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Edison protest simmers
Asian Indians, foes face off
Home News Tribune Online 08/3/06
By DEBORAH LYNN
BLUMBERG
STAFF WRITER
dblumberg@thnt.com
EDISON — Asian Indian protesters — and counterprotesters supporting township police — squared off yesterday with signs and shouts about a township resident's allegations of police brutality.



A line of police separated the two groups — about 75 Asian Indians and more than 30 counterprotesters, some dressed in red, white and blue — as they shouted back and forth for two hours in the sweltering sun outside the municipal complex.

Yesterday's rally was in response to the July 4 arrest of Rajnikant Parikh at an apartment complex off Oak Tree Road where more than 800 people had gathered for an unscheduled fireworks celebration. Parikh said police attacked him without provocation, and community activists have since called for the suspension of Michael Dotro, the arresting officer. Dotro was investigated and cleared of abuse allegations stemming from the August arrest of two India Day Parade volunteers — Bimal M. Joshi, 49, a North Brunswick resident, and Atul Patel, 49, of Edison.

Township officials said they would announce results of the internal investigation into the July incident today.

Parikh, who was charged with assaulting a police officer in the July 4 incident, was taken into custody yesterday by federal agents midway through the rally held for him by the Asian Indian community.

Two plainclothes agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement took Parikh into custody on a 2005 outstanding order of deportation, said ICE spokeswoman Paula Grenier, as Parikh marched with a "Racism Must End in Edison" poster and an American flag in front of the municipal complex. He was taken inside as close to 75 supporters outside rallied for justice and demanded the suspension of Dotro.

At yesterday's rally, protesters on each side held posters declaring "Dotro Deserves an Apology" and "Indian Americans are nonviolent," and yelled "Learn to respect our cops" and "We Want Justice" — at the line of police officers.

Mayor Jun Choi and Chief of Police George Mieczkowski addressed the media later in the evening, thanking the patrolmen who provided security for the rally. "In an ironic situation, the Edison Police Department provided security for (the protesters') freedom of speech," Choi said. "We welcome diversity . . . but along with it, mutual respect and a rule of law."

When asked why he did not address the group of protesters, Choi said he was off-site, and meeting with a group demanding the "suspension and jailing" of an Edison police officer was not an effective use of his time.

"This group had a series of demands when there is no evidence (against the police officer) . . . why should I be there?" Choi said. "When the results of the investigation (into the July 4 incident) are clear, we will take action."

Community activist Pradip "Peter" Khothari, who planned the rally, called the timing of Parikh's detention yesterday inappropriate.

"They should not have selected this place," said Khothari, who also demanded the U.S. Attorney's Office probe the July 4 incident. "We are not saying all officers are bad or tainted, but we continue to ask for justice."

"My friend didn't do anything wrong," said Dev Patel, who bailed Parikh out of jail the night he was arrested and charged with aggravated assault of a police officer, resisting arrest, rioting and failure to disperse. "I'm concerned about my friend. He's innocent."

Parikh's wife, Julie Patel, said she wants the charges against her husband dropped and for officials to remove Dotro from the police force.

"If it was one case, I would understand if they give him another chance," said Patel, as she waved an American flag in the air. "But this is not the first time he hit an Indian American. That kind of officer should not be on the force."

Across the way, a dozen residents dressed in red, white and blue handed out homemade brownies at a table draped with a string of American flag lights and a poster reading "Police Appreciation Day."

"We're just here to support the police," said Loretta Lord, a township resident for the past 34 years. "What happened with the police was very wrong. If a policeman tells you you've broken the law, you should listen. You don't get angry."

Rich Lord, Loretta Lord's husband, said Dotro was just doing his job.

"They want Mr. Dotro suspended?" he said. "In America you're innocent until proven guilty."

Resident Janet Baio, who organized the gathering, said residents should treat police officers with more respect. Many community members also have been concerned with the way the local media has covered the issue, added Baio. One sign posted on a barricade at the rally read, "The Only Bias Thing in Edison is the Home News Tribune.

"The Police Department needs an apology," Baio said. "The officer did nothing wrong. There's not going to be disrespect tolerated in this community."

As Asian Indian community members marched in circles through the complex parking lot, anti-rally signs were hung by residents from police barricades. One read, "If you act like an animal, you get treated like an animal."

"That sign is targeted at the Asian American community," said Raj Patel, a rally attendee. "We're law-abiding citizens of this country. Our kids are in Iraq. Edison Township has lost its tolerance."

Rashmi Makkar and her husband closed their check-cashing business in Union for the day to attend the protest. Makkar's children, Prachi, 10, and Surya, 6, carried flags and chanted with the crowd.

"This is discrimination," Rashmi Makkar said about the July 4 incident. "Why do you have to do these things?"

Around 4 p.m., residents rallying for the police walked off.

"We're leaving because they're being ridiculous," resident Dana Baio said about Asian Indian protesters. "You can't hide behind your race. It's about your actions. You have to obey the law."

Chief Mieczkowski said he was taken by surprise when Parikh was taken into custody by ICE agents.

"I asked . . . "Why today?' " Mieczkowski said.

When asked why ICE officials led Parikh into town hall, Mieczkowski said they used the space to begin processing, but that Parikh was eventually taken to Newark for further questioning and processing.

Choi reiterated steps his administration is taking in regarding police reform, such as installing mobile video cameras into 57 patrol cars and mandatory cultural-sensitivity training for the entire department.

Contributing: Staff writers Gina Vergel and David Stegon


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