LA VOZ DE AZTLAN EDITORIAL

Los Angeles Chicanos Excluded from Panels Investigating Police Corruption

Los Angeles, California (April 24, 2000) - - The large Mexican-American community of Los Angeles has been excluded from two important citizen panels that will investigate the worst police corruption scandal in the history of the city and the Latino elected politicians are maintaining their silence. Chicanos have been excluded from the recently formed "Rampart Independent Review Panel" whose members were appointed by the Board of Police Commissioners to investigate LAPD corruption. In addition, next year's Los Angeles County Grand Jury will lack Chicano representation as has been the case historically. The two panels will have great influence not only in reforming the LAPD but also in bringing charges against the corrupt cops. Both panels are dominated by "Whites."

This lack of community representation on the panels guarantees that the "status quo" will be maintained and that La Raza will continue to be the victims of police brutality and corruption. Police power and repression is one of the last means by which the "Whites" can maintain their control over people of color and it is evident in Los Angeles that they will not give up this power easily. Latino elected politicians meanwhile are keeping absolutely quiet on the issue. It is an area where the "politicos" do not dare to thread because if they do, the strings pulled by their "puppet masters" will be yanked real hard.

This injustice will only add vigor to the protests by La Raza at the Los Angeles Democratic National Convention in August. Los Angeles Republican Mayor Richard Riordan, principal architect of the repression against Chicanos, stands to lose dearly because he and his friends have great economic stake in the convention and are owners of the Staple Center where it will take place. Mayor Riordan has given orders to the LAPD Riot Squad to be particularly vigilant. A contingent of LAPD Swat Team members traveled to the World Bank protests in Washington D.C. earlier this month to study how to best clamp down on civil disobedience.

Mayor Riordan's Republican plans for repression are supported by the Democratic National Committee. This collusion is a perfect example that, for La Raza, there is really no difference between the political parties in power. Both parties ultimately serve the interests of the "Whites" only and hire "vendido hispanics" to do their dirty work against La Raza. The DNC has hired an hispanic by the name of Lydia Camarillo and she has worked very closely with Mayor Riordan to ensure that Chicanos do not embarrass the city with legitimate political demonstrations. Maybe they feel that the LAPD and LAUSD corruption scandals are enough embarrassment.

In conclusion, the lack of Chicano representation on the "Rampart Police Scandal Review Panel" and on next year's Los Angeles County Grand Jury indicates that we are still politically powerless in a city where the population of Mexicans is second only to Mexico City. This is mainly due to "spineless" political leadership from Latino elected officials and to the fact that these "politicos" are elected not by us but by the gringo power structure for their benefit and not ours!