That’s not Channel 24

Costa Mesa City Council makes headlines big enough for CNN; O.C. judge will discuss his musical (that’s right, musical) on KOCE; more support for Harkey. Costa Mesa made it onto CNN on Wednesday, thanks to an explosive Tuesday night City Council meeting at which police arrested one man who was protesting the council’s decision to train city police to enforce immigration laws.

Protesters carried signs, sang in Spanish and played music before the meeting, while just yards away, supporters of the council’s plan held their own signs and American flags and periodically shouted into a bullhorn.

One of the more recognizable figures at the demonstration was former congressional candidate and Minuteman Project co-founder Jim Gilchrist, who has ripped federal officials for failing to stop illegal immigration.

Trying to put to rest concerns that the immigration enforcement plan would lead to racial profiling, elected officials have pointed out that profiling is illegal. In an interview earlier this week, Gilchrist dismissed profiling worries for other reasons.

“If 80% to 85% of the illegal aliens in this area are from south of the border, generally Hispanic, why would you look for somebody who looks black and profile them? ... You’d go after who appears to be a suspect,” Gilchrist said.

It wouldn’t bother him to be profiled, he said.

“If a cop stops me and asks me for my driver’s license because he’s looking for somebody, I have no problem giving it to him unless I have something to hide.”

Not everyone would agree with his logic. Or as Gilchrist expressed it, the Supreme Court might disagree, “but personally I don’t have a problem with that,” he said.

More demonstrations against illegal immigration are in the offing -- Gilchrist said California will be one of 28 states where protests will be held at day labor sites on Saturday.

Costa Mesa City Councilwoman Linda Dixon, who voted against the immigration plan last month, said she didn’t expect the crowd yesterday -- about 120 people came to the meeting -- but more protests may be on the way here.

“I think I was truly surprised by the turnout. I didn’t expect things to go away, but I was surprised by that as many people were there, and I just was surprised at the disrespect,” she said. “My gut feeling is there will be more” demonstrations.

JUDGE TO DISCUSS HIS MUSICAL ON KOCE

Orange County Superior Court Judge Jim Gray will take the airwaves this weekend when KOCE shows a program about a musical he wrote that was performed by Irvine High School students in 2005. The TV station heard about his show, called “Americans All,” and decided to use it in a program about the importance of music programs in schools.

Gray’s musical encourages kids to stay in school and strive to be their best. Interviews include Gray, Irvine High School’s choral director and some of the students who performed the show.

“The kids in the interviews talk about, ‘You know, originally I thought the message was kind of corny, but really it’s a good message,’ ” Gray said.

“There’s so much emphasis today on trying to teach ethical behavior and responsibility to our children, and the problem is that most of the time it’s faith-based,” he said. “This musical does that without any religion at all.”

KOCE will air the program “Americans All” at noon Sunday.

HARKEY NABS MORE ENDORSEMENTS

Republican state Senate candidate Diane Harkey, a Dana Point city councilwoman, announced an endorsement from Fullerton Rep. Ed Royce on Wednesday. She’s been busy -- she visited the Costa Mesa City Council meeting Tuesday to introduce herself, and she’s already gotten an endorsement from Councilman Gary Monahan, who has worked with her on county transportation issues.

Harkey is one of two declared candidates for the 35th District Senate seat, which represents Newport Beach and Costa Mesa. The other candidate is Huntington Beach Assemblyman Tom Harman.

* ALICIA ROBINSON covers government and politics. She may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or by e-mail at alicia.robinson@latimes.com.

20060105ir4airknDOUGLAS ZIMMERMAN / DAILY PILOT(LA)American Independent candidate Jim Gilchrist talks with supporter Thuruvan Samia of L.A. after finishing in third place in the voting for an open U.S. House seat. He was at the Costa Mesa City Council meeting Tuesday with supporters of the city’s immigration plan.