Who Let the Pigs Out?

This year alone there has been over a half dozen people killed by police shootings in San Jose.

On February 17, 2004 my father, Rudy Cardenas, became one of them. He was taken from my life forever. My father was shot in the back by state narcotics agent Michael Walker.

My father was running away from Walker who was dressed in regular clothing in an alley in Downtown San Jose. Witnesses said that my father had his hands up saying "Don't shoot." My father's death was unjust and our family demanded an open grand jury for the shooter Michael Walker. The open grand jury was held in July. During the grand jury my family, friends, and the community were disgusted by the series of mistakes that led to my father's death. The State Narcotics Agents did not even follow any of their own procedures. Each agent told a different story on what occurred that day and they were caught in lie after lie. My family had no hope that justice would be served. No state agent had ever been indicted in the history of California. In the end of the grand jury my family was very surprised when the jury came out with their verdict. Walker was indicted on voluntary manslaughter. We did our own research on Walker and found out that he was on the Board of Directors of a group called the Central Coast Gang Investigators Association. The CCGIA is an organization that trains law enforcement on how to deal with gangs. Also on the board was Brian Link, another agent who chased my father. CCGIA was scheduled to give a training in San Jose at the Double Tree Hotel in early September. How could Walker and Link be training other officers procedures when they could not even follow their own?

My family and friends called the Double Tree and asked, "How can you allow these officers to teach in your facility?" A family friend was told by the manager, "as long as a group has money they are allowed to hold a conference." The manager was asked, "What if the K.K.K. wanted to hold a conference?" The manager said he would not discriminate against anyone. My sister Regina called the Double Tree and showed her concerns about the CCGIA and was laughed at. My sister said "I'm sorry do you find it amusing that the man who murdered my father is teaching other officers tactics?" The lady on the other end just continued to laugh. The Double Tree in the end showed that they do not care about the communities concerns. The Double Tree only cares about one thing and that is money.

On September 4th about one hundred protesters stood outside the Double Tree Hotel and demanded that the conference put to an end. The manager agreed to meet with a small delegation team. The team was comprised of myself, my sister, my cousin Juanita Villarreal, Danny Garza (Member of MAAPA and NAACP) Samina Fahim (Muslin Voice), Richard Khonda (CJAA), and Brian Do (Coalition of Vietnamese Americans). While inside, everyone spoke on how this is a community issue. My sister and I presented the manager with a letter about our concerns and how this conference is affecting the community. The manager pushed it aside and said he would read it later. He did not seem concerned about the situation. Outside the Double Tree my family, friends, and community members screamed for justice. They chanted things like, "CCCGIA GET OUT OF SAN JOSE!" They stood in front of the main entrance doors surrounded by officers. We finally exited the Double Tree Hotel and were surrounded by media cameras asking how we felt about Walker holding a conference. We told them that we were very disappointed in the hotel and would be boycotting the hotel. The day continued with protesting in the 100 degree heat. The day ended with the chant "We'll be back."
We returned on September 7th, the conference had begun. Around 9:00am officers started to drive in. We had our cameras and camcorders handy. We began taking pictures and video taping the officers. A lot of the officers were supposed to be undercover agents. Many officers were not happy and showed their unhappiness by flipping us off. Later that evening I approached an officer who told me that what Walker did was acceptable and that my father deserved to die. I could not believe what I was hearing. How could an officer who is suppose to serve and protect us say such things? My heart ached from the words I was told and anger began to build within. At the end of the night we stood outside the hotel and said, "We'll be back." I hesitantly grabbed the mic and spoke to the officers guarding the hotel entrance. "We'll be back, but my father will not. It's sad that you guys can and act in such a way. Could you imagine your children having to go through what we are going through and through everything have the officers that are suppose to serve and protect you tell you that your father deserved to die and flip you off? It's sad that you guys can act in such a way." My family, friends, and the community continued to gather for a weeklong protest. My family was greatly appreciative of all the support that we had received from the community. My family did not feel alone in this struggle. We are not the only ones affected by police brutality.

In the end our voices were heard. Many people from the hotel and business came out to see what was going on. Drivers drove by and honked their horns in support. People drove by and were eager to receive pamphlets of what was taking place in the Double Tree Hotel. Even guests of the hotel came down to request for the protesters to inform them on the death of my father.

The only way to make a change is to unite together and make the change. That is what is happening in our community today. We will make a change to see that justice is served and no more lives will be stolen by law enforcement.