More signs from our local gadfly, Mr. Fernandez.
Pwc and mans. City
stop your racism. Ag
ainst native Americans
287g, another law by
white supremacists to
get rid of people of color
stop 287g…no more chains
on working people
equality & justice 4 all
The above was dictated to me and supposedly it is color coded as shown. The sign is roughly a 7 x 10.
The paragraph below is my opinion only. M-H
I expect the good people of Manassas and its surrounding areas have long been out of patience with this type of signage and with the gentleman who is allowing it to happen. Mr. F stands in the way of any healing our community might want to transpire. He continues to throw gasoline on a fire that is trying to go out. I suspect it is because if the fire goes out, he loses the attention he so desperately seeks. His 15 minute walk of fame is growing dimmer and dimmer.
I’m actually beginning to see that Mr. Fernandez is doing a fine job for the anti-illegal-immigrant cause, and maybe even for conservative causes in general. Thanks for the reminders, just in time for the election, Mr. Fernandez. You’re helping more than you know.
Before the sharks circle, that’s “anti-illegal-immigration” cause.
You know, Fernandez has a lot of nerve calling the City of Manassas and PWC racist, and trying to link them to white supremacists.
If he wants to see a racist he needs to look at himself in the mirror….
One person’s “taunting” is another person’s “being wholly without value”.
And in my opinion, anyone who still supports Fernandez’s latest sign or the one about the police officer, or even the last version of his more permanent sign that the city forced him to take down – needs to examine whether they supporting racist messages. Some of what he says is just as far out there as some of the stuff on bvbl, for example. Really, he just called the officials of PWC and City of Manassas White Supremacists.
Slowpoke, go back to your old address. Darling little mouse there 🙂
I won’t be putting up a picture of the sign. That is as good as it gets. Son of Howler called it in to me. If something has been lost in translation, oh well….
I agree, the words are enough – we don’t need to see a picture of that vile sign! I suspect your translation is accurate enough – it sure sounds a lot like his past writings.
He should have just stopped with the words of Ghandi. For people like me, who want to help with immigration reform, this type of message is not helpful. However, people like Sheriff Joe do USE 287g, ergo ICE telling him to stop his mass raids into peoples homes while they sleep for no other reason than “suspected” status violation. However, THAT behavior is NOT happening in PWC and that is what people like me, Alanna, and Moon-howler fought to prevent, there is no probable cause mandate in PWC. One HAS to committ a serious crime in order to end up in jail which is where immigration status will be checked. Having said that, 287g without comprehenisve reform will continue to be misused by people like Sheriff Joe in Arizona.
Allrighty!
I have to drive past this man’s signs regularly and it makes me angry each time. Especially the one about the officer. Now he puts up a new one, no surprise there. This guy will keep putting signs up until the City does something … anything about it. He’s in violation of city code regarding signage, it is a traffic hazard (people slowing down to read it), and he slanders the name of a citizen. What is the holdup? Does anyone know if the City is trying to do something? They have rules and guidelines for seemingly everything, businesses in old town have been chastised for putting out temporary board signs announcing a sale on their sidewalks and are made to remove them while Mr. F’s signs just keep multiplying! The City Manager and Council need to do something about this.
I’m hoping he’ll be inspired to build an even bigger sign before next Tuesday!
Unfortunately as I understand it, the previous sign referencing the police officer – did not violate any zoning codes. So the city could not do anything about it unlike the signs before that which WERE in violation of zoning codes.
Given freedom of speech issues, the city’s hands are tied if there isn’t any zoning violation. The new sign – I don’t know if it is in violation of zoning codes or not – but since the last sign wasn’t, and this sign sounds like a similar size and probably a similar distance from the property line – may also not be in violation.
Now, it obviously violates most people’s sense of decency, but again that’s a free speech.
Of course, there’s no question Fernandez has it in for the City and gets thrills out of putting up messages on signs to taunt them. The best thing would be for Fernandez to pick up and move away somewhere. Otherwise I have a feeling we’re going to have to endure his racists messages for a long time to come. I’m also sure he’d just love to have the city come after him when there is no zoning violation – or somehow change the zoning laws to make him in violation. Hopefully the city won’t fall to that bait – as it will just play into his hands. It appears the city is very careful though as they took a careful approach to the signs that were in violation. It’s too bad people on Fernandez’s side don’t clue him in on the fact that his signs are racist in nature and not doing anything to help the situation. That’s probably because the people close to him agree with his signs and see nothing wrong with them.
If he does put up a sign that violates zoning statutes, this time I hope the City throws the book at him and fines him heavily. No more “OK, you removed the sign so we won’t fine you” and no more “endless continuances in court because he doesn’t have an attorney”. That was clever of him to prolong it by claiming he didn’t have proper representation, when the court case had been pending for a huge amount of time. He knows how to work the system – I’ll give him that. He probably cost the city a huge amount in legal fees – and as a property owner in the City, I really resent that. They showed have made him pay legal fees, if nothing else.
@Gainesville Resident
Thanks for the insight, although now I’m even more disheartened about the situation. I see what you mean about him laying out the bait for the City.
I hope he doesn’t. I hate those signs and they divide our community. I would give up any of my political gain to not have to deal with the ill feeling those signs cause in the area. @ Emma. Do you really want to win politically that much that you wish that on our community?
I guess I am just not a political animal.
IWK, I think the city dots all the i’s and crosses all the t’s each time, rather than acting in haste. From what I understand, judges hate these kind of cases. It is a case of land usage vs first amendment rights. Not a good combination. I feel certain they cannot handle it as most of us would like.
Slowpoke, you are exactly as I remember you. And you are just as cute as a bug in a rug!!!
@Moon-howler
You’re right about judges hating these types of cases and council is probably more frustrated than me … it is highly visible to all riding VRE and people visiting for Fall Festival, etc. It is so frustrating.
I HATE HATE HATE that sign and make no bones about it, IWK. I think the city is striving to not have a ruling against it. I think they want to always make sure they are on the winning side. Therefore, the tail dragging. Perhaps put more elloquently, slow and steady wins the race.
Because I have such strong feelings about that sign, I wanted everyone to know I was only speaking for myself. I think it hurts the Hispanic community and I think it hurts Manassas and surrounding areas also.
I agree – they want to make sure they are in the right before they take him to court. Unfortunately, if this sign is the size of the last one, and the same distance from the edge of the property line (or from the road) it probably is OK from a zoning point of view. Therefore, the city won’t be able to do anything and will just ignore it.
Indeed, it hurts the Manassas/PWC just as much as any other racist sort of message. And, the perception is (to me at least) that obviously he has some friends/supporters who agree with all these messages – which doesn’t make me think too kindly of them either. I don’t know how many, but he used to seem to get huge turnouts on his property with the more permanent signs. It is harder to judge now how many people support the two latest signs, unless we start to see some gatherings on his property in support of the signs.
I still say, those close to him – it’s too bad they don’t tell him how racist and hateful his signs are, and how they are not helping things in the least.
@Moon-howler
I understand why you hate the sign, ditto from me on that. Glad I read it here before driving past it tomorrow, would’ve ruined my morning, so thx for posting it. Maybe the guy will eventually get bored and more on? Maybe that’s our only hope.
He hasn’t gotten bored yet and how long has he been putting up signs now? I’ve lost track of the time – but I guess it is going on 2 years. He’s persistent, I’ll give him that – and kind of doubt he’s going to lose interest in doing so anytime soon.
Too bad someone can’t erect a sign across from his property with a nice message back to him such as “Stop your racist signs toward City of Manassas and PWC officials and police”!
That sign certainly polarizes things into them and us. That’s too bad. I don’t want to feel THEM vs US.
I refuse to let him win. He doesn’t not speak for the entire Hispanic community and more than some others speak for the entire white community.
It would seem that for an independent business person (which I heard he is) , he would take a chance that he could lose business with his continual rants. Sometimes there is a downside to irritating a community.
I’m sure he’s lost some business due to the sign – there’s got to be people who might have otherwise patronized his business but won’t due to their feelings about the sign. It is definitely a very polarizing sign – you either agree with it or you don’t – you can’t really be in the middle on the last few messages it has had.
I’m sure he doesn’t speak for the entire Hispanic community. I only wonder how many people out there agree with him, and am somewhat surprised someone close to him hasn’t gotten him to tone down the rhetoric a bit.
Well, here we go again..yet another sign from Mr. F.
What the hell is wrong with this man? He does nothing, but hurt the very ones he supposedly wants to help with his racially charged signs.
Totally agree, Lafayette.
Ah, you guys……………..you’re starting to sound like BVBL a little. Keep it up, it’s refreshing! Anyone who thinks Fernandez is an idiot is ok in my book, but then I thought that with his first sign.
He’s just angling to get Byler and Park to glamorize him again with another “film” and publicity push. Vigils, a website, national publicity … just like old times.
Probably 100% true, I think he is a publicity seeker. I seem to remember he got some trip to California from some organization to speak about the situation here in PWC…
Ok GR, here is a link to the results of his free trip. Nice bunch!
http://www.mexica-movement.org/LibetyWall.htm
I guess that explains why there is another sign. That was quite a lot of publicity. There is money involved. Mayb he had to prove he spent the money that was collected for him.
Rick, I am not so sure I think he was glamorized in the film 9500 Liberty. He was a component. Pretty difficult to leave him out of the events. It is what it is and we are still looking…
SA, I don’t think I have changed my stance at all. I thought the first 2 signs were ugly. I did understand, however, that the wall was Mr. F’s blog and that the unempowered were fighting back. I can understand things I might not personally like.
The third one was offensive and rude. The ones that have gone up after that have been offensive and rude. The sign causes strife in the community and reinforces negative feelings that should be dissipating. We should be healing. Fernandez continues to stir up ill will with his racist remarks.
If I sound like bvbl I apologize. I suppose a broken clocken is right twice a day. Those who know me know I rarely drop the R word.
They may have presented some balanced picture of him – I haven’t seen the movie – but at one point they were clearly in love with him. THEY NAMED THE MOVIE AFTER HIS ADDRSSS and used web sites to lionize his property and to enable “fund raising”. I remember the 9500liberty.com web site lloking very different a year or so again, very much about presenting that physical location as a focal point for a “progressive” movement.
Here’s text from a Byler “essay” from 2007 – http://dreamacttexas.blogspot.com/2007/12/eric-byler-on-irrationality-in-prince.html
“A canvas sign is tethered to the last remaining wall of the house at 9500 Liberty St. “When our brothers & sons are fighting & dying in Iraq you are separating our families,” part of the giant sign says. These and other words have enraged many of the town’s Caucasian residents, but these Latino families are proud to stand in its shadow. They feel they are standing up to bullies.
Known as Liberty Wall, this sign has become the expression of protest for many in Prince William County.”
–sigh–
Mr. F, enough is enough. There are so many positive things you can do with your efforts!
Besides, if you hate 287g, you will have to protest federally, not locally. 287g is a federal program that is being implemented across the country.
If I devoted my efforts to making slanted edits of documentary footage, and named my efforts after an address associated with some racist a**h*** who was let’s say white, I’d have to answer for it I would hope.
I seem to remember that the 9500liberty.com website was soliciting funds at one point? Am I remembering this right? Anyone know anything about that? Where’d the money go?
If I had more time and energy for this, I’d love to :
1. Make my own documentary about what was going on in PWC and the apathetic public officials who glamorized and justified it
2. Erect my own banners stating my own opinions on the biases that allow many Latino residents to ignore US laws at will
3. Erect a banner calling Fernandez out on his blatant racism, by his full name, with his business name on it as well
Someone with a bit more free time and energy should undertake #3.
Gaudicio Fernandez
Owner of
Your anti-American banners are disgusting. The way you flout our laws with them shows your disrespect for us all, even police officers who you encourage violence against.
We welcomed you into our country, you spit in our face and call us names. You won’t follow the rules here, even after America has given you opportunity.
No proud American would do business with you.
Rick, I am trying to understand what you find offensive about Eric’s words. I hate that frigging sign and I don’t find Eric’s words offensive.
As much as I dislike that sign that is up there right now, can you not see where it was the epicenter for Latinos back in 2007? That was the address 9500 Liberty.
I am trying to understand why you cannot step back from this and see different points of view. Everything I know about you from blogs indicates that you often step back from things and don’t evaluate only in terms of your own point of view…except this issue.
I feel a soap box moment coming on…
What I believe is offensive about Eric and Annabel is they stopped a runaway train. Through their lens they were able to document what was happening in Prince William County. They were able to tie up all the loose ends and show the unholy alliances.
They got on the HSM/BOCS freight train and uncoupled enough of the cars so that those of us who were uncomfortable with what was going on had a chance to speak up. Many of us who had been silenced on the blog that was the fuel for the engine driving the train were able to find a voice and an outlet for another point of view.
Until Eric and Annabel rolled the film, there was only one voice who was out-shouting all others while amassing the minions. That isn’t how government is supposed to work.
Naturally, the hatred that had been directed towards MWB who simply had numbers and rallies and old 60’s forms of protest, redirected its target and was now directed towards the more high tech, glitzier Eric and Annabel and ultimately, 9500 Liberty.
They stopped a runaway train and some people do not like it if they were on that train.
– Once in a blue moon time, both bvbl and antibvbl agree on something;
Fernandez’s sign fetish has a negative impact on the community.
– Of course he apparently enjoys taunting the city, but he also is
taunting the judges and court rulings that he agreed with –
that is not a wise decision for him.
“Rick, I am trying to understand what you find offensive about Eric’s words. I hate that frigging sign and I don’t find Eric’s words offensive. ”
I don’t find his words offensive, the way I do the sign language. I was just presenting proof that he tought the sign was IMPORTANT. I think most of us see that it was always a very flawed message, and many of us find it racist the way he divides America into Latino and non-Latino.
“As much as I dislike that sign that is up there right now, can you not see where it was the epicenter for Latinos back in 2007?”
NOT REALLY. It just wasn’t, as far as I know. It was an internet-driven phenomenon that they used their website to promote.
Byler writes in that “essay” why he was so taken with it. Named his movie after it. Named a website after it. I think that “9500 Liberty” as a phenomeon has more to do with his feelings and efforts than any grass-roots feelings from Latino citizens of PWC.
Liberty St. was named by the African-Americans who first built their
homes there circa 1900. Many in that community, led by Col. Xerk White,
a former Manassas City Councilmember, attempted to work with Fernandez to
save the historic house on the site, but were misled time and time again
and the home consequently suffered a fire of questioned origin.
Within the Manassas African-American community there are strong
negative feelings about Fernadez’s actions and the publicity surrounding
the site – including the film “9500 Liberty”. What somehow became a focus
of pride to one minority group, is seen as insult by many in
another minority. More signs and more publicity just reopen the sore.
Rick, I am not sure there are grass roots feelings about Liberty Street from the Latino community of PWC or Manassas City. I do think in the thick of things, back in 2007, the location was an epicenter of resistance and that I do understand.
I also think that things look different to Byler than perhaps they do to you or me on many different levels. I have been trying to think all morning long of what else the film could be named, other than 9500 Liberty, knowing all what we know. I can’t think of a better title.
There will be those who hate it, those who love it, and then the big murky middle, where I seem to be finding myself.
Interesting info, Poor Richard, thanks.