They come to Laguna Beach to ride its gilded coattails.
They want the power of the city’s brand, its legacy, liberalism and wealth. If they shout, the news will play its part.
It all makes Laguna a platform for hate, peace and everything in between. Before COVID, it was the political screeching of right-wing America First! rallies. They were unknown out-of-towners, full of testosterone and blood lust.
On the other side were an alphabet soup of specialized groups.
As a result, police were forced to don full tactical gear on the boardwalk, keeping the peace and blocking people from the beach in the process.
It would all look rather ridiculous if it weren’t for people getting killed in similar rallies across the country.
The bad news will continue indefinitely because the blueprint has been established and apparently works.
The good news? Still trying to figure that out.
Eleanor Henry has lived through enough wars, which is why she prefers the Laguna Beach Peace Vigil. Founded in 1968, the group says it’s the longest running peace vigil in the United States.
