Thread: Organized Watsonville march allows officers to stand down

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archiv ... 2local.htm

April 1, 2006

Organized Watsonville march allows officers to stand down
by daniel lopez
sentinel staff writer
WATSONVILLE — As hundreds of protesters rallied around the City Plaza on Friday, police officers kept their distance.

With the exception of a California Highway Patrol helicopter hovering overhead and officers who stationed themselves inconspicuously along the march route, the show of force was minimal compared to the scene that played out earlier in the week when hundreds of students came close to clashing with officers above Highway 1 near Pajaro Valley High School.

Watsonville police Capt. Eddie Rodriguez, who looked out over the town square as demonstrators began to disassemble after the peaceful gathering, said the calm and order of Friday's event allowed officers to stand down.

"We knew there were going to be some people helping to organize this event who are more familiar organizing these types of events, and it has been our experience these events are held without any major incident when they are involved," Rodriguez said.

Officers prepared for as many as 5,000 people to descend on the city to protest an immigration reform bill, which is before the U.S. Senate on the day California celebrates labor and civil rights leader Cesar Chavez.

In anticipation of a mass turnout and based on the havoc brought on earlier in the week when hundreds of students left their classrooms and marched on the city, about 130 officers were on hand and prepared to mobilize, Rodriguez said.

Officers monitored Friday's event from a command post established at the fire station on Second Street. Their focus was on crimes and traffic problems that could take place around a march that began at the Overlook Shopping Center on Main Street and headed to City Hall, ending at the plaza.

The CHP helicopter acted as an eye in the sky for officers on the ground.

"We didn't have to put a bunch of officers on the march itself" thanks to the air coverage, Rodriguez said.

On Monday and Tuesday, police trailed the large number of students, who caused gridlock on streets, marching down the middle of Main Street and who on Tuesday shut down Highway 1 as they sprinted across the four lanes to get around police who had blocked their path.

"We had a lot of young students without leadership; that's why you saw a lot of chaos," said Rodriguez.

Seven arrests were made during the first two days after police had ordered protesters to disperse and they failed to comply.

Police responded to the plaza as a few suspected gang members began to stir trouble with protesters as they were leaving about 1:30 p.m., said Rodriguez.

Three people were detained and later released.

During the nearly five-hour protest Friday there were no arrests. Members of the Watsonville Brown Berets and community leaders, including Mayor Antonio Rivas, watched over the demonstration, helping participants cross intersections and stay on the sidewalk.

Jenn Laskin, a member of the Brown Berets who walked along with the protesters, said her organization had received a number of complaints from students who thought police had been overly aggressive in the handling of the previous demonstrations.

"I think it's very telling that 20 citizens in brown can keep the peace," Laskin said.

Contact Daniel Lopez at dlopez@santacruzsentinel.com.

Yes, the protesters clashing with police was showing America the true nature of these protesters! Therefore, pull the police back and let them have their way. Let them own the streets. That is what the protesters want... to own the streets. Streets that were once American streets.

Can everyone see how the powers that are influencing this show are trying to adjust things? No more Mexican flags at the protests! Police back down!

W