No Charges In Tezcalipoca Case
“Investigation” Of Costa Mesa Mayor Proceeds

Update from http://www.ocorganizer.com : “Organizing the Community for a better working and living environment”

By John Earl

(Feb. 3, 2006) The District Attorney’s office confirmed this morning that a charge filed against immigrant rights activist Coyotl Tezcalipoca for resisting police officers at a January 3rd Costa Mesa city council meeting had been dropped….

The charges stemmed from a melee that broke out at the meeting after Mayor Allan Mansoor cut off Tezcalipoca’s speaking time because he asked members of the audience to stand in opposition to the city’s immigration policies…..

…a civil rights lawsuit against the city is an option because of the role of the Mayor and Chief of Police in violating Tezcalipoca’s civil rights…

Coincidentally or not, about an hour after Tezcalipoca’s press conference at the Harbor Justice Center, fellow Collective member Duane Roberts received notification by cell phone that the Mayor is “under investigation”…

For the complete story, go to http://www.ocorganizer.com/html/coyotl.html

Your own story on your private website points to the fact that a new charge has been filed against Coyotl.

There you write, "The DA’s office said, however, that a newly filed charge of “assault” on a police officer had also been submitted to the DA’s office.

THERE ARE FEW CHARGES MORE SERIOUS AND MORE DANGEROUS THAN ASSAULT ON A POLICE OFFICER.

BUT YOU LEAVE THAT CHARGE OUT OF THE STORY AS YOU POST IT HERE, AND GIVE THE FALSE IMPRESSION THAT COYOTL IS FREE AND CLEAR IN YOUR HEADLINE.

THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

Anyone convicted of assault on a pig becomes a walking target for life, and can be killed by any pig, anywhere, at any time, and the pig will walk, because of the "record."

A conviction of assault on a cop is a death warrant, executable on demand.

Now, it would seem that the DA may or may not pursue this charge. You don't even bother to tell us who filed it.

This is not a happy story.

It's a story you didn't think through.

Further, since you only told the rose colored version here, had I not gone against my better judgement to read the rest of the story on your private website (since you *used* Indymedia as a link service to get people to go there - not cool) I would not have known the reality.

Bad job.

A professional (even semi-prfessional) Movement Journalist has to understand that people's REAL LIVES are affected by their writing.

It's not about byline, brother, it's about real human solidarity between real people.

To correct an important typo, be informed that the charge that the CM police attempted to file was "battery." The correction has been made.

Unfortunately, you misrepresented the facts of the story and jump to wild conclusions. NO charges have been "filed" by the DA. The police tried to file another charge, but the DA sent it back for lack of evidence.

Those are the facts related to the events of that day, whether you like them or not.

Your histrionics aside, there was no neglect or attempt to ignore the seriousness of the consequences of being accused of assault or battery against a police officer. But if you had any awareness of basic writing skills or basic journalism, you would know that you can't write about all things in one article, especially an article that is meant as one in a series of updated reports about an ongoing issue. Coyotl is not yet being tried for any charges and it is very unlikely he will be. In the event that he is brought to trial, there will be plenty of time to report on broader issues.

I don't think that any local news publication has covered immigration and related issues with as much depth and professionalism as http://www.ocorganizer.com, including la.indymedia, which I think is a wonderful web site.

Also, contrary to what you said, the article makes it clear where the additional charge came from, so I must also question your reading skills.

You know nothing of my journalism experience, and probably less about journalism.You obviously didn't think through your critique.

Bad job! Unacceptable!

Which brings us to my final point: don't lecture me about ego, "solidarity" and caring about "real lives." If you really cared about any of those things you wouldn't have wasted everybody's time with your reactionary, self-centered, self-righteous and full-of-bullshit critique.

Sincerely,
John Earl