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DOJ Puts Sheriff Arpaio on Notice. Who Will Put the DOJ on Notice?

11:02 am By Maegan La Mala · Justice|U.S.-Mexico Border · No Comments

11 May 2012

The US Department of Justice is attempting to position itself as tough on racial profiling and violations.

While its arguments in front of the Supreme Court last week against parts of Arizona’s SB1070 were more about asserting the DOJ’s power to enforce immigration laws than insuring the rights of others, especially Latinos, race and ethnicity was an unspoken subtext.
Most recently the U.S. Justice Department kept the pressure on Arizona by targeting Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Following a breakdown in negotiations pushing for his police department to be monitored because of racial profiling allegations, yesterday the department announced its intent to sue. The DOJ is seeking to federally monitor Arpaio’s practices including targeting Latinos (or those perceived as Latinos) for unjustified traffic stops and arrests and prioritizing low level immigration offenses over investigating a backlog of sexual assault cases.

While federal oversight of Arpaio’s office is long overdue (just do a search with Arpaio’s name in our own search box to see for yourself), the question that remains unanswered is how to we get the Federal Justice Department to monitor themselves?

So far the Federal Justice Department has refused to investigate the death of Anastasio Hernández-Rojas or any other death that has occurred on the U.S. Mexican border at the hands of Border Patrol. Some organizations, politicians like Senator Robert Menendez, Reps. Raul Grijalva, Xavier Becerra, Jared Polis and Lucille Roybal-Allard, and individuals are putting pressure on Attorney General Eric holder to open an investigation of all killings committed by the Border Patrol since 2010. Yesterday the American Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint with the Department of Homeland Security also demanding an investigation into border patrol related deaths.

If the Department of Justice is interested in doing more than just flexing it’s muscle to show states Federal supremacy, than it needs to take a look at how the U.S. Border Patrol treats both U.S. and Mexican citizens like Anastasio. Otherwise it’s hard to believe that Eric Holder is interested in anything resembling justice.

45th Precinct Residents to File Complaint Against Abusive NYPD Officers

11:08 am By Maegan La Mala · New York City|Police Violence · No Comments

7 May 2012

Bronx, NY – A group of Bronx residents will gather on Monday, May 7th, at 3:30pm across the street from Lehman High School and march to the 45th NYPD precinct to file a lawsuit against two police officers accused of harassment against Lehman High School student Malik Ayala.

Ayala, 16, became the target of police harassment in the hallway of his school, while waiting to take an exam. Ayala was engaged in conversation with some of his fellow students, and demands were made for his ID, records, and documents, first by Peace Officers, then by his Dean and then by the NYPD. Ayala was told that the literature he planned to hand out to fellow students was illegal because it had the Black Panther logo. He was then issued a summons for disorderly conduct. As a result of the time he spent with officers, Ayala was forced to miss that very important examination.

Less than two weeks later, Ayala noticed a young man being arrested in the subway and began to record the police actions with his cell phone. Officers demanded to see the phone, slammed him against the wall, and searched him despite Ayala’s refusal to agree to let them do so, which was his legal right. Once again, Ayala was served with a summons for disorderly conduct.

This is not a unique case. Local youth, predominantly of color, often go through the same experience daily in their schools and communities. On Monday May 7th we will march with fellow students and residents of the Bronx community to file complaints against officers who are harassing youth of color.

In schools where the majority of the student body is comprised of youth of color from working backgrounds, young people are treated not as students, but as criminals. There are metal detectors, peace officers, and the NYPD is called in routinely. Apparently the aim is to condition the students to be subjects of a police state, to create an atmosphere of intimidation and to establish a pipeline from schools to prisons.

Who: People Power Movement, Lehman High School students, members of the Bronx community.
What: March to 45th Precinct in the Bronx.
Where: Meet across the street from Lehman High School, 3000 East Tremont, Bronx NY 10461.
When: Monday, May 7th, at 3:30pm.
Transportation: 6 Train to Westchester Square, or use www.hopstop.com

NYC : Confronting Police Violence in the Courts – May 19, 1-3pm – Justice Committee Workshop

7:19 am By Maegan La Mala · Events|New York City|Police Violence · No Comments

4 May 2012

In order to achieve real change, we must address police violence on multiple fronts: on the streets, with policy-makers, and in the courts. This workshop will address one important aspect of this struggle.

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Join us for a panel discussion with lawyers and organizers from THE BRONX DEFENDERS and the JUSTICE COMMITTEE.

CONFRONTING POLICE VIOLENCE IN THE COURTS:

LEGAL STRATEGIES AND LEGAL CLINIC

May 19, 1-3pm @147 W24th Street, 3^rd floor (1, C/E, or F/M to 23^rd St.)

This workshop will include:

Pros and cons of filing complaints with the CCRB and IAB
Individual and class action civil suits
Organizing for justice
Lawyers will be present to answer legal questions

To RSVP email: JusticeCommittee@gmail.com. RSVP highly recommended but not required.

Please note: This workshop is open to Latin@s and other people of color who are concerned about police violence in their communities.

The Justice Committee is a Latino/a-led grassroots organization dedicated to building a

movement against police violence and systemic racism in NYC.

Passage of NYS DREAM Fund No Dream Come True

8:51 am By Maegan La Mala · DREAM Act|Education|Immigration|New York · No Comments

3 May 2012

On Tuesday May 1, while thousands marched across the country for worker rights, especially immigrant worker rights, the New York State Assembly decided not to invest in the education of undocumented youth. The New York State legislature passed the New York State Dream Fund, which would set up up a commission to raise private scholarships for undocumented students. A.8689B is hardly a DREAM come true. The fund will make family tuition accounts available to anyone who provides a valid taxpayer identification number. These accounts allow for systematic savings coming out of the pocket of immigrant families who already pay millions of dollars in taxes and reap little benefit from the state they live in. The New York State Dream Fund doesn’t take a cent from the state. In other words, the state told undocumented youth who want to go to college, we hope your families, who statistically earn less than others, can put something aside for you. If not – oh well.

What local undocumented youth and allies are fighting for is The New York State Dream Act. The NYS DREAM Act would have extended state- sponsored financial aid to all students, regardless of citizenship status. Through this act, all students would have been given an equal opportunity to financial assistance, specifically the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).

For information on how you can help continue the push for equal access to state education funds for undocumented youth see after the jump.

Anastasio Hernandez Rojas Haunting in the Shadow of S.B. 1070

7:15 am By Maegan La Mala · Immigration|Justice|U.S.-Mexico Border · 7 Comments

25 Apr 2012

The criminalization of immigrants in border states like Arizona has been in the news this week since the Supreme Court today begins hearing the U.S. federal government make the case that parts of Arizona’s S.B. 1070 step on the toes of national enforcement and therefore should be nixed. Not so much in the news is the way that federal policy has contributed to that criminalization and in fact has led the way by militarizing the Mexico U.S. border with deadly results.

Two years ago Anastasio Hernandez Rojas was killed by border patrol agents. You can find our original post about it here. At the time of his death, DREAMers in New York City were holding a hunger strike in front of Senator Schumer’s Manhattan office. Today, there is no DREAM Act, no New York Dream Act, and no justice for Anastasio Hernandez Rojas and the family he left behind. What we do have two years later is more hard evidence that the border patrol agents responsible for the death of a father and a husband acted brutally.

Last Friday, the PBS news series, Need to Know, in partnership with the Nation Institute, aired an investigation on the use of excessive force by U.S. border patrol agents. In this episode there is video evidence that 42 year old Hernandez Rojas was beaten. On his hospital deathbed, he is bruised. Eyewitness video features graphic heartbreaking screams of the father of five pleading for his life. Never before released eyewitness video shows a dozen or so border agents standing over and around Hernandez Rojas handcuffed and hogtied on the ground being tased five times. Not in the video, evidence of Hernandez Rojas being aggressive and violent as claimed by officials.

Although the official cause of death on Hernandez Rojas death certificate is homicide, the names of of those involved remain unknown. There is currently no investigation.

Far from being a one off, eight people have been killed along the border over the past two years at the hands of the largest police force in the U.S., border patrol agents. In all the cases there were no investigations. No trials and certainly no convictions. In fact according to the report, when the ACLU filed a Freedom of Information Act request for information regarding Border Patrol policy and procedure on the use of force, specifically taser and deadly force, the response was useless blacked out papers. Is this the additional “boots on the ground” border policy that Obama so proudly proclaims? Is this what is being argued in favor of by a Department of Justice who is defending its right to enforce immigration laws while arguing against state laws like S.B. 1070?

I am not denying the horrible nature of state anti-immigrant legislation which impacts the daily life of all Latinos. But I will also not ignore the spirits of the dead like Anastasio, Sergio Adrian Hernandez Güereca, the spirits of the women sexually assaulted on the border by law enforcement, and Ramses Barron Torres – all crying for justice.

Tonight in the Bronx NYC : NO AL GASODUCTO Educational Forum

8:21 am By Maegan La Mala · Environment|New York City|Puerto Rico · Comments Off

30 Mar 2012

• What is “El Gasoducto” also known as Via Verde?

• Who is going to be affected by it?
• Why is it a threat to the environment?
• Who benefits from it?

• Presentation about Puerto Rico’s Via Verde project also known as the
Gasoducto gas pipeline
• Invited speakers
• Short video presentation about fracking (a method for extracting
oil and natural gas)
• Question and answers about Gasoducto gas pipeline and fracking

Friday, March 30, 2012 at 7:00pm
at Betances Community Center –
465 St. Anns Ave., Bronx, NY 10455
(Entrance at 146th St.)
Tel: 718-585-5040
FREE ADMISSION

Co-sponsored by: Muevete Youth Movement
More info at virtualboricua.org and on our FaceBook group:
facebook.com/groups/nycontraelgasoducto/

Tonight in Brooklyn : NY Contra El Gasoducto Teach-In

1:27 pm By Maegan La Mala · Environment|Events|Justice|New York City|Puerto Rico · 2 Comments

2 Mar 2012

NY Contra El Gasoducto presents

NO AL GASODUCTO Educational fórum

· What is “El Gasoducto” also known as Via Verde?

· Who is going to be affected by it?

· Why is it a threat to the environment?

· Who benefits from it?

· Presentation about Puerto Rico’s Via Verde project also known as the Gasoducto gas pipeline

· Invited speakers

· Short video presentation about fracking (a method for extracting oil and natural gas)

· Question and answers about Gasoducto gas pipeline and fracking

Friday, March 2, 2012 at 7:00pm
at UPROSE – 166A 22nd Street, Brooklyn, NY
(22nd St between 3rd and 4th Ave. – R train to 25th St. in Sunset Park)

Tel: (718) 492-9307 Email: Info@UPROSE.org
FREE ADMISSION

Co-sponsored by: UPROSE and Muevete Youth Movement
More info at virtualboricua.org and on our FaceBook group: facebook.com/groups/nycontraelgasoducto/

NYC Orgs Try to Redefine CPR for NYPD

1:48 pm By Maegan La Mala · New York City|Police Violence · Comments Off

27 Feb 2012

Courtesy. Professionalism. Respect. That is what CPR stood for when the New York City Police Department rolled out a public relations campaign in the mid-1990′s. The PR campaign was a response to growing protests and attention against a police force that was more violent and more racist by the day. The late mid-1990′s up until 2011 saw a rise in stop and frisks against young men of color. It also saw a rise in officers acting with impunity in neighborhoods of color, harassing, abusing, and killing. Amadou Diallo, Anthony Rosario, Yong Xin Huang are just three of the names from a long list of young men of color killed by the police. Prosecutors across the boroughs, with their long history of working alongside the NYPD, failed to bring justice to the families of the dead who followed then Mayor Giuliani and Police Chief Bratton with photographs of their own disappeared. In response people took to the streets, blocked bridges and the entrances to government buildings, and there were hearings held on the local, national, and international level.

Seems like now we are in the same place again in NYC. Stop and Frisks are at record numbers and again it is people of color who are stopped the most often. Since 1997, when the New York City Department took over school safety, over 90 percent of the young people arrested in the halls of learning are Latino or Black. We are seeing a rise in killings of unarmed people of color, most recently 18 year old Ramarley Graham in the Bronx. The difference between now and the late 1990′s however is that now the level of police surveillance is up. Watchtowers stand on street corners. Mobile command centers park outside supermarkets. The NYPD most recently had to come out about spying on Muslim communities inside the city and even in New Jersey. These tactics done in the name of “national security” are the new broken windows and Giuliani time has expanded under Bloomberg’s all seeing eyes.

Many of the answers proposed to counter the threat that the NYPD pose aren’t new. City council person Jumaane Williams from Brooklyn wants police officers to give their card to every one they stop and frisk. There was a proposal in the 90′s that was similar in that it asked that officers give a paper document explaining to people why they were stopped and frisked. That proposal didn’t go anywhere and I doubt that the current proposal will go anywhere either. It seems the only union that Bloomberg seems to respect (fear?) is the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (PBA). There are renewed calls for a special prosecutor for when police shootings end with criminal charges against the police. It is a worthy demand but without intervention from Governor Cuomo and the state Attorney General, we will continue with police not being prosecuted.

This week, a coalition of organizations who have been on the front lines of fighting police violence in NYC since the 1990′s, launched a campaign demanding police reform (their word, not mine). Communities United for Police Reform seek to end discriminatory policing practices in New York, and to build a lasting movement that promotes public safety and policing practices based on cooperation and respect– not discriminatory targeting and harassment.

Happy Dia del Amor

12:03 pm By Maegan La Mala · Funny|holidays · Comments Off

14 Feb 2012

Not everyone is a fan of this overly commercial holiday but I say why not have fun with it like Rio Yañez has.

Be sure to visit the website for more funny/sweet art en este dia de amistad y amor.

Whitney and More Missing from Tonight’s Grammy Awards

2:34 pm By Maegan La Mala · Entertainment|Media|Music · 3 Comments

12 Feb 2012

I covered the Latin Grammy Awards twice for VivirLatino. Once when they were in New York City and I was beside myself for being given official credentials (and honor I am no longer impressed by), and once when they were in Las Vegas where I went to every free event because I made myself broke just getting there. These were the Latin Grammy Awards, the equivalent of Latino History Month, a segregated space completely controlled by the major music labels and the Spanish language media. Media like me were essentially locked into a media room, watching the event on television, interrupted constantly by a parade of winners and hosts we could yell questions at but not video tape (in Vegas at one point a Univision employee actually stepped in front of my camera to block my taping). I’ll admit that at first I was star struck. As an up and coming blogger I liked seeing Shakira, Ricky Martin, and Calle 13 up close and personal. I am particularly struck by the memory of Gustavo Cerati, long before he became ill.

But again those were the Latin Grammy Awards not the main event Grammy Awards being held tonight in Los Angeles and yet there is much talk and protest about the role of artists of color and exclusion.

With the sudden, untimely, and unexpected death of Whitney Houston, there is remembrance but also reflection on how the music industry, fed by the talents of many people of color, but manipulated mostly by white run music moguls, only allowed so many women of color success stories at a time and within a very specific imagined framework. Whitney was every woman, but as soon as pressure and the temptations that come with it unleashed their demons upon her, the industry’s support waned in favor of the next, more wholesome, marketable black woman. Whitney Houston was presented as a caricature, much in the same way that Michael Jackson was. The focus became her weaknesses, her failures and this at a time when media shifted from print and video music channels to the every vigilant internet. While the cause of Whitney Houston’s tragic passing are still unknown, we do know the road that brought us here. As media consumers, so many of us hungrily watched her fall but did we offer her a hand to get back up?

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