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