Los Angeles is in crisis over LAPD attack
on Latino immigrants and mediaby
Ernesto Cienfuegos
La Voz de AztlanLos Angeles, Alta California - May 4, 2007 - (ACN) Ethnic and racial tensions in Los Angeles are increasing by the hour as the full extent of the Los Angeles Police Department brutal attack on Latino immigrants and Spanish language news reporters is known. The growing tensions has prompted Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to cut his trip to Mexico City short in order to attend to the serious problems generated by the massive police assault that occurred at McArthur Park on May Day.
Last night at a dinner at Los Pinos with President Felipe Calderon of Mexico, Mayor Villaraigosa said that he would take a 7:00 AM flight to L.A. to convene an emergency news conference scheduled for 3:00 PM today. President Felipe Calderon said that it is his wish that peace and order prevails in Los Angeles. In Spanish to the Mexican media, President Calderon said he wishes that, prevalezca un clima de respeto y tolerancia a las diferentes manifestaciones sociales que tengan lugar en Estados Unidos." Mayor Villaraigosa is a son of parents from Mexico.
The terrifying LAPD assault on immigrant families and news reporters, that was caught on tape, is now making international news. The extensive coverage in the international media is giving the already negative image of the USA another 'black eye." A news report from Italy is comparing the LAPD assault with those that routinely take place against the Palestinians by Zionist police forces. La Jornada newspaper of Mexico City is urging the Mexican government to file human rights complaints before the United Nations and Leticia Calderon Chelius of the Instituto Jose Marķa Luis Mora is urging President Calderon to file an official diplomatic complaint with the US Department of State.
The police attack is going to have major national and international consequences. A significant number of community organizations as well as the Speaker of the California Assembly Fabian Nunez believe that there is more to the attack than meets the eye. Community leaders are saying that such an attack would never happen in a White community. MacArthur Park is located in a Latino immigrant community.
The FBI has now entered the investigation and one of its focus will be on "who gave the orders for the attack." Video taken of the assault show a few police officers hesitant and slow in taking orders from an LAPD SWAT sergeant. The sergeant is seen being aggressive in ordering and urging the rest to attack the immigrants and news reporters. How high in the LAPD organization does this scandal reach? Even police Chief Bratton wants answers to these questions.
There is a possibility that high level anti-immigrant LAPD commanders gave the order. There is presently a dangerous anti-Latino and anti-immigrant hysteria that has taken root throughout the country and especially in California and Arizona. In Arizona there have been at least 3 highway assaults and killings of immigrants. These attack have been carried out by para-military trained groups, in ski-masks and with high power rifles, that immigrants believe are comprised of rogue law enforcement officers.
This dangerous situation is being aggravated by racists who have access to the airwaves. The Federal Communications Commission has largely ignored the problem. Perhaps the Congressional Hispanic Caucus can address the serious problem represented by hate-radio and hate-tv. Instead of wasting time in discussing allegations that the caucus chairman called one of its woman members a "ho", they can focus their energy in addressing real problems that endanger our community. Just this morning Disney radio KABC 790 AM in Los Angeles took another hateful "pot shot" at Aztlan.Net.
Related La Voz de Aztlan Reports:FBI to investigate LAPD violence at MacArthur Park
LOS ANGELES: Mayor Villaraigosa to visit Mexico City (Tenochtitlan)
