Thread: Border Patrol memorial taken down, mock border fence remains

Border Patrol memorial taken down, mock border fence remains standing
Posted: Mar 24, 2011 10:44 PM CDT
Updated: Mar 25, 2011 5:27 PM CDT
By Brian Pryor, Web Producer -

Reporter: Brian Pryor

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Students upset over a memorial honoring fallen Border Patrol agents on the University of Arizona campus protested Thursday by writing in chalk on the sidewalk in front of the memorial booth. On Friday the university told college Republicans to remove their memorial.

Sgt. Juan Alvarez with the University of Arizona Police Department said that officers responded when a group of students gathered in front of the memorial protesting and writing in chalk on the sidewalk. Alvarez said that the investigating officers determined that the students were exercising their First Amendment rights.

When KGUN9 News asked whether the students would be cited for criminal damage and disturbing an educational institution, officer Jose Bermudez said that the University of Arizona's Dean of Students asked police to maintain the peace at the protest but did not ask them to charge the students.

In September of 2009, former UA student Jacob Miller was arrested and cited for drawing in chalk on the University of Arizona sidewalk and buildings. During this case the university initially requested that the officers arrest and charge Miller for criminal damage. But university president Robert Shelton later decided not to prosecute Miller. At that time, university spokesman Johnny Cruz said Friday, Shelton issued a standing order not to arrest students for drawing on sidewalks.

In a phone interview with KGUN9 News, Trey Terry with the University of Arizona College Republicans expressed frustration over the reaction his group's memorial has received. "While the memorial was up, we were protested by unknown groups, called racists, and the memorial was vandalized. This is the treatment we get for showing the other side of this issue."

Terry said that the university officials who ordered him to remove the memorial did not refer to the protests, but instead explained that the space was needed for another event planned for the weekend.

Francisco Baires is with the University of Arizona group No Mas Muerte, which erected the mock border fence. He told KGUN9 News the display was designed to stir up discussion about immigration reform, said that the fence is there to honor all those who have died along the border, both agents and immigrants. He added that No Mas Muerte was "appalled that someone would desecrate" the Border Patrol memorial, adding that his group does not advocate such action.

Baires called upon supporters of both sides of the debate and the fence issue to remain civil. "To people who are in support of the mock border wall or against it, we want to urge everyone on both sides to not engage in forms of vandalism or ignorant acts which will soil the memory of those who have died."

http://www.kgun9.com/global/story.asp?s=14318911

Thats the problem with allowing undocumented students to atten our institutions of education. There should have been a group right behind the students witht he chalk and they should have been armed with power washers and spray away the chalk markings. The Republicans had just as much right to have the memorial there as those who put up the mock wall. That wall also needs to go ASAP. Maybe the police need to go and look over some of these so called students and protesters and check for ID. Wonder what sheriff Joe would do with them?

Check out the names of the cops

No chance they would do anything against their RAZA... Then again,they may just be doing what they are told by the powers that be....

Contact them.... Arizona Board of Regents
2020 N. Central Avenue
Suite 230
Phoenix, AZ 85004-4593

Google Map Link

Phone: 602-229-2500
Fax: 602-229-2555
E-mail: Arizona Board of Regents
http://www.azregents.edu/contactus/default.aspx

Found some youtubes about the memorial and wall:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8mvb-y4BbU

This one's an OBL youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-Eqv8eTTuk&NR=1

Watch what you say, Just the facts, just because the officers are Hispanic, doesn't mean they are biased when it comes to enforcing the law. This region is full of good people of Hispanic decent that are not biased or supportive of open border activists. A Hispanic Surname is that, just a surname of and American citizen. Open border activists are cut from a different piece of cloth.

L ocalnews also reported today that part of the fence fell overnight. The activists were quick to call it vandalism, but University Police told them no, the wind did it.

The fence is supposed to be down by Monday.

I would hold a bonfire and burn the fence, during the bonfire read off the names of all border officers who have died or been wounded while enforcing the immigration laws.

When KGUN9 News asked whether the students would be cited for criminal damage and disturbing an educational institution, officer Jose Bermudez said that the University of Arizona's Dean of Students asked police to maintain the peace at the protest but did not ask them to charge the students.

Since when is the Dean of Student a law enforcement officer, capable of making such decisions high a top his/her ivory tower? That's the real question that needs to be asked here. Also, why are certain students seemingly getting a free pass when they deface state property, while others are charged to the fullest extent allowable by law for the same actions, even if later not prosecuted. The claims of a "standing order" not to prosecute those who use chalk has been noted, just not believed....