SIMI VALLEY : Police Won’t Get Help for Klan Rally

Federal and state authorities have told Simi Valley city officials that they will not assist local police in keeping the peace during a planned Ku Klux Klan rally at the East County Courthouse.

Simi Valley City Atty. John Torrance said officials with the state Office of Emergency Services have told city officials in writing that they would not send officers to the Feb. 20 rally. The state officials said the city and the Sheriff’s Department should work together in handling the event, Torrance said.

At the same time, the legal counsel of the U.S. Senate has sent two letters to the city, each stating that the rally is not a matter within federal jurisdiction and local police will have to handle it, Torrance said.

Because no state or federal assistance appears forthcoming, Simi Valley Police Chief Lindsey P. Miller said Thursday that it is possible he will cancel a public assembly permit that he issued Jan. 13 to avowed KKK member John Varela of Bakersfield. Miller said he will announce his decision Tuesday.

Miller attached several strings to Varela’s public assembly permit, including a condition that federal and state officials must supply enough law enforcement officers to “provide for the protection of (Varela) and his demonstrators.”

Varela has said he wants to hold the rally to show support for the four Los Angeles police officers accused of beating black motorist Rodney G. King.