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Calls for Removal of Salinas Police Chief Continue at Police Brutality Day Protest
To mark the National Day of Protest Against Brutality, community members in Salinas rallied in front of city hall on October 22, where the family members of Jose Velasco, Frank Alvarado, and Angel Ruiz all spoke. Ruiz and Alvarado were among five unarmed Latino men killed in separate incidents in 2014 during encounters with the Salinas Police Department. Velasco was severley beaten by a group of Salinas police officers in 2015. Individuals held signs in front of city hall and joined in several group chants, including energetic repetitions of the phrase "Brown Lives Matter" and choruses of "Hey Hey, Ho Ho, Chief McMillin has got to go!"
Calls for the removal of Salinas police chief Kelly McMillin have been consistently expressed at protests against police brutality in Salinas, which have been organized regularly since May of 2014 when a video of the killing of Carlos Mejia by two Salinas police officers went viral. Up to that point Mejia was third person killed by Salinas police during the year.
"We demand an immediate removal of police chief McMillin just like you saw in Ferguson and you saw in Baltimore," Salinas resident Ana Barrera said at the October 22 rally.
"He's negligent, he does not supervise his officers, he does not reprimand his officers. He does not even do any kind of work that would help bring peace to our city. Instead we see a spike in gang violence and we see these police officers continuing to beat on our people," Barrera said.
"The Department of Justice has come here and all they did was a dog and pony show," she added.
Barrera, family members, and many other supporters have been critical of the DOJ and local investigative bodies that have allowed the Salinas police department to essentially, "police itself," she said.
"We in Salinas are calling on our state, we are calling on our federal government, and we are calling on the United Nations: Please hear our case," Barrera said.
"We need to see that these police officers, that these police chiefs be put in a court, whether it is an international court, we demand justice now," she added.
"Brown lives matter and we're here in solidarity with the families. We demand justice."
The father of Frank Alvarado, Frank Sr., spoke at the rally.
Frank Alvarado was shot and killed by Salinas police in July of 2014, who later explained they thought the cell phone he was in possession of was a gun, so they had to defend themselves when responding to a call of a family dispute.
"Today, we haven't gotten justice. Why? Because the answer is so easy. The mayor used to be a police officer, a detective, connected to the DA," Frank Sr. said.
Current Salinas Mayor Joe Gunter had, "promised things that were never done," Frank Sr. said.
"They always lied to keep Salinas clean," he said.
"Sooner or later their time is going to run out," Frank Sr. said, and that city officials would have to answer, "all of their questions," someday.
"We don't stop until we get justice, no matter what," he said.
For more information about police brutality in Salinas, as well as the October 22 National Day of Protest, see:
Justice for Salinas, CA
https://www.facebook.com/Justice4SalinasCA
Justice for Jose Velasco
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1457751071204951/
October 22 Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation
http://www.october22.org/
Alex Darocy
http://alexdarocy.blogspot.com/
"We demand an immediate removal of police chief McMillin just like you saw in Ferguson and you saw in Baltimore," Salinas resident Ana Barrera said at the October 22 rally.
"He's negligent, he does not supervise his officers, he does not reprimand his officers. He does not even do any kind of work that would help bring peace to our city. Instead we see a spike in gang violence and we see these police officers continuing to beat on our people," Barrera said.
"The Department of Justice has come here and all they did was a dog and pony show," she added.
Barrera, family members, and many other supporters have been critical of the DOJ and local investigative bodies that have allowed the Salinas police department to essentially, "police itself," she said.
"We in Salinas are calling on our state, we are calling on our federal government, and we are calling on the United Nations: Please hear our case," Barrera said.
"We need to see that these police officers, that these police chiefs be put in a court, whether it is an international court, we demand justice now," she added.
"Brown lives matter and we're here in solidarity with the families. We demand justice."
The father of Frank Alvarado, Frank Sr., spoke at the rally.
Frank Alvarado was shot and killed by Salinas police in July of 2014, who later explained they thought the cell phone he was in possession of was a gun, so they had to defend themselves when responding to a call of a family dispute.
"Today, we haven't gotten justice. Why? Because the answer is so easy. The mayor used to be a police officer, a detective, connected to the DA," Frank Sr. said.
Current Salinas Mayor Joe Gunter had, "promised things that were never done," Frank Sr. said.
"They always lied to keep Salinas clean," he said.
"Sooner or later their time is going to run out," Frank Sr. said, and that city officials would have to answer, "all of their questions," someday.
"We don't stop until we get justice, no matter what," he said.
For more information about police brutality in Salinas, as well as the October 22 National Day of Protest, see:
Justice for Salinas, CA
https://www.facebook.com/Justice4SalinasCA
Justice for Jose Velasco
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1457751071204951/
October 22 Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation
http://www.october22.org/
Alex Darocy
http://alexdarocy.blogspot.com/
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The USDOJ must be forced to investigate then prosecute the Salinas Police Department (SPD). Start a media campaign with regional and national media by first presenting a police brutality/misconduct complaint to U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch. Carbon copy every member of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Present a compelling case for investigating and prosecuting the SPD. Start a cop-watch group and investigate the SPD with Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to show a pattern and practice of discrimination and abuse.
Keep pounding the drums to create an ongoing narrative for the media why the USDOJ must take action. A campaign like this will probably take years. Justice doesn't come easy.
Keep pounding the drums to create an ongoing narrative for the media why the USDOJ must take action. A campaign like this will probably take years. Justice doesn't come easy.
From July 2014:
Federal probe sought in Salinas police shootings
http://sfbay.ca/2014/07/29/federal-probe-sought-in-salinas-police-shootings/
"Civil rights attorney John Burris announced in San Francisco today that he has asked a special unit of the U.S. Department of Justice to look into the fatal shootings of four Hispanic men by Salinas police since March."
"Burris said he sent his request Monday to Jonathan Smith, chief of the Special Litigation Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. The unit is one of 11 sections of the department’s Civil Rights Division. It does not conduct criminal prosecutions, but specializes in protecting civil rights in certain areas including citizens’ interactions with police. The section is skilled in looking for patterns of civil rights violations, Burris said. Burris said that if the section takes up his request and finds that deadly force is being used in a discriminatory way, it could monitor the Police Department, set up an independent monitor or authorize revisions in the department’s practices."
And:
Burris asks feds to investigate Salinas Police
http://www.thecalifornian.com/story/news/local/2014/07/29/burris-asks-feds-investigate-salinas-police/13337285/
"In a statement Tuesday, John Burris, an Oakland attorney, said he'd contacted U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to criminally investigate the Salinas Police Department. Burris said he's also sent a letter to Jonathan Smith, chief of special litigation for the U.S. Department of Justice, to review the four officer-involved fatalities in Salinas this year."
From June 2015:
Wrongful death suit filed against Salinas, chief, cops
http://www.thecalifornian.com/story/news/2015/06/10/wrongful-death-suit-filed-salinas-chief-cops/71040030/
"The city of Salinas, its police chief and two police officers are named as the defendants in a wrongful death lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court. The lawsuit stems from the police-involved fatal shooting of Frank Alvarado of Salinas in July 2014. The suit is brought by Alvarado's son, Anthony Angel Alvarado; and father, Jose Frank Alvarado. They are represented by lawyer John L. Burris of Oakland. The complaint was filed in U.S. District Court in San Jose, according to a copy of the suit. It names as defendants the City of Salinas, police Chief Kelly McMillin, police officer Scott Sutton, police sergeant Brian Johnson and "Does 1-25.""
"The suit reads: "This case arises out of the wrongful death and civil rights violation of FRANK MIGUEL ALVARADO, an unarmed 39-year-old man who was shot to death after being surrounded by six police officers from the Salinas Police Department, and shot by at least two of those officers including Defendants officer SCOTT SUTTON, Sergeant BRIAN JOHNSON, and DOES 1-25.""
Federal probe sought in Salinas police shootings
http://sfbay.ca/2014/07/29/federal-probe-sought-in-salinas-police-shootings/
"Civil rights attorney John Burris announced in San Francisco today that he has asked a special unit of the U.S. Department of Justice to look into the fatal shootings of four Hispanic men by Salinas police since March."
"Burris said he sent his request Monday to Jonathan Smith, chief of the Special Litigation Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. The unit is one of 11 sections of the department’s Civil Rights Division. It does not conduct criminal prosecutions, but specializes in protecting civil rights in certain areas including citizens’ interactions with police. The section is skilled in looking for patterns of civil rights violations, Burris said. Burris said that if the section takes up his request and finds that deadly force is being used in a discriminatory way, it could monitor the Police Department, set up an independent monitor or authorize revisions in the department’s practices."
And:
Burris asks feds to investigate Salinas Police
http://www.thecalifornian.com/story/news/local/2014/07/29/burris-asks-feds-investigate-salinas-police/13337285/
"In a statement Tuesday, John Burris, an Oakland attorney, said he'd contacted U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to criminally investigate the Salinas Police Department. Burris said he's also sent a letter to Jonathan Smith, chief of special litigation for the U.S. Department of Justice, to review the four officer-involved fatalities in Salinas this year."
From June 2015:
Wrongful death suit filed against Salinas, chief, cops
http://www.thecalifornian.com/story/news/2015/06/10/wrongful-death-suit-filed-salinas-chief-cops/71040030/
"The city of Salinas, its police chief and two police officers are named as the defendants in a wrongful death lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court. The lawsuit stems from the police-involved fatal shooting of Frank Alvarado of Salinas in July 2014. The suit is brought by Alvarado's son, Anthony Angel Alvarado; and father, Jose Frank Alvarado. They are represented by lawyer John L. Burris of Oakland. The complaint was filed in U.S. District Court in San Jose, according to a copy of the suit. It names as defendants the City of Salinas, police Chief Kelly McMillin, police officer Scott Sutton, police sergeant Brian Johnson and "Does 1-25.""
"The suit reads: "This case arises out of the wrongful death and civil rights violation of FRANK MIGUEL ALVARADO, an unarmed 39-year-old man who was shot to death after being surrounded by six police officers from the Salinas Police Department, and shot by at least two of those officers including Defendants officer SCOTT SUTTON, Sergeant BRIAN JOHNSON, and DOES 1-25.""
I suggest families of Salinas Police Department (SPD) victims personalize the struggle with the USDOJ by sending up letters and petitions, carbon copied to the media and the U.S. Senate, as well as video testimonials. Create a personalized, sustained campaign which turns into a steam roller. The stories of the victims are your most powerful weapons to obtain justice. Shame AG Loretta Lynch into taking real action against SPD.
Consider other tactics like hunger strikes and marches. These are classic tactics which have proven successful in other social justice struggles. Persevere.
Consider other tactics like hunger strikes and marches. These are classic tactics which have proven successful in other social justice struggles. Persevere.
Shaming the shameless is a waste of time.
For more information:
http://PeaceCamp2010insider.blogspot.com/
crunch time has come. it cannot go further. change is imminent...
Government officials are susceptible to public shaming in the media. They may not really care about people, but that's not the image they want to portray. It always helps to out their dirty laundry.
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