Thread: Local viewing for documentary on Taser death at border

Local viewing for documentary on Taser death at border

utsandiego.com
Written by
Elizabeth Aguilera
1:05 p.m., April 20, 2012

A screen grab from the PBS documentary “First Look: Crossing the Line” looks at the alleged use of excessive force by border agents against illegal immigrants. This new footage of Border Patrol agents surrounding Anastasio Hernandez Rojas as he was tased is creating a public outry. — PBS


Watch It:

What: Community gathering to watch PBS's "Need to Know: Crossing the Line" with the family of Anastasio Hernandez Rojas, faith leaders and supporters
When: Friday, April 20, 7:30 PM
Where: Equality Alliance, 3750 30th Street, San Diego, CA 92104
Watch at Home: PBS "Need to Know: Crossing the Line"

Anastasio Hernandez Rojas, an undocumented immigrant who worked in construction, was shot with a Taser while being deported in May 2010. He suffered a heart attack and died. — Family photo


This image of Anastasio Hernandez Rojas is taking off as Facebook and Twitter users make it their profile picture in protest of the death of the undocumented immigrant while in Border Patrol custody and in demand of a federal investigation into his death and the deaths of others along the border. It was created by Ricardo Favela of the Equality Alliance in San Diego. — Courtesy: Ricardo Favela, Equality Alliance


The brutal death of undocumented immigrant Anastasio Hernandez Rojas while in Border Patrol custody in San Diego and new video footage showing him on the ground surrounded by a throng of agents before he was Tased has gone national.
Online petitions demanding a federal investigation into the 2010 killing are gathering steam as people across the country post to facebook, twitter and spread the word via other social media. Presente.org is organizing the petition drive.

In San Diego the Equality Alliance is hosting a viewing of the documentary tonight that will be attended by the Hernandez Rojas family, faith leaders and other supporters of the family.

"This show will raise the issue of border brutality to national attention. Since 2010, Border Patrol agents have killed at least eights residents of border communities and have left several others seriously wounded," said Ricardo Favela, of the Equality Alliance. "The Southern Border Communities Coalition is asking the President to direct the Department of Justice to conduct an open and thorough investigation of all of the killings that have occurred since 2010."

“First Look: Crossing the Line” looks at the alleged use of excessive force by border agents against illegal immigrants. In the past two years, eight individuals have been killed along the border under disputed circumstances.

Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, would not comment on the new footage or the case except to say a Department of Justice investigation is ongoing.

"CBP stresses honor and integrity in every aspect of our mission. CBP employees and officers perform their duties with honor and distinction, working tirelessly every day to keep our country safe. We do not tolerate abuse within our ranks, and we fully cooperate with any criminal or administrative investigations of alleged misconduct by any of our personnel, on or off duty."

The autopsy report by the San Diego County medical examiner found the death to be a homicide. Hernandez Rojas had a heart attack and the coroner said it was not clear how much the stun gun, a heart condition and/or the trace amounts of methamphetamine found in his system.

To watch the trailer click HERE. The show will air on local PBS outlets at 8:30 p.m.

Here is an array of tweets regarding the Hernandez Rojas case:

IYJL ‏ @IYJL "Tonight, PBS will air horrifying video of Anastasio Hernandez-Rojas’s deadly 2010 encounter with U.S...." IYJL
Odilia Galván Rodrgz ‏ @apaxicana WATCH the Border Patrol brutally beating Anastasio. Tell @TheJusticeDept to investigate now. #latism Presente | WATCH: Anastasio Brutally Beaten By The Border Patrol via @presenteorg
Jesse P. Luna ‏ @jesseluna Will there be justice for Anastasio? Beaten by Border Patrol agents to his eventual death. Justice for Anastasio #latism | JesseLuna.com #latism cc: @RaySuarezNews
Christopher R Wilson ‏ @JustAManTrying Modern day lynching #bringjusticehome RT @SoBoCoCoalition @YouTube playlist http://youtu.be/VpxgQiUhnQY?Anastasio Rojas: Eye Witness Video w/Title
mobilarchiva ‏ @mobilarchiva Anastasio Hernandez Rojas presente! End Border Patrol violence! Human Rights Petition: Bring Justice Home: Demand respect for life from Border Patrol | Change.org @BorderAction #altopolimigra Twitter / mobilarchiva: Anastasio Hernandez Rojas ...


For more on this case:

• New video in border death of Anastasio Hernandez
• Vigil marks one-year since death of immigrant in Border Patrol custody
• Dozens protest migrant's death on US-Mexico border
• Mexican agents witnessed Taser incident
• Stun gun death adds fuel to fire

source: Local viewing for documentary on Taser death at border | UTSanDiego.com

Horrifying video of death of a Mexican immigrant airs as Supreme Court takes up Arizona’s ‘Show us papers’ law

Brutal beating of Anastasio Hernandez Rojas by Border Patrol agents aired on PBS; High Court holds hearings this week on Arizona's infamous SB1070 law

Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 4:00 AM NY Daily News

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An undated photo of Anastasio Hernandez Rojas, 42, an undocumented migrant from Mexico, who died in a Chula Vista, Calif., hospital after he had been beaten and tasered in a May, 2010 scuffle Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection agents as he was being deported to Mexico.

Today, with the Supreme Court hearing arguments on SB1070, Arizona’s infamous anti-immigrant law, the brutal killing of Mexican immigrant Anastasio Hernández Rojas at the hands of the Border Patrol, should serve as a powerful — if painful — push for the court to do the right thing.

His death is the subject of “Crossing the Line,” a shocking documentary released last Friday by the PBS show “Need to Know” that has provoked a wave of outrage all over the country.

The film shows how Hernández Rojas, 42, a San Diego resident, was shoved to the ground while handcuffed and surrounded by more than a dozen agents who repeatedly punched, kicked and stomped on his head and body, and tasered him in June 2010 as he begged for mercy.san diego

Hernández Rojas, lying helpless on the ground, can be heard pleading for his life, crying out: “¡Nooo! ¡Nooo! ¡Déjenme! (Leave me alone!) ¡Nooo! ¡Señores!” He later died at a local hospital.

After viewing the horrifying video, one has to wonder whatever happened to human rights.

“This shocking new footage of the death of Anastasio Hernández Rojas raises serious questions about the disturbing pattern of violence, death and, possibly, murder at the hands of the Border Patrol,” said Arturo Carmona, executive director of Presente.org., a national online Latino advocacy group.

According to Presente.org, this was not the first case of brutality by the Border Patrol. Actually, they say, eight people have been killed along the border in disputed circumstances in the past two years.

“Equally disturbing is the Obama administration Justice Department’s inability to seriously investigate these deaths,” Carmona added. “Presente.org joins Anastasio's widow, Maria Puga, and the other families demanding justice.”

Puga launched a petition campaign in conjunction with Presente.org and the Southern Border Communities Coalition. Its purpose is to demand that the President order the Department of Justice to conduct an open and thorough investigation of all of the killings that have occurred since 2010.

“I want to know the truth,” Puga said. “I demand justice, not just for Anastasio, but for all the other families that have lost a loved one at the hands of the Border Patrol.”

The petition, addressed to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, reads in part:

“I just watched a PBS video in which over a dozen Border Patrol agents beat and tasered Anastasio Hernández Rojas while he laid face down and handcuffed behind his back, leading to his eventual death.

“...this video makes it very clear that the Department of Justice needs to conduct an investigation into this immediately.”

As of Tuesday, 29,312 people had signed the online petition - 97% of the way to the goal of 30,000 signatures. It can be accessed at Presente | Border Patrol killed my husband. Help bring justice to my family..

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments Wednesday and will soon decide whether to strike down forever Arizona’s “show me your papers,” statute, or open the door to similar laws across the country.

“If the court sides with Arizona, it will be nothing short of devastating” said Frank Sharry of America’s Voice. “It would clear a path for Arizona to start enforcing the worst aspects of its law, and for states across the country to pass their own Arizona and Alabama copycat laws. It would legalize racial profiling in order to pursue an ugly strategy of mass expulsion.”

And, we add, it would be a breeding ground for prejudice, hatred and violence against immigrants.

The brutal killing of Hernández Rojas at the hands of the Border Patrol should remind the Supreme Court that discriminatory laws which encourage racial profiling, incite violence and legitimize racism have no place in our society.

aruiz@nydailynews.com.

Read more: Horrifying video of death of a Mexican immigrant airs as Supreme Court takes up Arizona