Local minister urges Menifee to become a sanctuary city

This sign in front of the United Church of Christ describes its pastor's stance on a key social issue. Menifee 24/7 photos: Doug Spoon

A Menifee minister known for his outspoken stance on social issues has drawn the ire of some residents for urging the City of Menifee to become a sanctuary city.

Rev. Bill Freeman, pastor of United Church of Christ in the Sun City Community, went before the Menifee City Council Aug. 16 to request that Menifee be declared a sanctuary city. He also said his congregation has been studying the possibility of adopting that status and will vote on it during its church service on Sunday.

A sanctuary city is one that has taken some kind of action to protect undocumented immigrants and limit cooperation with immigration authorities attempting to deport individuals. Several California cities have declared themselves sanctuary cities, and lawmakers in Sacramento are considering a bill that would declare California a sanctuary state.

Freeman (right) said the United Church of Christ voted during a national conference in June to endorse sanctuary status, and he believes his congregation and the City of Menifee should as well.

"I know it's not a popular thing," Freeman said during the public comments section of the City Council meeting, in which council members are prohibited from responding because of the Brown Act. "But if the Statue of Liberty means anything, we should welcome these people and not turn away people who want to come to this country."

In response, a Menifee resident has publicly criticized the upcoming church vote on sanctuary status, suggesting in a Facebook post that residents should join him in protesting outside the church on Sunday. That is just the latest in a series of controversies Freeman has been involved in because of his activist beliefs.

Freeman acknowledges that his stance on supporting undocumented immigrants, homeless individuals and other social causes have resulted in backlash from some in the community. In May 2015, residents packed the City Council chambers to speak against Freeman's practice of sheltering homeless people inside and outside the church building, located at the corner of McCall Boulevard and Sun City Boulevard. In November of that year, Freeman said he received threats after offering to shelter Syrian refugees.

In July 2016, the church was vandalized twice in two nights. A safe was stolen along with some other items and knives were wedged between doors. There was no grafitti or messages left at the scene, and Sheriff's Department officials did not classify them as hate crimes.

"I don’t know if we were vandalized because we’re a liberal church in a conservative community, but I have my suspicions," Freeman said at the time. In addition, a rainbow banner with the word "Coexist" has been stolen twice from the side of the church building facing Sun City Boulevard.

More recently, Freeman said he has received calls and emails criticizing his actions. Incidents seem to have escalated since Freeman added the phrase "Black Lives Matter" to his rainbow banner and updated the church's message board with the phrase, "Deport white supremacists, not immigrants."

"I saw a woman get out of her car and take a picture of the banner," Freeman said. "I talked to her about it. She said, 'I've never seen a church that divides people like yours.' "

A resident who contacted Menifee 24/7 said he called Freeman after seeing the "Black Lives Matter" banner and complained.

"That shouldn't be up there," he said. "All lives matter. I'm Hispanic, but I don't want it to say 'Hispanic lives matter.' All lives matter. I find that offensive."

Freeman said he realizes there is little actual impact in the announcement of a church as a sanctuary church. He has stopped welcoming homeless individuals and transients to camp out on church property, saying the facility is not sufficient to house them. Yet even while saying the sanctuary status is "more moral support for immigration reform than anything," he continues to speak out against those who oppose his efforts.

"Some of our members are adamantly opposed to this, but my guess is that most are in favor of it," Freeman said, speaking about the impending vote. "Do I think it's worth all this? Yes, I do think it's worth it. We're trying to educate our members to be a light in the community."

Freeman recently added the phrase "Black Lives Matter" to a banner that has been stolen twice previously.