by Rockero
Thursday, Jun. 18, 2009 at 2:49 PM
rockero420@yahoo.com
In response to an explosive-ridden seige of their community, residents of the Woodlawn Mobile Home Park attended the Pomona City Council meeting on Monday, June 15. During the public comment period, one by one, approximately thirty residents, representing adults, the elderly, and children, explained what happened to them. Some became so emotionally overwhelmed that they were unable to continue.
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The chief of police, who was present at the meeting and was called to account by some members of the council, denied that the Pomona police department had been involved in Friday night's raid, claiming it was an operation of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's department. (The largest portion of Pomona lies within Los Angeles County, but a small section of the city falls on the other side of the county line, placing it within San Bernardino County.) The chief claimed that the Pomona police department had no foreknowledge of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's raid, and that the only reason they got involved was that they happened to be passing by the park as the sheriffs entered, and offered to provide backup.
"Aren't other agencies supposed to let you know when they're doing an operation within your jurisdiction?" a councilmember asked. The chief explained that the procedure exists, but is not mandatory.
The council referred the park's manager to Tri-City Mental Health services, who they claimed would counsel the children who were traumatized by the series of raids. They also arranged a meeting between the residents and the city attorney.
The community, and the activists supporting them, were skeptical. "If the city attorney's job is to defend the city, how is meeting with him going to help?" one wondered aloud.
The residents of the mobile home park are planning to meet with him regardless, since it is one of the necessary steps to achieve justice in their case. But they are not by any means allowing the city to limit the scope of their action. They are currently considering further actions including returning to address the city council, conferring with lawyers to explore their legal options, and further marches and demonstrations, and they ask that supporters remain attentive to the situation and be prepared to show up to demonstrations or contribute to fundraisers for legal defense.
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Photos courtesy of the Pomona-based People for Immigrant Rights
