F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E

COLLECTIVO TONANTZIN’S RESPONSE TO ARREST OF COYOTL TEZCALIPOCA AT COSTA MESA CITY COUNCIL

On Tuesday, January 3, approximately 100 people, including members of the Tonantzin Collective, converged upon the Costa Mesa City Council’s decision to train city police to enforce immigration law. The measure was approved by the Council on December 7, 2005. Costa Mesa will be the first city in the United States to merge police and immigration duties.

The proposal raises concern among Mexicans and Central Americans throughout Orange County. Brown-skinned people will be subject to racial profiling, based on appearance and surname. The measure will also erode relations between immigrants and police, as immigrants will fear reporting crimes. Furthermore, vigilantism may increase, as residents may attack and harass people they believe to be undocumented.

During the last council meeting, Coyotl Tezcalipoca, a member of the Tonantzin Collective, was arrested during public comments. After innocently requesting the audience to stand up in support of immigrant rights, Mayor Allan Mansoor cut him off before his time was up. Before he had a chance to leave the podium, several police officers surrounded him and forcefully took him into custody, violating his right to free speech and assembly. Video footage taken by a Spanish language television station shows a police officer kicking him while on the ground. On the other had, supporters of the Mayor’s proposal were not subjected to the same kind of treatment when they did the same thing.

A press conference will be held today at Costa Mesa City Hall:

WHEN: Thursday, January 05, 2006

TIME/WHERE: Press conference begins at 6 PM at the Costa Mesa City Hall
77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

Speakers will address the following issues: 1) the re-opening of the day labor site, 2) the withdrawal of the vote that will give power to certain police officers
to enforce immigration laws, 3) the recall of city council members who voted for the closure of the day labor site and the proposal that will give power
to police officers to enforce immigration laws, and 4) that all criminal charges be dropped against Coyotl Tezcalipoca.

Press contacts:

Coyotl Tezcalipoca (714) 235-0801
Humberto Caspa (949) 929-7353
Rosalinda Ramirez (714) 458-8233

I was waiting to speak, then Benito, started a fight with the police, and I didn't get to speak.

So, I hope he used his media time wisely and calmly apologized, to the mayor, city council, and all present, who witnessed his embarrassing behavior.

Any word on the press conference? Not to be impatient or anything but can anyone who was there post anything that happened? Any incidents we should know about?

I haven't seen any update on the press conference. This was on another board, I assume it's reported by Alicia Robinson.

_________________________

Protests of immigration plan continue
Man arrested at council meeting calls for three city leaders to resign. Mayor rejects dissent, defends council decision.
By Alicia Robinson
(Published: January 6, 2006)

The man Costa Mesa police arrested at a City Council meeting called on Thursday for the resignation of three council members and demanded that any charges against him be dropped.

Coyotl Tezcalipoca, 25, of Costa Mesa, helped organize two protests against the City Council's plan to train police to check the immigration status of people suspected of crimes. Costa Mesa police arrested Tezcalipoca, who police identified as Benito Acosta, after a scuffle with police on Tuesday night, when he didn't follow orders to stop speaking at the podium.

He was arrested on suspicion of disrupting a public meeting and obstructing a police officer, but Orange County Deputy Dist. Atty. Susan Schroeder said charges have not been filed.

The Tonantzin Collective, a group protesting the city's immigration enforcement plan, held a news conference Thursday in front of Costa Mesa City Hall that drew about 50 people.

"The mayor and his supporters are enacting policies that divide our city," Tezcalipoca said.

"These policies, we know this, are aimed to change the demographics of the city. We believe most Costa Mesa residents are against the mayor's proposal."

Tezcalipoca asked that the Job Center be reopened and that the immigration proposal be withdrawn, and he called for the resignations of Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor and Councilmen Eric Bever and Gary Monahan, who voted in favor of the immigration enforcement proposal and closing the Job Center.

Reached earlier Thursday by phone, Mansoor said he could not attend the news conference. He doesn't believe Tezcalipoca was treated unfairly.

"He has a history of disrupting our meetings," Mansoor said. "I made it clear from the beginning that disruptions would not be allowed as it interferes with the right of other people to speak and it delays our meetings."

At the Dec. 6 council meeting, before the council voted on the immigration enforcement plan and during public comment, Tezcalipoca called Mansoor "a ... [expletive] racist pig" and was escorted out of the meeting by police.

Mansoor said he doesn't believe Tezcalipoca represents a significant portion of the community.

"I'm getting so much support from so many people that believe we're doing the right thing," Mansoor said. "We're not talking about sweeps, we're talking about people who are committing major crimes."

Asked whether he will try to reach out to those in the community who are concerned with the proposal, Mansoor said, "How can they not be on board with taking a dangerous criminal off the street? What is that rationale? I haven't seen that presented."

Costa Mesa Police Chief John Hensley, however, told a TV reporter he will try to assuage community concerns about the plan.

"I'm going to make it my business to get out and about to explain that we're not going to be stopping people because of their skin color," he said.

"We're not going to trample on people's rights in order to make this thing happen."

After Tuesday's heated council meeting, Thursday's rally was peaceful. One protester said the council can expect more demonstrations about the immigration proposal.

"As far as I know, we will be back at the council meetings until this decision is overturned," said Rosalinda Guillen of Santa Ana.

QUESTION

Are protests likely to have an effect on council decisions? Call our Readers Hotline at (714) 966-4664 or send e-mail to dailypilot@latimes.com. Please spell your name and tell us your hometown and phone numbers for verification purposes only.

This one by David Haldane, of the Times.

________________________________

Dozens decry the city's pioneering policy telling police to help enforce immigration law when making arrests in serious crimes.

By David Haldane, Times Staff Writer


About 40 demonstrators gathered outside Costa Mesa City Hall on Thursday, demanding a reversal of the city's decision authorizing its police officers to help enforce federal immigration law and protesting the arrest of an activist on suspicion of disrupting a council meeting this week.

Soon after the protest, Police Chief John D. Hensley stepped onto a nearby sidewalk to explain and defend Costa Mesa's plan.

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"My job is to make it work," Hensley said of the city's decision to become the first in the nation enabling its police officers to work with federal officials to ascertain the immigration status of those arrested in serious crimes.

Hensley said he had tried repeatedly to meet with the protesters but that they had rebuffed him.

"I believe we want some of the same things for Costa Mesa," he said, "but [they] will never hear that from me unless [they] sit down."

Just moments earlier, a man identifying himself as Coyotl Tezcalipoca, spokesman for a group called the Collectivo Tonantzin, had exhorted the small crowd of onlookers to resist allowing police to become involved in enforcing immigration policy. He also called for the recall of Mayor Allan Mansoor and two other council members who supported the plan.

"We are here to speak out against racism and discrimination," he said. The city's decision "was a violation of human rights. They are trying to divide us, and we want to keep the city whole. We are not here to beg you — we are here to demand that you do what's right."

Tezcalipoca — whom police have identified as Benito Acosta, 25, of Costa Mesa — was arrested Tuesday night during a verbal confrontation over the issue at a City Council meeting.

He was booked at Costa Mesa Jail on suspicion of disturbing an assembly, interfering with a council meeting and resisting an officer.

On Thursday, the protesters demanded that all criminal charges against him be dropped. A police spokesman later said none had been filed.

The council's 3-2 vote on Dec. 7 to train city police officers to work with federal officials in determining the immigration status of arrested suspects has been applauded by some opposed to illegal immigration.

Those supporters include Jim Gilchrist, co-founder of the Minuteman Project, a controversial border security group and recent unsuccessful candidate for Congress.

City officials say they are still working out the details of the program but could begin implementing it this year.

The press conference began shortly after the scheduled time of 6:00 pm. Angelica Morales, mother and resident of Costa Mesa, opened the meeting, welcoming everyone and asking for their attention and respect for the duration of the meeting. A member of Colectivo Tonantzin served as translator for Angelica as she presented her message.

Next, Coyotl Tezcalipoca spoke. Coyotl declared, with approximately 50 supporters behind him, "We are here because we also want this city to be a safe place to live, work, and coexist." Speaking as a representative for Colectivo Tonantzin, he brought this message: "We don't think the mayor's proposal to train Costa Mesa Police Officers to be enforcers of immigration law will make this city safer. It will distract them from the work they should be doing. And that is: working with ALL RESIDENTS of the city to keep them safe. To suggest that the people who oppose the mayor's proposal are pro-crime is dishonest." Furthermore, Coyotl states that Colectivo Tonantzin believes that a majority of Costa Mesa residents are against the mayor's proposal and that "We are speaking so that their views can be heard." As for Coyotl's arrest, "We believe he was treated unfairly and that the mayor's actions were a violation of his civil rights." Before reiterating the four demands of Colectivo Tonantzin, Coyotl reminded the City Council and Police: "We are not here to beg you, we are here to demand that you do what is good and right for the people of this city. You are our public servants. You work in service to US."

The four demands are:

1) The re-opening of the Job Center.

2) The withdrawal of the vote to train Costa Mesa Police to enforce federal immigration law.

3) We want the resignation of Mayor Allan Mansoor, Gary Monahan, and Eric Bever.

4) Charges against Coyotl Tezcalipoca be dropped.

The press conference ended peacefully, with only a handful of Costa Mesa Police personnel looking on, including Chief John Hensley, who granted interviews with the press thereafter.

I'm glad that the press conferenced went through peacefully. I'll be observing how the four demands will play out in Costa Mesa.

I acknowledge that Coyotl states that he wants Costa Mesa to be safe. He's said that and I take note of that. The suggestion by any of Coyotl's opponents that he and his supporters are "pro-crime" could be expected. I'm not sure how much water that claim holds, but I doubt it holds any. It could be a distraction ploy in a desparate effort to help the Costa Mesa city council in their objective in relation to this issue.

As for the belief that most of Costa Mesa are against the mayor's proposal, that is also something I'll be observing with great interest.

On the other hand, if the mayor follows through with his plans in relation to this issue, I would suggest that he not form an affiliation with the likes of Jim Gilchrist/Minuteman supporters, CCIR with Barbara Coe, or infact anyone affiliated with that crowd. Notice how on the night of the city council meeting, Jim Gilchrist himself and many others came with protest signs and megaphones to demonstrate a support for the mayor. All while confronting(in a protest manner) and even borderline heckling(with a megaphone) those who protested the mayor. If I was a mayor, I'd be reluctant to respond affirmatively to this type of behavior and image, at least in regards to Jim Gilchrist and his crowd from personal experience.

The four demands are:

1) The re-opening of the Job Center.

I see some merits in the DL site concept, but with some design modifications. I will offer my services and advice to any city, willing to pay me $1,000, for a day of consultation.

2) The withdrawal of the vote to train Costa Mesa Police to enforce federal immigration law.

Nope, too premature. let them try it for 4-years, then judge them.

3) We want the resignation of Mayor Allan Mansoor, Gary Monahan, and Eric Bever.

Sorry, hold your breath.

4) Charges against Coyotl Tezcalipoca be dropped.

And people in hell, want ICE.