Thread: Police to file charges against organizer

http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/monte ... 191275.htm

Posted on Sun, Mar. 26, 2006

RALLY AT HOME
Thousands join march against immigration bill
By CLAUDIA MELƒNDEZ SALINAS
Herald Salinas Bureau

For several days, Flora Baltazar and her family watched nationwide protests on TV against proposed legislation to penalize undocumented immigrants, and wished there was a local march they could join.

Saturday, when a throng of some 700 people moved past their apartment on North Sanborn Street in Salinas, Baltazar's 9-year-old daughter Alma urged them to join the march.

"We want to have a better future," Alma said in Spanish.

More than 3,000 people marched on the Central Coast on Saturday in response to the Border Protection, Antiterrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005, a bill approved in the House of Representatives in December that includes stiff sanctions for undocumented immigrants and those who help them.

Approximately 2,500 people walked the streets of Watsonville beginning at 11 a.m., said members of the Watsonville Brown Berets, a grassroots organization that helps children stay off the streets.

In a statement to the media, Watsonville police said organizers "refused to seek a city required parade permit and were not responsive to police department orders." Eight charges related to the planning and conduct of the protest will be filed against Ramiro Medrano, organizer of the rally, including failure to apply for the proper permit, failure to comply with lawful orders from peace officers, and impeding traffic.

Following the Watsonville protest, some participants traveled south to take part in a march of about 700 people in East Salinas.

The marches were led by Fernando Suárez del Solar, an anti-war activist who began a peace walk in Tijuana on March 12 and has covered close to 200 miles on his journey.

"This movement is growing, thanks to HR 4437," said Suárez del Solar, referring to the proposed federal legislation.

Marchers held posters with "No to HR 4437," which would penalize those, including social service organizations, refugee agencies and churches, that help immigrants.

Supported by anti-immigrant groups such as the Minuteman Project, which has patrolled the U.S.-Mexico border for the past year in hopes of deterring would-be migrants, the bill has been denounced by immigrants' rights groups and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The sweeping anti-immigration bill would expand the definition of "alien smuggling" to include assisting a person to remain or attempting to remain in the United States when the "offender" knows the person is in the country without documentation.

Under current law, presence in the United States without documentation is a civil, rather than a criminal, violation.

According to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center in San Francisco, House Resolution 4437 would create a new federal crime of "unlawful presence," the effect of which would be to bar the entire undocumented population from the United States.

A recent study by the Pew Hispanic Center estimates the undocumented population in the U.S. at 11 million people.

It is unclear how many undocumented immigrants live on the Central Coast, but studies estimate that about 80 percent of farmworkers in the state are working without immigration permits. Agriculture is Monterey County's largest source of revenue.

Saturday's protesters demanded not only that HR 4437 be defeated, but that more humane immigration reform be adopted.

They carried signs that read "We are workers, not criminals," and "Give Bush a real job picking strawberries." Shouting "Si se puede" -- yes, we can -- the traditional field worker's rallying cry, they thrust fists in the air when passing cars honked in support.

Bertha Leyva, an immigrant from El Salvador, carried a sign that read "We didn't cross the border, the border crossed us." Last month she received her permanent residency papers after 15 years of living with a work permit.

"We have to support those who don't have papers," the 45-year-old Watsonville resident said. "There are many people, mainly the field workers, who need our support. They're the ones who bring fresh produce to our mouths."

Men carried children on their shoulders and women pushed babies in strollers. Hundreds waved flags from Mexico, the United States and the red-and-black banner of the United Farm Workers.

Young men and women from the Watsonville Brown Berets ran alongside the contingent to keep marchers in one lane of traffic. Some used bullhorns to energize the crowd.

Andres Cruz, a veteran of dozens of marches, said he was happy to see Saturday's turnout.

"I'm glad to see people come out," he said in Spanish. "This is the only way to make things change.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Claudia Meléndez Salinas can be reached at 753-6755 or cmelendez@montereyherald.

http://www.indybay.org/news/2006/03/1810964.php

Watsonville Police charge Brown Berets for peaceful action!

PLEASE PASS WIDELY! IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED!

Open letter To The Community: Help the Brown Berets Get Charges Dropped for Peaceful Action on March 25 in Watsonville, CA

On Saturday, March 25, 2006 Watsonville saw the largest March for Peace and Justice in the history of the city. Documented and Undocumented Workers, families and allies marched in total solidarity with Anti-War Activists, led by Fernando Suarez Del Solar, Pablo Paredes and Medea Benjamin in a 2,000+ citizen, strong & peaceful march though the city of Watsonville. It was beautiful.

The route had been pre-planned and sent to the police. Crowd security was provided by the Watsonville Brown Berets. The Berets also are part of the nationwide coalition, “The Alliance for Human Rights,” the group which decided to make March 25 a national day of action against HR4437. This new, abusive, immigrant-bashing legislation is heading for the Senate on Tuesday which, among many awful things…would make simply being illegal in this country a felony. There have been marches, walkouts and various actions across the country over the past week in practically every state. The momentum to Saturday’s march had been building.

With so many people, we could never have taken the sidewalks solely. We marched down one lane on four lane roads…with two lanes heading in each direction. We marched in only the furthest right hand lane and on the sidewalk. Traffic was still moving in both directions. People stayed inside the line of the one lane the whole time.

Yet, after the march, the Watsonville Police Department targeted one organizer (a Brown Beret) and wrote him a citation with 8-10 counts against him, including criminal charges. We are still waiting for the ticket to arrive in the mail, what we know we have learned from one policeman and the news. They will also be charging the Brown Berets for police overtime. This was an effort to show people that “…they can’t do whatever they want to,” in the words of the Watsonville Police.

The people wanted to march in the streets, they have that right. The extent of the crowd demonstrated the power of the immigration issue and the passion of the people. The Brown Berets did not expect or bring that many people. Residents came from everywhere to use the opportunity to be heard. This has been a silent population until now. Silent because they are working 12-16 hour days in the fields, hotels, and factories so Americans can enjoy the lifestyle and economic privilege we are accustomed to.

As concerned and compassionate citizens, it is our duty to ensure that no one who organized or participated is ever a scapegoat or vilified on behalf of the powers that be. It is our responsibility to stand up and demand the Watsonville Police view their job that day as one of public service. That service being to protect the people in the streets. We had peaceful demonstrators, our own security yet the Watsonville Police insisted on assigning 10 cops and various vehicles to our march. This was not requested or necessary. We marched in Salinas right afterwards with NO POLICE SECURITY and we were fine.

PLEASE HELP THE BROWN BERETS FIGHT THE CHARGES AND THE POWER STRUCTURE WHICH IS TRYING TO “TEACH US ALL A LESSON.”

ACT NOW!!!! Call Captain Manny Solano: (831) 768-3300 (leave message) or (831) 750-2943 (cell phone) and tell him to simply, DROP ALL CHARGES AGAINST THE BROWN BERETS, financial and criminal. Also, his e-mail is: msolano@ci.watsonville.ca.us

Write letters to the Santa Cruz Sentinel and Register Pajaronian immediately, they have both covered the story. Condemn the Watsonville Police Department for charging us with fines and citations for simply leading the people safely on a very emotional issue.

We have no money, we do everything through volunteers and small, in-kind donations. Please help us.

In Community Solidarity,
The Watsonville Brown Berets
brownberets@msn.com

demand the Watsonville Police view their job that day as one of public service

Let's hope the Police aren't presurred to drop these charges.

http://cbs5.com

ORGANIZER OF WATSONVILLE PROTEST SATURDAY TO FACE CHARGES
03/26/06 10:45 PST
WATSONVILLE (BCN)

The organizer of a protest march attended by some 2,000 people Saturday and not authorized by police will face eight traffic-related charges, according to Watsonville police Capt. Manny Solano.

The march took place through Watsonville city streets between around 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and coincided with protests across the country against U.S. House bill 4437, also known as the "Border Protection Anti-Terrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act.''

H.B. 4437 is intended to implement strict controls on immigration into the U.S.

The bill passed the House on Dec. 16, 2005 and the Senate plans to review it this month.

One of the lead organizers of the Watsonville protest, 26-year-old Ramiro Medrano, faces "a variety of different misdemeanor charges," Corp. Tony Magdayao said.

According to police, those charges include willfully failing to comply with a lawful order from a peace officer, impeding traffic, failing to yield for traffic outside a sidewalk, being a pedestrian on a roadway, being a pedestrian outside a crosswalk, failing to stop for a do not walk signal, failing to secure a permit for a parade and being a person other than an officer directing traffic, according to police.

Among the protestors were members of the Watsonville branch of the Chicano activist group the Brown Berets, who wore masks and who led the crowd "on a two-mile route through busy city streets, disregarding traffic lights and police warnings," according to police.

Without clear knowledge of the marchers'route, emergency and metro transit services were impeded, police reported.

Along with Medrano's arrest, the Watsonville Police Department intends to bill the Watsonville Brown Berets for the cost of police services.

That bill is determined "according to how much manpower was taken up," Magdayao said. Some 10 officers were deployed in connection with Saturday's march, he said.

No arrests were made in connection with the protest, Magdayao said.

A representative from the Watsonville Brown Berets could not immediately be reached for comment.

No arrests were made in connection with the protest, Magdayao said.

Of course not. If they arrest anyone LaRaza will gather up busloads and swarm the city with those nice people who only came here to work to stage another protest with even MORE people.

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

March 28, 2006


Brown Berets say citations undeserved
WATSONVILLE — Brown Berets on Monday said a citation given to one of their members, plus a $1,534 bill for police costs connected to a Saturday march that drew about 2,000 participants, are without merit.

Police said that Ramiro Medrano, a member of the Watsonville Brown Berets, will be mailed a citation for various violations during the two-hour march. Police say Medrano was the leader of the rally.

Tomas Alejo, outreach coordinator for the organization, said the group was overwhelmed by the turnout. Only 200 to 300 people were expected, and the intent was to walk on the sidewalk, not city streets.

"We didn't expect that large of a crowd," he said. "It was impossible to contain."

Police said orders to remain on the sidewalk and out of the way of traffic were ignored by marchers. The Police Department assigned 10 officers to watch over the crowd and direct traffic, according to city officials.

Alejo said police presence was not necessary because 20 members of the Brown Berets were walking with the crowd and keeping people out of the path of vehicles.

Police Capt. Eddie Rodriguez said Medrano, 26, was observed at one point ordering the marchers to cross against a red traffic light and was at the forefront of the march. He will be cited for, among other things, allegedly violating the municipal code that prohibits persons other than officers from directing traffic, police said.

Rodriguez added that fire crews, Metro bus drivers and ambulance services also were affected by the marchers.

"Our objection is not that they marched but that they didn't allow us to work with them," Rodriguez said.

He said if the Brown Berets had obtained a parade permit, the department would have been better able to plan for the crowd.

Alejo said the group did not apply for a permit because it would have cost several hundred dollars and that the plan was to march on the sidewalk.

"You don't need a permit to walk on the sidewalk," he said.

Instead the department had to scramble to manage the crowd as marchers spilled into the street, said Rodriguez. The group did provide a route for the march but the crowd did not stick to that plan.

Alejo said the route had to change because the crowd was moving too slowly and they were under time constraints.

He also said that the Brown Berets had been in contact with Capt. Manny Solano through e-mail about the event and that an officer had been assigned to the march and when the route changed, the officer was informed.

Alejo did say that things could have been handled differently.

"I think if there was more communication there could have been some problems avoided," he said. "Maybe we could have done more."

Monday, the group issued a letter asking the community to help them fight the citations. He said the Brown Berets have no money to pay the fine.

1 person out of half a million gets charged? BFD. The real travesty is that the National Guard wasn't called in to clean house. You can thank gutless Bush for that.

Of course the citations are undeserved. Don't you know these are fine upstanding citizens that came here to work? They should be able to do any darn thing they want to, any time they want to, and they don't have to honor any laws in the process. Gol-ly! Brian, how can you be so critical of these wonderful people who only want to invade-- er, work! You notice they were working when they were out there in the streets, didn't you?

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archiv ... 7local.htm

April 5, 2006


Brown Berets agree to pay police bill
By Donna Jones
Sentinel Staff Writer
WATSONVILLE — The Watsonville Brown Berets will pay $1,414.13 to cover costs incurred at a March 26 march protesting the war in Iraq and a proposed federal crackdown on illegal immigration.

The youth group also has issued an apology to city residents for any inconvenience caused when 10 times the number of anticipated protesters showed up for the march.

The actions are part of a deal between police and Berets, announced Thursday and reached after several days of talks.

For their part, police agreed to drop plans to issue citations to Ramiro Medrano, a Brown Berets member who helped coordinate the march.

"We understand police are on a tight budget," Medrano said. "That's why we have accepted paying the cost ... At the same time, that's what police are there for, to provide safety, to provide services to a situation not foreseen."

The city requires protest organizers to obtain a $92.50 permit to parade through the streets and to give police 30 days notice of an event.

Berets members did neither, though they informed police about the march a couple of days ahead of time.

Members said they didn't apply for a permit because based on past experience they expected only about 200 or 300 people, and planned to confine marchers to the sidewalk.

But when 2,000 protesters turned out, it was impossible to keep them from spilling onto the street, the Berets said.

Neither Luis Alejo, a Watsonville lawyer and a founder of the 12-year-old youth group, or Medrano could say why the Watsonville protest attracted so many participants, when similar demonstrations in Monterey, Santa Cruz and Salinas were much smaller.

But they suggested word about the event may have spread through other groups, such as the Pajaro Valley school district and local churches.

"On the one hand, the Berets are pleased the community came out," Alejo said. "At the same time, marches of that size you do need a permit."

Capt. Manny Solano of the Watsonville Police Department said that was the point of pressing the issue with the Berets. Though he believes the Berets were dealing with police in good faith, all organizations need to understand the importance of advance planning to avoid the problems caused by the March 26 protest.

Police have said traffic congestion inconvenienced residents and affected emergency crews.

"This is not about stopping people's expression of speech," Solano said. "As long as it's done in accordance with the law, we'll support it."

Solano said costs are still being tallied from more spontaneous protests by students last week that brought dozens of officers from regional law enforcement agencies to the city.

It's possible some students could be held individually responsible for police costs related to the four days of protest, Solano said.

Alejo said the Berets have already received several hundred dollars in donations to cover their police bill and don't anticipate any problem raising the rest from supporters.

"In the future, we totally condone talking to police just to avoid all these problems," Medrano said. "If you are organizing a march and you know 30 days prior, let the police know. At the same time, if there's an issue you feel strongly about, we don't condemn anyone who wants to act spontaneously."

Contact Donna Jones at djones@santacruzsentinel.com.

http://www.indybay.org/news/2006/04/1813134.php

UPDATE ON CHARGES AGAINST THE BROWN BERETS BY THE WPD FOR PEACEFUL MARCH
by BROWN BERETS Tuesday, Apr. 04, 2006 at 1:36 PM
brownberets@msn.com 831-722-1775
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

PASS TO ALL WHO ARE IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR STRUGGLE!

April 4, 2006
To our comrades, supporters, and friends:

On March 25, 2006 The Watsonville Brown Berets, as part of a coalition, helped organize and produce an Anti-War/ Pro-Immigrant March through the streets of Watsonville, California. The march was a huge success. Fernando Suarez Del Solar was our honored guest as we hosted his caravan for 4 miles of their 241 mile march from Tijuana to San Francisco. Fernando was astounded and amazed by the hugest and most enthusiastic reception on his whole march route.

As a result of not having a permit and over 3000 people in attendance, one of our members was charged with 8 counts in a combination of traffic infractions and criminal misdemeanors. The organization was fined $1500.00 to pay for police overtime.

THE CHARGES AGAINST OUR MEMBER HAVE BEEN DROPPED AND OUR ORGANIZATION HAS AGREED TO PAY THE $1500.00 FINE.

We could have fought the charges but chose not to. We agreed to pay the fine so we could regain our focus on the immediate and important issues facing our community and especially our youth. Many offered to donate money to help us pay a fine. We are enormously grateful to you and all those who have already helped us out.

All donations can be sent to:
Watsonville Brown Berets
161 Napa Street
Watsonville, CA 95076
(Make checks payable to the Watsonville Brown Berets)

Over 1000 students walked out of 3 Watsonville Area High Schools last week to demand equal rights for all and justice for their families and friends. The police responded aggressively as part of a collective effort between 5 police agencies including Watsonville PD, Capitola PD, Salinas PD, CA Highway Patrol and the Santa Cruz County Sherriff. The majority of the student protestors were 15 and 16 years old. They were completely unarmed. SWAT teams were in full effect…and force.

We are in full solidarity with these students whose most recent actions last Friday were completely peaceful and productive as a result of their own responsible and intelligent organizing.

Students are in the process of collecting testimonials of what happened that day. We are supporting them by sharing our experience, encouragement & camaraderie.

We will continue to help them by sharing the amazing support we have received from the local, statewide and national communities. We will help them connect with lawyers so they can do as they see fit and continue their quest for total justice. Once our fine is paid, surplus donations will go to help these students get their voices heard.

We express the utmost gratitude and appreciation to all of those who called, emailed, and supported our efforts. The concern was overwhelming and reaffirmed that the power lays with the people.

In community solidarity and spirit,

The Watsonville Brown Berets
http://www.brownberets.info
brownberets@msn.com

P.S. Check out our 6th Annual "Youth and Power" event...April 17, 2006. See website for details.