Posted by ricardo dominguez on February 24, 1997 at 12:50:34:
In Reply to: Re: Digital Zaps posted by ricardo dominguez on February 10, 1997 at 12:46:35:
Scenes from the Struggle, live from Sacramento...
Last night, February 22nd, 1997 I bore witness to the most
shocking and appalling scene in my life... It seemed like a
nightmare, but instead it was reality... 1997 style. Having been
born after the Civil Rights movement, I had only seen photos of
police harassment via the use of intimidation (the appearance of
riot police, dozens and dozens of police officers, K-9 units,
helicopters, streets blocked off, and the lights from the police
cars flashing.) But last night, I saw it first hand... I was
there, in the middle of the Curtis Park area, in Sacramento, the
state Capitol, and I was taken back in time... To a time, when
the police made chaos out of peaceful gatherings and assembles.
To a time, when the police use intimidation to destroy the good
that could come of people assembling.
I couldn't believe my eyes, nor my ears. This is what happened
last night... I had heard about a benefit concert, that would be
taking place at the 24th Street Theater. I walked in, and was
excited by the numbers of people who had turned out to support
the Zapatista's efforts to make a change in Chiapas, Mexico. I
sat down with my cousin, Alejandra in the theater seats, and
waited for the benefit to begin. The band began to play;
everyone started dancing, having a good time. After not even an
hour of the band performing, a break between bands was called.
While everyone was catching their breath after all the dancing, a
member from the Zapatista Solidarity Coalition spoke briefly
about the reason for the benefit--raise funds for the building of
a classroom for the Oventic Middle School Project in Chiapas,
Mexico and what was/and continues to be the situation in Chiapas,
Mexico. People were fairly attentive, much more so than I
thought possible.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, loud noises came from the back of the
theater, near the front entrance ways. In a loud, and rather
"threatening" voice, a police officer told everyone to leave,
that the evening was over for everyone. And just like that, more
police officers appeared. When people approached the officers
with questions as to why everyone had to leave, one yelled, "we
had complaints" and that was all. Nothing else. The next thing
I know, a baton is being waved at one of the benefits attendees,
and the officer was taunting him, "Come on, you want some of
this." I kept wondering, "what the hell is going on here? What
did we do?" I even thought of all the possible reasons as to why
the police would be called, but from what I had seen and heard
for that last hour or so, no problems had occurred. The music
wasn't loud at all, I would have liked for it to have been turned
up, if anything. And as for people loitering outside of the
theater, there wasn't any. The organizers of the benefit had
been doing their job, keeping the entrance ways cleared. I
didn't, and couldn't understand... I mean, yeah, if there had
been a problem, don't you think the police would have at least
given a warning for any infractions... But there wasn't any.
Members of the Zapatista Solidarity Coalition tried reasoning
with the officers. But, the officers just turned their backs,
and keep repeating, "Everyone leave now. You will be arrested if
you stay." (or something to that extent). At this point, the
attendees pointed their cameras and tape recorders in the
direction of the officers to have proof of the their harassment.
I heard a very loud commotion, like someone had fallen. I looked
over the railing, and saw a young man spread eagle on his back,
and an officer standing over him. During all this, I heard
someone say that a young woman had been pushed down some stairs
by a female police officer. People (the benefit attendees)
started shouting at the police, "Pigs. Go do your job. Go
protect and serve the community. While you are here bothering
us, people who do need your help are being murdered and injured."
The noise grew and grew, and with that, the police one by one
went and then returned with their riot gear on.
ZSC Members told everyone to sit down, to keep calm and quiet.
And just like that, silence in the theater prevailed. I remember
hearing someone say, "If you all want to stand up for your rights
by getting arrested, then lets all do it together, but
peacefully." I got flashes of myself being taken away in a paddy
wagon, but then I just kind of laughed, thinking... "No way.
There is no way we are all going to be arrested for having a
peaceful event."
So while everyone who was in attendance was sitting quietly,
wondering what the next move would be, if anything, I helped the
Zapatista Solidarity Coalition members by packing up the slide
projector (used to show slides of Zapatistas, and others of the
different events held in Chiapas, Mexico by the Zapatistas), and
the boxes of information flyers, etc. Each time, my cousin and I
made a trip out to the van, we saw the sudden MILITARIZATION of
the street in front of the theater. There were dozens of riot
police, and police cars everyone, blocking all entrance to and
from the theater. I looked up, and saw a helicopter flying
overhead, flashing its search light over the neighborhood. By
the time, I had made my last (of three) trip to the van, what was
once a quiet and deserted street, was now a mass of police cars,
officers, and noise.
I went back inside, and by this time, everyone had been told of
what was waiting for them outside. Some people left, fearing the
outcome of a (peaceful) stand-off with the police. But, those
who remained inside the theater all gathered on the stage. They
didn't want to leave. They wanted to stay and defend their right
to assembly peacefully. The Zapatista Solidarity Coalition and
the staff from the Sierra II community center spoke to the group,
explaining to them that giving the police a reason to storm
inside the theater, using violence to arrest each and everyone of
them. The emphasis was placed on leaving peacefully, without
incident. The people who were on the stage had decided to leave
the theater. I heard my voice mix in with theirs in the cries of
"injustice". "Pigs. Facist Pigs. Go do your job. Nazis,
etc..." At this point, ZSC members and benefit volunteers
cleaned up the theater. Not only was the trash thrown away, but
the floors and stage was swept clean. Nothing had been damaged.
I didn't find out Victor Rivera, a ZSC member had been placed
handcuffed and in a police car, until my cousin and I had walked
outside. Not one officer would explain the reason why he had
been taken into custody. This was causing even more chaos.
Everyone wanted to know what was going on. Why he was being
arrested. But our pleads for information were met with silence.
Those of us who were outside were told to leave. My van was
parked, right there on the blocked off street. I tried to get
into the car, and an officer said, "You cant leave. You can't
take your van." I tried to explain that all I wanted to do was
to leave. He then put his hand over mine, pushing the door
closed. So, I turned and started walking in the direction that
the 15 plus officers were hording us to... And then, two officers
told me, "Get in your van and leave. If this is your van,
leave." My cousin and I went back to the van, and again I
started opening the door, and the same belligerent officer told
me, "What are you doing? I told you, you cant leave in your car.
You cant take it." I was so mad, here I am trying to listen to
the officers instructions and I was getting told two different
messages by different officers. I was so angry, so I said loudly
so that all the officers on both sides of my van heard me
clearly, "Fine, first you tell me to leave, then you tell me not
to take my van, then two other officers tell me to get in my car
and leave, and now you are going to tell me that I cant? If I
cant take the car, then I want to be told the same thing by every
officer. I don't want to be hearing different messages." Again,
we walked towards the end of the street, and as we were crossing
the street (where were we going to have to walk to, before it was
"far away" enough?), the same officer who told me that I couldn't
get into my van said, "Hey you two, get over here, I will escort
you to your van and you have to leave." We walked to the van,
and as we did... We were again harassed by approaching officers.
I just waved my hand, and said, "Don't worry, we're leaving."
I drove home, and picked up my aunt. We went back. You see,
Victor Rivera is my father. I wanted to know what was going on.
With him, and with the rest of the people who had attended the
benefit. Finally, after finding the lawyer who had been called,
we were allowed onto the blocked off street. I found my mother,
and members of the ZSC. I saw young people in police cars,
waiting to be taken to the downtown jail, officers taking down
reports, and yet others (officers) who were just sitting there,
shooting the breeze. I kept turning around, looking at the
waste. Yes, it was a waste... Over 60 police cars, K-9 units,
helicopters, etc is a bit excessive. And also a major blight on
our city. We drove to the police station, only to be told that
the people who had been arrested at the "party" were being
inquiried about. Finally, at 4 am, my father called collect and
said he had endured countless insults, name calling, and was
being charged with a "40-46, inciting a riot", and with "property
damage".
What the hell happened? Why was a peaceful event turned into
something so ugly, so extreme? Was it because the benefit was
being attended by people of the "Counterculture"? Was it because
it was something to benefit the Zapatistas, the Mayan Indians in
southeastern Mexico fighting peace with dignity, justice,
democracy, and indigenous rights? What was the aim, and reason
for the show of force? Who could and can benefit from all this
attention? Who was the target of all this harassment, and why?
I came to the Benefit Concert/Event because I believe in what the
Zapatistas are fighting for in Mexico. Because, I thought I
would and could be able to express my solidarity with the
Zapatistas and their fight for equality and justice. What
saddens me is, I live in the US. "The home of the free, and the
land of the brave", and yet, "30 years after the start of the
Civil Rights Movement, the US hasn't changed at all. There is no
justice. Not for the Zapatistas, not for the victims of Props.
187 and 209, not for those in attendance last night, and surely
not for me. The fight our human rights... Rights that are
guaranteed by the CONSTITUTION and the BILL OF RIGHTS continues
on into the 21st century.
by Ibyang Rivera