Thread: Protesters chain themselves to federal building (AZ. law)

Protesters chain themselves at Santa Ana federal building to protest Arizona law

June 3, 2010 | 1:31 pm

Eight people who chained themselves together outside the federal building in Santa Ana were arrested during a noisy noontime protest Thursday.

The protesters, most of whom dispersed after police shut down Santa Ana Boulevard, had gathered to protest Arizona’s recent immigration legislation and to call on Santa Ana to declare itself a sanctuary city.

Eight of the protesters had chained themselves together with lock boxes and stood at the driveway of the federal detention center.

“We want an end to racist anti-migrant laws,â€

[quote]We want an end to racist anti-migrant laws,â€

Published: June 3, 2010
Updated: 2:59 p.m.

Police re-open street, arrest 8 protesters

By DOUG IRVING, MICHAEL MELLO and CINDY CARCAMO
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

SANTA ANA – Police have re-opened Santa Ana Boulevard after they arrested eight protesters of Arizona's new anti-illegal immigration law who had lain down in the street.

The protesters declined to give police their names and were taken to the Santa Ana Jail.

Using ropes, duct tape, bolts, and PVC pipes, they had linked themselves together into a circular chain in the westbound lanes of busy Santa Ana Boulevard. Police and firefighters had to use medical scissors and wrenches to free the protesters, all of whom lay on the baking asphalt, looking into the sun.

A banner lay on the street in the center of the circle, reading: "Arizona to Costa Mesa, racism ends here." Stickers on the pipes said, "Brown and proud."

Some of the protesters either couldn't stand or refused to stand once they were freed. All refused to give police their names, and many even refused to speak to Fire Department paramedics who gave them a once-over before they were loaded into a waiting police holding van.

Officers arrested them on suspicion of unlawful assembly and refusal to disperse, Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.

He added that the eight would be cited and released, depending on whether they provided their names and could be identified by officers. If not, they would remain in jail.

A much larger group of about 60 peaceful but loud protesters helped block the street in front of the federal building for several hours. Police vehicles and fire trucks blocked off Santa Ana Boulevard between Parton and Flower streets. Police directed traffic around the closure.

Authorities didn't know about the blockade until an officer happened upon it as he drove down the boulevard.

"We were given no notice" of the gathering, Bertagna said, noting the protest affected traffic downtown and nearby businesses. "This is a major thoroughfare in the city of Santa Ana."

The protesters, among other things, demanded that Santa Ana declare itself a so-called sanctuary city; that police officers not work with immigration officials; and that Costa Mesa repeal its Rule of Law resolution.

One banner read: "Vengo a Defender los Derechos de la Humanidad'' – "I Come Here to Defend the Rights of Humanity.''

Sarina Sanchez, 21, a UCLA student from Los Angeles, was one of the protesters. She said the group wants Santa Ana to take a firmer stance against the Arizona immigration-enforcement law and wants Santa Ana police to stop collaborating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She said Thursday's protest was lead by the youth in the city.

"There is a lot of youth here and immigrant families in Santa Ana," she said. She added that the eight arrested by authorities were in the country legally.

The demonstration was organized by word of mouth. Phone calls were made and messages sent through social networking sites, such as Facebook.

"We see an attack in the communities all over the nation,'' said protester Abraham Medina, a 21-year-old Santa Ana resident who attends UC Irvine. "People are scared to even go to work and come home from work.''

The protesters are not part of any specific group, he said, but represent "the community that has been silenced because of policies that introduce terror in our communities.''

The protesters scoffed – "Whose street? Our street!" -- after police issued a dispersal warning more than two hours after they first blocked Santa Ana Boulevard. Others chanted, "la raza unida, jamás será vencida"—"a race, united, will never be defeated."

However, most of group quickly headed for the sidewalk and down the street once 75 police officers on the street closed in.

The group has scheduled a press conference for 4 p.m. in front of the Santa Ana Jail.

Sanchez said various youth will speak out and so will those who were detained, if they're let out by then. If not, she said the group will be demanding their release.

http://www.ocregister.com/news/immigrat ... ocked.html