Been battling dental oppression lately which derailed me early into Garyn and Claire's trial today, so I missed the grand finale, personally, and haven't seen much of a write up yet from others. As court was getting underway this AM - the prosecution having rested yesterday on the conflicting testimony of several cops - the defense was busy working on photographs and videos they had to submit into evidence. (If you ever need that for your own trial, bring a back-up machine - they don't have prompt service if their own projector or other equipment fails). The judge heard "Rule 20" motions from both defense attorneys. Rule 20 states the following:
Rule 20. Judgment of Acquittal
a. Before Verdict. On motion of a defendant or on its own initiative, the court shall enter a judgment of acquittal of one or more offenses charged in an indictment, information or complaint after the evidence on either side is closed, if there is no substantial evidence to warrant a conviction. In an aggravation hearing, after the evidence on either side is closed, on a motion of a defendant or on its own initiative, the court shall enter a judgment that an aggravating circumstance was not proven if there is no substantial evidence to warrant the allegation. The court's decision on a defendant's motion shall not be reserved, but shall be made with all possible speed.
b. After Verdict. A motion for judgment of acquittal made before verdict may be renewed by a defendant within 10 days after the verdict was returned.
The defense put up their first witness, a photographer who was present at the rally on January 16, 2010. They adjourned for lunch to research a few things, then reconvened and the judge dismissed charges due to lack of evidence that the state could obtain a conviction on any count if they proceeded. In other words, we ended up with a fair and honest judge, this time, and the cops who could have so easily compared their stories and lied to make for a better case, didn't. Maybe they were all satisfied with the jail time they nailed Grace with in her plea bargain.
I had to leave before lunch, but it's my understanding that the charges are all dismissed with prejudice, meaning that the state can't turn around and charge Claire or Garyn again. YAY!!! Way to hang in there, you two.
I learned a lot from the cops about riot control procedures during this trial, and about their own vulnerabilities when it comes to making arrests that can actually be prosecuted. The cops couldn't even identify each other in the march, much less individual protestors. They were disoriented and confused when the pepper spray hit, even the ones in gas maks. Their testimony was conflicting, except that all indicated pepper spray was deployed, it was a chaotic atmosphere, it was hard to hear and see, and no one identified themselves as police to Garyn or Claire until after they were in custody.
Garyn was arrested on the word and gesture of a cop whose glimpse of a similarly-dressed bottle-thrower was immediately obscured by pepper spray; an officer who couldn't even identify him as the thrower in the aftermath. He was handed off to several other officers for detention, arrest, and booking, such that it sounds as if the booking officer never even heard the integrity of the direct testimony of the witness. That was how the cops were organized out there to function, too - the front line would hand suspects out to the arrest team with a brief synopsis of what happened, then fall back in line, not follow through with the booking themselves - not really even know who was doing it, apparently.
The myth that made Claire an accomplice to Garyn's non-act of resisting arrest - supposedly chaining herself by the neck to his body in an attempt to obstruct police - was repeated by every cop that testified about her yesterday, but no one had any evidence of such a chain or leash, no did any of them see Claire wearing anything resembling a collar. The only possible explanation for this phenomena seems to be that Claire's purse strap got caught on Garyn somehow and when the police tried to take him town, they dragged her down on top of him, kicking and screaming with no idea of what was happening. It's a wonder no one got seriously hurt.
It was also clear from police testimony that they were expecting "trouble" from the anarchists by the time the marchers reached the site where the pepper spray was deployed - it sounds like they were trying to provoke it along the route. I saw photos and heard testimony myself that cops were punching people in the black bloc crowd before any bottles were thrown.
That all said, I think Stephen Lemons and the Phoenix New Times owe the Arpaio 5 a big apology for convicting them before trial last year, and not showing up to see how the real thing turned out.
Showing posts with label anti-arpaio march. Show all posts
Showing posts with label anti-arpaio march. Show all posts
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Monday, April 19, 2010
Operation Nation: Arpaio 5 Coverage
Borrowing this post for the Arpaio 5 update from Brian Wilkins' Blog, Operation-Nation. Check it out; he's on top of things...
4/4/2010
It is going on three months since five young people exercising their First Amendment rights were attacked by Phoenix Police, and forever had the course of their existence altered. There has, however, been some good news in the subsequent persecutions, which are now taking place.
All "charges" against Mr. Garyn Klasek and Ms. Claire Elizabeth Brock were dropped on January 29, after county prosecutors read the report drafted by obviously lonely Phoenix Police.
Ms. Claire Elizabeth Brock (L) and Mr. Garyn Klasek (R). Photos
from arpaiofive.blogspot.com.
The report alleges that [I'm paraphrasing] Ms. Brock jumped on Mr. Klasek's back and attached a chain from her waist to his neck. After reading the report himself, Mr. Klasek responded this way: "I don't recall filming a porn [movie] at the March." Regardless, no reasonable human being can believe anything these clown Phoenix cops say after reading this fictional fantasy, which has further destroyed any and all credibility this organization thinks it has.
Both Mr. Klasek and Ms. Brock have prima facie Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment federal claims against the Phoenix Police, but there is no word whether they will pursue such actions as of yet. They have until July to file a claim notice with the Phoenix Police on possible state law violations and two years to file federal claims.
The news is not as rosy for the other three, particularly Ms. Sarah Grace Daniels, as her case is proceeding in classic Maricopa County fashion.
Ms. Sarah Grace Daniels. Photo from
arpaiofive.blogspot.com.
Ms. Daniels appears to be the ONE these Maricopa County people are trying to make an example of, since chances are they will lose the other two pending cases.
In one of the most bizarre case dockets I've ever seen, Maricopa County filed a motion on March 4, asking for Ms. Daniels to submit to fingerprinting, which was granted by the court a week later. Its bizarre because Ms. Daniels was arrested and charged with the serious crime of "aggravated assault on a police officer," yet no prints were taken during the booking. Maricopa County has alleged, on January 29, the charges against Ms. Daniels are of a "dangerous" nature, thus not eligible for probation at sentencing (unless, of course, she signs some BS "plea deal"). The bottom line with Ms. Daniel's case is that Maricopa County alleges she used a "wooden stick or pole" as a "dangerous instrument," but as we've viewed virtually all angles of video of the incident, there is nothing that shows Ms. Daniels with a "wooden stick or pole" "assaulting" an "officer."
But this may not matter in the case, as Ms. Daniels is being represented by Clifford I. Levenson, whom I'm sure has his own private practice, but I'm unsure whether Ms. Daniels is paying for his services or if he is contracted through Maricopa County.
Attorney Clifford Levenson
Levenson declared in his March 18 disclosures that he will only use a few "character witnesses" at trial and will use no other evidence for the defense, including video or witness testimony from the scene which could potentially exonerate Ms. Daniels.
Levenson has a checkered past as an attorney and it seems to be showing here. According to his website, he relocated to California from 2000-2005 to work in the offices of attorneys Do Phu and Anh Tuan. But this move was not voluntary by Levenson. According to the Arizona Bar Association, Levenson had his law license suspended by the Arizona Supreme Court on October 16, 2000 for one year and was placed on probation for two years after the suspension. He was not re-instated until September 22, 2004. According to the Bar, Levenson took retainer fees from clients and then failed to "adequately communicate" with them and "engaged in conduct that was prejudicial to the administration of justice."
Apparently, Levenson used retainers fees to support a drug habit, as again, according to the Bar, he entered drug rehab in Southern California in October 2000. I'm not one to point out people's past mistakes, but when it comes to the life of an innocent young woman (Daniels) being dragged through this system, Levenson's past is relevant.
In contrast, preliminary props can be given to attorneys Ashley Adams and Ernesto Quesada, who represent Mr. Issa Emadi and Mr. Jeremiah Henry, respectively.
Mr. Issa Emadi and Mr. Jeremiah Henry. Photos from
arpaiofive.blogspot.com.
In yet more bizarre (but good) happenings in these proceedings collectively, both attorneys filed a "notice of defenses," which is something I've never seen in all the cases I've covered in Maricopa County. CLICK HERE to read Mr. Henry's defenses. These "notices" are bizarre because this is the first time in two years I've ever seen defense attorneys in Maricopa County put forth a real effort to DEFEND their clients. Both attorneys correctly assert defenses such as insufficiency of state evidence, lack of criminal intent, and malicious conduct by Maricopa County deputies, which incited the disturbance.
Mr. Emadi's "charges" must stem from some other set of circumstances, because he is charged with class 6 felony "aggravated assault," as opposed to the more serious class 2 felony charges Henry and Daniels face. He is also charged with one of the more bogus "crimes" I've ever heard about: "attempted aggravated assault," which is a misdemeanor.
The fact is that Mr. Emadi and Mr. Henry have a chance to possibly get their regular lives back, since they seem to be represented by decent counsel (up to this point), as opposed to one of [now former] county attorney Andrew Thomas' whores in the public defenders office. This does not seem to be the case for Ms. Daniels, as it appears her lawyer, Levenson, will do anything to possibly move up the ranks in the county, and thus hope his past disappears. It is common knowledge that all a public defender or defense attorney must do in Maricopa County is destroy someone's life in the name of Andrew Thomas, in order to be promoted or land some other higher-paying, more powerful position (see public defender Michael Ziemba).
I've had the pleasure of meeting all five of these individuals and knowing them only reinforces the fact they are being targeted by this alleged justice system. All of them are very peaceful and very earthly, yet at the same time, believe strongly in our Constitutional rights as Americans; which is why they are being targeted. The First Amendment is supposed to protect those who protest wrongs by government, but instead lead to these individuals being assaulted and charged by those sworn to protect.
I expect Mr. Emadi to ultimately be offered some sort of misdemeanor/community service/expungement "plea deal," to avoid trial (which I hope he does not sign). Mr. Henry will likely be offered a last-hour misdemeanor "plea," but again, the State has NO evidence of these alleged assaults, so they will either have to drop the charges or go to trial. Ms. Daniels is the one who needs the most attention, as her attorney may actually be working for the other side.
Mr. Henry will next appear in court on April 26, for a "Comprehensive Pre-Trial Conference," with trial scheduled to start July 7. Mr. Emadi's next appearance will be on April 12, with trial set to begin on May 26. Expect both to be offered "plea deals" at their next appearances. Ms. Daniels will next appear on May 5, with trial set for July 12.
ALSO VISIT:
Support The Arpaio Five website.
RELATED ARTICLE:
Phoenix (AZ) Police Pepper Spray Peaceful Protestors (1/16/2010)
------------------
"Arpaio Five": Phoenix Protestors Pepper Sprayed At January Rally Face Different Obstacles
by Brian A. Wilkins4/4/2010
It is going on three months since five young people exercising their First Amendment rights were attacked by Phoenix Police, and forever had the course of their existence altered. There has, however, been some good news in the subsequent persecutions, which are now taking place.
All "charges" against Mr. Garyn Klasek and Ms. Claire Elizabeth Brock were dropped on January 29, after county prosecutors read the report drafted by obviously lonely Phoenix Police.
Ms. Claire Elizabeth Brock (L) and Mr. Garyn Klasek (R). Photos
from arpaiofive.blogspot.com.
The report alleges that [I'm paraphrasing] Ms. Brock jumped on Mr. Klasek's back and attached a chain from her waist to his neck. After reading the report himself, Mr. Klasek responded this way: "I don't recall filming a porn [movie] at the March." Regardless, no reasonable human being can believe anything these clown Phoenix cops say after reading this fictional fantasy, which has further destroyed any and all credibility this organization thinks it has.
Both Mr. Klasek and Ms. Brock have prima facie Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment federal claims against the Phoenix Police, but there is no word whether they will pursue such actions as of yet. They have until July to file a claim notice with the Phoenix Police on possible state law violations and two years to file federal claims.
The news is not as rosy for the other three, particularly Ms. Sarah Grace Daniels, as her case is proceeding in classic Maricopa County fashion.
Ms. Sarah Grace Daniels. Photo from
arpaiofive.blogspot.com.
Ms. Daniels appears to be the ONE these Maricopa County people are trying to make an example of, since chances are they will lose the other two pending cases.
In one of the most bizarre case dockets I've ever seen, Maricopa County filed a motion on March 4, asking for Ms. Daniels to submit to fingerprinting, which was granted by the court a week later. Its bizarre because Ms. Daniels was arrested and charged with the serious crime of "aggravated assault on a police officer," yet no prints were taken during the booking. Maricopa County has alleged, on January 29, the charges against Ms. Daniels are of a "dangerous" nature, thus not eligible for probation at sentencing (unless, of course, she signs some BS "plea deal"). The bottom line with Ms. Daniel's case is that Maricopa County alleges she used a "wooden stick or pole" as a "dangerous instrument," but as we've viewed virtually all angles of video of the incident, there is nothing that shows Ms. Daniels with a "wooden stick or pole" "assaulting" an "officer."
But this may not matter in the case, as Ms. Daniels is being represented by Clifford I. Levenson, whom I'm sure has his own private practice, but I'm unsure whether Ms. Daniels is paying for his services or if he is contracted through Maricopa County.
Attorney Clifford Levenson
Levenson declared in his March 18 disclosures that he will only use a few "character witnesses" at trial and will use no other evidence for the defense, including video or witness testimony from the scene which could potentially exonerate Ms. Daniels.
Levenson has a checkered past as an attorney and it seems to be showing here. According to his website, he relocated to California from 2000-2005 to work in the offices of attorneys Do Phu and Anh Tuan. But this move was not voluntary by Levenson. According to the Arizona Bar Association, Levenson had his law license suspended by the Arizona Supreme Court on October 16, 2000 for one year and was placed on probation for two years after the suspension. He was not re-instated until September 22, 2004. According to the Bar, Levenson took retainer fees from clients and then failed to "adequately communicate" with them and "engaged in conduct that was prejudicial to the administration of justice."
Apparently, Levenson used retainers fees to support a drug habit, as again, according to the Bar, he entered drug rehab in Southern California in October 2000. I'm not one to point out people's past mistakes, but when it comes to the life of an innocent young woman (Daniels) being dragged through this system, Levenson's past is relevant.
In contrast, preliminary props can be given to attorneys Ashley Adams and Ernesto Quesada, who represent Mr. Issa Emadi and Mr. Jeremiah Henry, respectively.
Mr. Issa Emadi and Mr. Jeremiah Henry. Photos from
arpaiofive.blogspot.com.
In yet more bizarre (but good) happenings in these proceedings collectively, both attorneys filed a "notice of defenses," which is something I've never seen in all the cases I've covered in Maricopa County. CLICK HERE to read Mr. Henry's defenses. These "notices" are bizarre because this is the first time in two years I've ever seen defense attorneys in Maricopa County put forth a real effort to DEFEND their clients. Both attorneys correctly assert defenses such as insufficiency of state evidence, lack of criminal intent, and malicious conduct by Maricopa County deputies, which incited the disturbance.
Mr. Emadi's "charges" must stem from some other set of circumstances, because he is charged with class 6 felony "aggravated assault," as opposed to the more serious class 2 felony charges Henry and Daniels face. He is also charged with one of the more bogus "crimes" I've ever heard about: "attempted aggravated assault," which is a misdemeanor.
The fact is that Mr. Emadi and Mr. Henry have a chance to possibly get their regular lives back, since they seem to be represented by decent counsel (up to this point), as opposed to one of [now former] county attorney Andrew Thomas' whores in the public defenders office. This does not seem to be the case for Ms. Daniels, as it appears her lawyer, Levenson, will do anything to possibly move up the ranks in the county, and thus hope his past disappears. It is common knowledge that all a public defender or defense attorney must do in Maricopa County is destroy someone's life in the name of Andrew Thomas, in order to be promoted or land some other higher-paying, more powerful position (see public defender Michael Ziemba).
I've had the pleasure of meeting all five of these individuals and knowing them only reinforces the fact they are being targeted by this alleged justice system. All of them are very peaceful and very earthly, yet at the same time, believe strongly in our Constitutional rights as Americans; which is why they are being targeted. The First Amendment is supposed to protect those who protest wrongs by government, but instead lead to these individuals being assaulted and charged by those sworn to protect.
I expect Mr. Emadi to ultimately be offered some sort of misdemeanor/community service/expungement "plea deal," to avoid trial (which I hope he does not sign). Mr. Henry will likely be offered a last-hour misdemeanor "plea," but again, the State has NO evidence of these alleged assaults, so they will either have to drop the charges or go to trial. Ms. Daniels is the one who needs the most attention, as her attorney may actually be working for the other side.
Mr. Henry will next appear in court on April 26, for a "Comprehensive Pre-Trial Conference," with trial scheduled to start July 7. Mr. Emadi's next appearance will be on April 12, with trial set to begin on May 26. Expect both to be offered "plea deals" at their next appearances. Ms. Daniels will next appear on May 5, with trial set for July 12.
ALSO VISIT:
Support The Arpaio Five website.
RELATED ARTICLE:
Phoenix (AZ) Police Pepper Spray Peaceful Protestors (1/16/2010)
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Free the Phoenix Five. Charge the Phoenix PD.
Here's the footage I told you would be coming: this is why the MCSO won't be able to get away with their racial profiling, either. Everyone has a camera, and the truth exposed usually plays out in our favor. Last word I had this PM was that Channel 5 aired footage showing that the PPD was clearly the aggressor, and that they were even calling for an investigation of the Phoenix PD's conduct at the march. Can't find any evidence of that on their website though - still the same BS article from yesterday.
Here's the link to Brian Wilkins' blog again, by the way, for another account of the police attack on protesters. He promises to follow what's happening with each of them - maybe we can do a CourtWatch for them together. You can find a couple of video links to the police at the protest there as well.
"... the pigs who pepper sprayed us!....Unfortunately
The links below came via Matt with the Phoenix Immigrant Rights listserve. I bet a lot of this footage was thanks to Copwatch. I'm sure more has yet to be edited and posted, so stay tuned.
Here's the link to Brian Wilkins' blog again, by the way, for another account of the police attack on protesters. He promises to follow what's happening with each of them - maybe we can do a CourtWatch for them together. You can find a couple of video links to the police at the protest there as well.
The "Phoenix Five", by the way, is how our comrades were referred to today by anarchists/prison abolitionists in the Netherlands.
They send their best.
Here's a link they led me to:
The woman who posted this video also posted one prior to it, with the following comment:
---------------
Anti-Arpaio Human Rights March 1/16/2010
VIDEOS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
LOCAL NEWS REPORTS
http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.NOT LOCAL ARTICLES
PHX Class War Council: Protesters Attacked by Police.
As I suspected, the media and police are full of it. Here's the story about the real disruptive elements in the protest yesterday, from a credible source...along with a very good critical analysis about the bigger issue. Fires Never Extinguished is the journal of the Phoenix Class War Council.
Way to go, folks.
This is from them:
So, who is the outside faction Sal's talking about? In our opinion it must be the Phoenix Police. Unprovoked, a female officer on horseback (who later covered her name on her uniform) charged her horse headlong into the march, colliding with several people and in the process almost running over at least one child in a stroller. After attacking families and protesters, she then whipped out her pepper spray and let loose on the whole crowd, who fled the noxious spew. In the process, children were blasted with pepper spray.
After that, other Phoenix PD officers stormed the crowd, violently attacking marchers, dragging several to the ground and further deploying their chemical weapons from all directions in an attempt to justify their their aggression by nabbing a few people. Dozens were so affected that they were soaked in chemicals, having to strip off clothes to stop the burning. Street medics (not Phoenix Fire Department) and other protesters came to each others' aid. At the end of the melee, out of the more than a hundred that marched together, four of our comrades were in chains and countless others stood bleeding, bruised and momentarily stunned.
Still, shaking it off, we rallied, facing down the cops, until eventually they withdrew. We celebrated and took turns speaking out about what it's like to be under attack by a system that values property and power over people.
Indeed, during the entire march the Phoenix police had been provoking marchers. Riding bikes and golf carts into people. Pushing and shoving. For what? To keep one northbound lane open? Rather than assaulting people expressing their legitimate desires to see an end to oppression, why not shut down the street? Cops do traffic control all the time. What's wrong with PPD? Why, for instance, is it somehow possible for Tempe PD to shut down Tempe streets tomorrow for the corporate schlock that is "PF Chang's Rock n' Roll Marathon" tomorrow but not for PPD to close off a few streets so that people can assemble without threat of attack? Truly a backwards system indeed!
The police have so far put forward several different explanations for what happened, all of which contradict each other. On one channel they say that they were breaking up a fight. On another they say that people were throwing bottles. And on and on. What'll it be in five minutes, we wonder? The contradictory stories ought to be your first clue that what they're claiming happened didn't in fact happen. No surprise that the media swallowed it. But if we know they're lying, we have to wonder why anyone else would defend their actions?
Did people fight back against the police assault. We don't know because our eyes were full of pepper spray, but we wouldn't begrudge them if they did. To be charged into by a twelve hundred pound horse, while attacked by thugs using chemical weapons necessarily evokes the instinct to fight back, especially when your enemy is so vile as to assault children. Police demand the impossible from people. They expect you to allow them to attack you while at the same time demanding that you suppress your gut, human tendency to defend yourself. There is nothing "peaceful" in that relationship.
That sort of power relation is one that condemns those who resist while exonerating the violence of those from above. It reflects the current distribution of power -- a distribution we want to change drastically. This is as unnatural as fighting power without taking action. Movements, like people, have a right to self-defense. For us, that has to be in the form of direct action and civil disobedience against the system. It must be made not to work unless our demands are met. No more mediation through shady politicians. No more appealing to power through moral arguments. We can take our futures into our own hands, directly.
Still, we're not surprised that the police attacked. While it seems the leaders of the movement are eager to make excuses for police who attack children, we know that what we saw today is but a glimpse of what the cops do everyday. We see it with our own eyes. They are the outside, alien force that first and foremost defends white supremacy and capitalism. How can someone say they are organizing a "peaceful march" when they work with such sadists? Anyone who was at the point in the march where the attack took place obviously recognizes that the only physical threat to the march was from the police. No one in the march was at any time under threat from anyone in the march. Understand that and you also understand that naturally the cops were going to attack the march eventually, especially considering the militaristic fashion in which they deployed. Phoenix PD deports more migrants than Sheriff Joe and yet we are told that we ought to give them a pass so that we can focus on that clown Arpaio? We saw today just how foolish that strategy is.
In our eyes, this is but a symptom of the failure of the strategy being pursued by the movement as it is. White supremacy in Arizona goes far beyond one ancient sheriff in one county. Ballot measures attacking people of color will almost certainly pass in Arizona yet again this year with 70 or 80 percent margins. Is this Sheriff Joe's fault? Obviously not. But marches against Joe won't stop that.
We need a broader movement with a critique beyond Joe so that we can challenge the whole problem -- one that stretches from Tohono O'odham land down south to the land of the Diné up north. And everywhere in between. And we need to break from this mode of organizing that can only deliver more oppression and more violence down on our heads. No more politicians. No more working with cops. Look what it brings.
This is why we supported the call for the Diné, O'odham, anarchist/anti-authoritarian bloc. For someone to say now when it is inconvenient that we are an outside force is to replicate the marginalization that for centuries has dominated the discourse around land and movement in this region. But PCWC's native comrades didn't come from outside. They were always here. And we stand with them.
http://firesneverextinguished.
Way to go, folks.
This is from them:
------------
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Phoenix PD attack protesters at anti-Arpaio March
We couldn't agree with Sal Reza more when he says, "There was provocation by some groups who came here for their own purpose to disrupt a peaceful march." We know he isn't talking about us, because Tonatierra invited members of the Diné, O'odham, anarchist/anti-authoritarian bloc on stage to speak at the rally at Falcon Park.So, who is the outside faction Sal's talking about? In our opinion it must be the Phoenix Police. Unprovoked, a female officer on horseback (who later covered her name on her uniform) charged her horse headlong into the march, colliding with several people and in the process almost running over at least one child in a stroller. After attacking families and protesters, she then whipped out her pepper spray and let loose on the whole crowd, who fled the noxious spew. In the process, children were blasted with pepper spray.
After that, other Phoenix PD officers stormed the crowd, violently attacking marchers, dragging several to the ground and further deploying their chemical weapons from all directions in an attempt to justify their their aggression by nabbing a few people. Dozens were so affected that they were soaked in chemicals, having to strip off clothes to stop the burning. Street medics (not Phoenix Fire Department) and other protesters came to each others' aid. At the end of the melee, out of the more than a hundred that marched together, four of our comrades were in chains and countless others stood bleeding, bruised and momentarily stunned.
Still, shaking it off, we rallied, facing down the cops, until eventually they withdrew. We celebrated and took turns speaking out about what it's like to be under attack by a system that values property and power over people.
Indeed, during the entire march the Phoenix police had been provoking marchers. Riding bikes and golf carts into people. Pushing and shoving. For what? To keep one northbound lane open? Rather than assaulting people expressing their legitimate desires to see an end to oppression, why not shut down the street? Cops do traffic control all the time. What's wrong with PPD? Why, for instance, is it somehow possible for Tempe PD to shut down Tempe streets tomorrow for the corporate schlock that is "PF Chang's Rock n' Roll Marathon" tomorrow but not for PPD to close off a few streets so that people can assemble without threat of attack? Truly a backwards system indeed!
The police have so far put forward several different explanations for what happened, all of which contradict each other. On one channel they say that they were breaking up a fight. On another they say that people were throwing bottles. And on and on. What'll it be in five minutes, we wonder? The contradictory stories ought to be your first clue that what they're claiming happened didn't in fact happen. No surprise that the media swallowed it. But if we know they're lying, we have to wonder why anyone else would defend their actions?
Did people fight back against the police assault. We don't know because our eyes were full of pepper spray, but we wouldn't begrudge them if they did. To be charged into by a twelve hundred pound horse, while attacked by thugs using chemical weapons necessarily evokes the instinct to fight back, especially when your enemy is so vile as to assault children. Police demand the impossible from people. They expect you to allow them to attack you while at the same time demanding that you suppress your gut, human tendency to defend yourself. There is nothing "peaceful" in that relationship.
That sort of power relation is one that condemns those who resist while exonerating the violence of those from above. It reflects the current distribution of power -- a distribution we want to change drastically. This is as unnatural as fighting power without taking action. Movements, like people, have a right to self-defense. For us, that has to be in the form of direct action and civil disobedience against the system. It must be made not to work unless our demands are met. No more mediation through shady politicians. No more appealing to power through moral arguments. We can take our futures into our own hands, directly.
Still, we're not surprised that the police attacked. While it seems the leaders of the movement are eager to make excuses for police who attack children, we know that what we saw today is but a glimpse of what the cops do everyday. We see it with our own eyes. They are the outside, alien force that first and foremost defends white supremacy and capitalism. How can someone say they are organizing a "peaceful march" when they work with such sadists? Anyone who was at the point in the march where the attack took place obviously recognizes that the only physical threat to the march was from the police. No one in the march was at any time under threat from anyone in the march. Understand that and you also understand that naturally the cops were going to attack the march eventually, especially considering the militaristic fashion in which they deployed. Phoenix PD deports more migrants than Sheriff Joe and yet we are told that we ought to give them a pass so that we can focus on that clown Arpaio? We saw today just how foolish that strategy is.
In our eyes, this is but a symptom of the failure of the strategy being pursued by the movement as it is. White supremacy in Arizona goes far beyond one ancient sheriff in one county. Ballot measures attacking people of color will almost certainly pass in Arizona yet again this year with 70 or 80 percent margins. Is this Sheriff Joe's fault? Obviously not. But marches against Joe won't stop that.
We need a broader movement with a critique beyond Joe so that we can challenge the whole problem -- one that stretches from Tohono O'odham land down south to the land of the Diné up north. And everywhere in between. And we need to break from this mode of organizing that can only deliver more oppression and more violence down on our heads. No more politicians. No more working with cops. Look what it brings.
This is why we supported the call for the Diné, O'odham, anarchist/anti-authoritarian bloc. For someone to say now when it is inconvenient that we are an outside force is to replicate the marginalization that for centuries has dominated the discourse around land and movement in this region. But PCWC's native comrades didn't come from outside. They were always here. And we stand with them.
http://firesneverextinguished.
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