People March Downtown Over Teens Shooting

SAN DIEGO -- About 350 people marched in downtown San Diego Saturday to protest the police killing of an illegal immigrant teenager.

Noe Rojas, 16, who was an illegal immigrant from Mexico, was fatally shot Feb. 10 by police who said he drove an SUV at them. Police found what turned out to be a toy gun in the vehicle.

Witnesses and family members in the vehicle said Rojas was stopped for running a stop sign and was shot about a dozen times even though he had his hands in the air.

The protest began at Chicano Park in the Logan Heights neighborhood. Protestors, many of them holding signs, began walking through downtown, according to television stations. The protesters also marched past the central police substation at 2501 Imperial Ave.

Protesters said that because of the shooting, people should not cooperate with police, and one activist accused police of racially profiling Hispanics, the TV station reported.

A police lieutenant disagreed.

Police "have a great working relationship" with the Hispanic community, Ken Stewart told local broadcast stations. "This police department is one of the best in the country."

Activists said the Rojas case shows why an independent review board of police actions is needed, but officers said a citizens' review board already exists, television stations reported.

There were no reported arrests in connection with the protest, said Sgt. Diane Wendell of the San Diego Police Department.

Saturday's rally was organized by MECHA, or the Student Chicano Movement, according to KOGO, 600 AM radio.

On the local news, the protesters were saying that the police are shooting Mexicans on sight because they are Mexican. Typical Mecha lies. And of course the local media just rolls over and runs with their side of the story. Here's an idea, don't come here illegally, and don't run through stop signs, this isn't Mexico. And of you don't want to get shot maybe you better not try to run down police with an SUV or reach for a gun, even if it is plastic.