For the second week in a row the city of Costa mesa has been the center of America’s debate over how much power should be given to police in order to enforce immigration policies.
Costa Mesa grabbed the attention of both sides of the debate last week by voting to give police the right to search for legal status while on the same night also arresting in a violently disturbing and possibly fashion an immigration rights activist at city hall during his public comments.
The incident grabbed headlines and even the attention of CNN when a video tape of the incident surfaced and showed contradictions in the early news reports about the confrontation.
The video ironically found on Anti-Immigration websites last week helped the Mexican-American community gain public sympathy and members of the Tonantzin Collective which is the group actively opposing the Costa Mesa City Council say also shows the illegality of the arrest made on young activist Coyotl Tezcalipoca.
Tonantzin Collective also cited the video as a reason why the recent law passed by Costa Mesa, which gives the police the right to begin the enforcement of deportations, should be repealed.
“It is very scary to see how the government is treating part of the Costa Mesa community so unfairly” says Tonantzin Collective member Cristina Burton who witnessed the arrest at last weeks City Council meeting.
“It was very scary to watch. I felt powerless and afraid at the same time because it felt that the politicians are taking advantage of their power” continued Burton.
“I have never seen anyone forcibly removed from a city council meeting the way (Coyotly Tezcalipoca) was” said Duane Roberts who is a prominent community activist, Tonantzin Collective member and someone who often works as a line of communication between city officials and immigration rights groups.
Before the Meeting Roberts took part in a press conference publicly declaring his intention to hand deliver to Kimberly Barlow, the City Attorney of Costa Mesa, a request to officially investigate whether Mansoor violated City Ordnances causeing the disturbance of free speech that Mansoor originally had Tezcalipoca arrested for.
If the City Attorney decides to criminally prosecute Mansoor for the alleged violation, Mansoor could face a maximum $1,000 fine, six months imprisonment within the Orange County jail, or both.
Mayor Mansoor though insisted in his opening comments that it was not he, but Tezcatlipoca who caused the uproar and is responsible for all that happened to him including the injuries to his hand and arm.
“I don’t believe a word Mansoor says” responded Roberts who challenged anyone to who watched the tape to come to a different conclusion. (The tape is available on LAindymedia.com)
Also attending the press conference and the city council meeting were many members and supporters of the Minute Men Project (which last year become famous by patrolling American boarders armed with guns) A group that Fox News recently has reported that is gaining in popularity.
The minute men are often accused of racism by organizations as prominent as LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) and are accused of violent and even murderess actions during their patrolling of the boarders (even right wing republicans have distanced themselves from the Minute Men including president Bush)
But the Minute Men rejected these claims on Tuesday night and insisted this is not about race but instead the issue is security of the country.
“The charge of racism is just a smokescreen” said one Minuteman.
“This has nothing to do with race, I care about Hispanics and all Americans” said Jeff Schwilk outside the City Hall.
“This is not a racial issue” said Minute Man Keith Harding who many called an Uncle Tom because of his being An African-American and yet supporting the Costa Mesa anti-illegal immigrant measures.
“I’m An African-American, but an American first” chimed back Harding at his dissenters. “The government has every right to design its laws on how to become a citizen of the country”
Harding and other African-American minutemen claimed that people brought up their race only to stir up the emotions of supporters and not because it has a place in the debate.
But those protesting the city council, doubted Minute Men claims that this was only about security.
The decision by Costa Mesa’s city council and those that support it “is about changing the demographics of Costa Mesa which is right now heavily Mexican, says Jisselle suazo a member of the Tonantzin Collective.