Thread: City to "review" marcher's complaints

http://azstarnet.com/allheadlines/124602

Published: 04.14.2006

Organizers of march air complaints with city
By Rob O'Dell
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Organizers of Monday's pro-immigration march, angered by how police handled a conflict with anti-march demonstrators, didn't have their demands met by city and police officials Thursday.
The protest organizers said they felt confident their voices were heard.
In the wake of confrontations and arrests of six people that marred the ending of Monday's mostly peaceful pro-immigration rally, a coalition of pro-immigrant groups had these demands of the city:
● Drop charges against those arrested.
● Investigate what they called excessive use of force by police.
● Find out how an anti-immigrant group was allowed to get into the middle of Armory Park to burn Mexican flags and incite the crowd.
What they got after meeting with city and police officials was a commitment to review what happened the same way every large march or parade is examined. But march organizers said they got assurances the city hears their concerns.
Most of the 60-plus in attendance criticized police handling of the event after several people were arrested and organizers said they and others were beaten and pepper-sprayed.
Dominic Moya, 14, who attends Pueblo High School, was at the meeting explaining how he had been pepper-sprayed while taking pictures of an 11-year-old girl who had just been elbowed in the face by a police officer, video of which was played on television news.
"The bottom line is . . . there is a loss of trust with the Tucson Police Department," said Isabel Garcia, who led a press conference for the coalition after the meeting with the city. "The community was pretty disappointed, I have to say."
But Garcia said city officials said they would have answers to some of their questions and demands in about three weeks, after the Police Department conducts a review.
"They expressed concern that there is a loss of trust," Garcia said, adding that the city had "reservations on what can be promised and when" about the investigation.
Assistant City Manager Liz Miller, who attended the meeting along with City Manager Mike Hein and police officials, said the city wanted to emphasize the cooperation police had with organizers both before and during the 15,000-person march, along with the recent César Chávez march and the student walkouts two weeks ago.
She said the city will take a full "360-degree view" of Monday's events. She couldn't say whether it was possible to drop the charges against those arrested and said the city will address misconduct by police officers if that's what it determines occurred.
Miller also said the city and the Police Department will examine the video of the Mexican-flag burning done in the middle of the rally and determine if the police made proper decisions and if there is a better way to deal with counterprotesters at future marches.
On Tuesday, Tucson police arrested a man for his role in the burning of a Mexican flag at the rally.
Roy Warden, 58, was arrested on suspicion of assault, criminal damage and reckless burning. He was cited and released.
Warden and his group, Border Guardians, arrived at Armory Park just after noon Monday to stage a counterprotest to the marchers who were protesting what they see as unfair immigration laws. At about 2:15 p.m, they burned Mexican flags and tempers flared.
For Yvonne Garcia, 18, who attends Pima Community College, coming to the press conference was a show of support. "The march itself was beautiful," Garcia said, noting that the problems didn't occur until it was almost over.
● Contact reporter Rob O'Dell at 573-4240 or rodell@azstarnet.com.

My My MY...a MEXICAN flag got burned??? NO joke?? tsk

MJ