Barrio Logan residents complain about 'martial law' during Trump protest
Source: KGTV
SAN DIEGO - Community leaders Tuesday decried what they described as a decision by city leaders "to effectively put Barrio Logan under martial law" last week during a Donald Trump campaign rally at the Convention Center.
During a late-morning news conference in the bayside neighborhood, the group of activists voiced their complaints about the heavy paramilitary-style law enforcement presence at the Friday afternoon campaign event, during which 35 protesters were arrested, including city attorney candidate Bryan Pease.
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Pedro Rios, director of the American Friends Service Committee in San Diego, urged anyone who felt harassed or otherwise victimized by police conduct during the rally to have their stories documented with the American Civil Liberties Union.
"San Diegans demand that Mayor Faulconer and Chief Zimmerman account for their actions that created unnecessary tension and arrests in Barrio Logan," Rios said. "The use of small tanks and riot police against San Diego residents has no place in America's Finest City."
Ricardo Favela of Alliance San Diego said the area was turned into a militarized zone, threatening residents and scaring families.
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"Law enforcement officials dressed in riot gear with armored vehicles behind them, marched in a wall of force that stretched the width of Harbor Drive, pushing a small number of protesters from downtown San Diego into the residential area of Barrio Logan, over a mile away," Favela said.
"Once in Barrio Logan, the community was surrounded by SDPD squad cars with lights flashing, corralling people in the neighborhood," he said. "The mayor's and chief's decision to effectively put Barrio Logan under martial law is irresponsible and violates the community's trust."
Read more: http://www.10news.com/news/barrio-logan-residents-complain-about-martial-law-during-trump-protest
bananas
(27,509 posts)Community Leaders Criticize Police Post-Trump Rally Response
SDPD says no property damage or injuries were reported
By NBC 7 Staff
Days after three dozen people were arrested while protesting a Donald Trump rally in downtown San Diego, several community leaders are saying the law enforcement response was unwarranted."
"Militarized police do not belong in America's Finest City," Christian Ramirez, Human Rights Director of Alliance San Diego said Monday.
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The Americans for Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) stood with those in Barrio Logan, saying they have never seen this kind of militaristic response from the police.
"Does it take 10 officers to trample on one person that is sitting down with his legs crossed, arms crossed," asked Norma Chavez-Peterson, Executive Director of ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties. "Could it have been one officer?"
She urged members of the public to reach out to the ACLU with their personal experiences.
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saidsimplesimon
(7,888 posts)I wasn't there and have no way to verify this. It is no surprise if it is true. I had similar experience while participating in protests with those who opposed bushit and Greenpeace. It's freedom from "free speech" for the 1% that matters.