Johnny Benitez, the organizer of the America First!  rally that drew more than 2,300 protesters to Main Beach last month, has told Laguna Beach police that his plans for a rally on Sunday, Sept. 24 have been canceled. 

“He told us he’s not coming,” said Laguna Beach police Sgt.  Jim Cota. “ But we will be there in full force to see who shows up.  We’ll beef up patrols and will have support from our outside law enforcement friends.  We’d rather be prepared than not be ready.” 

Patrols at Main Beach will start in the early afternoon, Cota said. 

At the Aug. 20 rally, Laguna Beach police were assisted by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, the California Highway Patrol, the San Diego Sheriff’s Department and more than a dozen local police agencies. 

John Motter, 29, of Los Angeles, walks with anti-KKK protesters as they march down the boardwalk during an illegal immigration rally at Laguna Beach. ( Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Laguna Beach Chief of Police Laura Farinella faced her biggest challenge during the America First!  rally on Aug. 20.  She said she’s pleased with the way her officers and neighboring forces joined together in Laguna Beach, California, on Tuesday, August 29, 2017. ( Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Mounted units from Orange County Sheriff Department and Santa Ana Police join other law enforcement agencies trying to keep order during the rally in Laguna Beach. ( Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

America First!  demonstrator Jordan Davis, 25, of Berkeley, says he’s protesting illegal immigration at a rally in Laguna Beach Sunday. ( Photo by David Whiting, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A demonstrator marches with a flare as night falls on the rally in Laguna Beach. ( Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Protesters clash during an illegal immigration rally in Laguna Beach. ( Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Counterprotesters walk by beachgoers during an illegal immigration rally at Laguna Beach. ( Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Protesters clash during an illegal immigration rally in Laguna Beach Sunday. ( Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dave Oakley, a member of the Orange County Democratic Socialists of America, said his group is not planning to appear at Main Beach on Sunday to counterprotest. 

“Obviously I can’t guarantee that nobody will show up on Sunday, but it seems apparent that there is no group explicitly calling for a rally, and any attendees would be lone-wolf-type characters, Oakley said. 

Last week, Benitez posted plans to cancel the rally on his Facebook page.  But by the weekend a Facebook post said the rally was back on. 

To clear up any confusion, Laguna Beach police contacted Benitez directly this week, Cota said.  When they discussed his Facebook posts, Benitez told police he had no control over his Facebook account at that time. 

But he told police he still plans to hold the Oct. 22 rally on Main Beach, Cota said.  In that rally, he said, he will focus on bringing awareness to events surrounding Benghazi. 

The Laguna Beach City Council approved an emergency ordinance Sept. 12 that makes it illegal for protesters to carry items that could be considered a weapon — everything from metal pipes, metal beverage containers, containers with bio-hazards, lumber, bricks, rocks, pepper spray or ice picks at a rally or political assembly at a city park or beach.  The unanimous vote was in response to the Aug. 20 America First!  rally.