DAAA Collective Speech at Police Protest

DAAA Collective Speech at Justice for Sammy Galvan Rally
By Agent Spitball

As I look at the cops in my community, and here in Modesto, they don’t look like the kind of people who are very happy or friendly. I am almost scared to turn my back on them. Local law enforcement are harassing homeless and activists in all communities, but not just harassing homeless and activists, but also people in the less fortunate parts of town, and the less fortunate all together. We know the cops will do what it takes to get rid of us, so it’s time to see what they are doing and react.

The cops are against the most important people such as the unemployed and the homeless. People with authority see activists as unfair, cruel, and violent people. We need to show them that that is not what we are, not at all. It is time we acknowledge the unnecessary and unwarranted exploitation of the less fortunate, it is time we demand equal and fair treatment for all.

It wasn’t that long ago that the US Governor insisted that the military use every force possible against students at Kent State Ohio. Four students were then shot for protesting the violent war in Cambodia. Even though this tragedy occurred in the 1970’s, more recent and local cases have occurred such as in September of 2001, a 11 year old boy was shot and killed for obeying an officers command to lie down, and was then shot by the officer in a drug raid. Since 2000 almost 10 people that have died due to the law enforcement’s bad judgment. We need to see that this amount is far too many. We need to show reaction to them by organizing against them. We need community control, and we need it now.

In October, and every since then, there have been problems with police harassment in the Ceres community, as a group of anti-authoritarians organized a peaceful rally against harassment of the homeless who are harassed continually. One fellow friend I love and care for was continually harassed and asked if he organized the event, and continuously questioned by law enforcement who considered it necessary to dress in riot gear. We were ordered to stay on the sidewalk and submit to their continuous harassment.

People underestimate the power we hold if we work united. We must organize and create an environment open to change. Together we should expect accountability and help create change. Progress may need to be monitored, but we can accept the challenge. Let’s get together and fight back together. We are one.