donors have deluged a fund for families of the victims of the McDonald’s massacre with phonp-calls, but protesters said yesterday that money would not remove the grief, and demanded that the restaurant be closed. “It’s not good enough,” said James Davis, one of about 50 people who took part in a candlelight vigil that began on Sunday outside the restaurant where James Oliver Huberty opened fire, killing 21 people. “We want them to bulldoze it (McDonald’s) down and build a memorial Eark. To reopen this would e a mistake. This has left deep scars on our town. Nobody will eat here,” Mr Davis said. The restaurant, on the main street of the small, mainly Hispanic border community, was the site of the worst mass murder by a single gunman in American history on Thursday. Before Huberty, aged 41,

an unemployed security guard, was shot by a police sharp-shooter, he had killed 20 people and wounded 20 more. A twenty-first victim died in a hospital in San Diego. McDonald’s officials originally said that the restaurant would be reopened as soon as possible, but upon learning of the protest, said that any action concerning the site was on hold. Participants in the candlelight vigil carried hand-lettered signs in English and Spanish, some reading, “We are hurt, our community is in mourning: Please respect our wishes,” and, “McMemorial Park.” They placed candles and bouquets of carnations atop the brick and metal fence around the McDonald’s playground and tied swatches of black cloth around the front fence. They also passed petitions asking that the restaurant be permanently closed. Mr Davis said that the petitions would be given to San Diego’s Mayor, Mr Roger

Hedgecock.' “It’s our custom to memorialise the dead,” said Gloria Salas, who is leading the petition drive. "We have nothing against the company, but they have enough money to open anywhere else.” Clyde Leech, director of the fund for families of the victims, said yesterday that the nation-wide response had been so great he had been forced to open two more telephone lines during the week-end, for a total of three. “We’ve just had an absolute deluge,” he said. He would meet officials of a San Diego bank today to obtain a preliminary total. Mr Leech, who administers a crime prevention and aid programme to elderly residents in San Diego, was hired by Joan Kroc, widow of McDonald’s founder, Ray Kroc, the run the fund drive. Mrs Kroc gave SUSIOO,OOO to the fund on Friday, and on Saturday McDonald’s Corp, added ?USI million.