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"Even if there are good cops, the system allows for racial profiling to be embedded within their departments," said Mayra Jaimes, officer of M.E.Ch.A.'s Internal Affairs and organizer of the rally.
This was the second year M.E.Ch.A held the event at PCC. It was designed to coincide with the October 22 Coalition, another annual showing of marches, rallies, and vigils against police brutality. Already in its 13th year, the O22 Coalition attracts thousands of marchers dressed in black to walk from the Parker Center downtown to MacArthur Park. MacArthur Park was the epicenter of the May Day controversy of last year where the LAPD allegedly used excessive force to assault and arrest protesters demonstrating in favor of immigrant rights.
This year's police brutality demonstration featured several speakers including Allegra Padilla, former PCC student and member of the O22 Coalition, who spoke about several victims of police brutality. "Let us not forget Javier Quezada Jr.," said Padilla. Pasadena police shot Quezada Jr., a former PCC student, 15 times in front of his parents at Las Encinas hospital after allegedly charging an officer with a pair of round-tipped scissors.
"Our country has deep, historical roots of white men being encouraged to join a service to catch runaway or undocumented slaves," said Jose Lopez, the director of community relations for M.E.Ch.A, "Never forget, past is prelude."
According to Lt. Brad Young of the Pasadena City College Police Department, if someone were to simply walk up to the front desk and file a complaint, it would be handled with the utmost professionalism. "There are strict laws in place that obligate [police] to investigate issues against police officers. We take all complaints here very seriously," he said.
Lt. Young was quick to point out the language used in the PCC Police manual which states that officers may use force that is "reasonable and necessary" when dealing with arrestees or suspects. "There are levels of force involved with this job," said Young, "Even putting someone's hands behind their back is a show of force."
The PCC Police department has not has an enforcement issue (such as brutality) in over five years.
When asked to comment on the district's current track record, Lopez responded, "People are not aware of all the fluffing up of evidence within police departments, so a lot of complaints are not heard. Besides, this is about police in general, not just Pasadena."
"PCC students are a part of a long tradition of student protest," said Roger Marheine, English instructor and president of the PCC Faculty Association, during his speech at the demonstration.
On Mar. 19, 2003, when people across the nation were protesting a potential conflict in Iraq, PCC was no different.
"Roughly half a dozen students who were protesting through these halls behind me were unlawfully attacked and apprehended by the campus police," said Marheine.
The half dozen students never filed a civil case against the school, but the board of trustees did hire a neutral, third party group to investigate the Mar. 19 occurrence and compile a report of the findings. The report was never released to the public.
M.E.Ch.A demonstrators passed out flyers and pictures of victims of police brutality and stressed the impact of Proposition 6, a statutory initiative that will appear on the November 2008 ballot in California.
"If this proposition passes, children as young as 14 who are convicted of a "gang-related" felony must be tried as an adult," said Patrick Benjamin, a member of M.E.Ch.A. "They are trying to steal our childhood now."
M.E.Ch.A members also promoted a book titled Stolen Lives: Killed by Law Enforcement, an encyclopedia of over 2,000 documented cases of police brutality throughout the nation.
"The only way to stop [police brutality] is through multi-racial unity and awareness," said Norma Delgado, a SSJ member.
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