I found this flyer posted at Pasadena City College today. The Chief of Police on campus grabbed Victor by his broken arm (his arm was already in a sling) and tried to choke him and force him into a little room with a guard. It was a sting operation. They were waiting for us with police stationed outside all the doors on the main side of the C Building: there were guards outside the president’s office. I saw a policeman spraying a little can of chemicals into Cesars face. I cried and screamed "NO!". It broke my heart to see a human being treat another person like that. They used their batons to hit at least 3 people and the police broke a reinforced window of one of the doors with his baton. Policemen should realize they can be charged for carrying out illegal orders because what they did was wrong, immoral and illegal.

“It's a sad day for a "happy hour" -- but that is community, they will have it on TV, it is seen as tragic and disgusting by everyone, and now with this merciless use of disproportionate force, I stand firmed against the path of "our" troops -- marching without lawful orders, in violation of the United States Constitution, which every member of the US Armed Forces took an oath to uphold, protect, and defend; against all enemies, domestic and foreign! When unlawful orders are given, a crime has been committed by the issuing authorities all the way down the chain of command. And it is every soldiers, sailors, marine and airmen to prevent war crimes from being perpetrated by those around them, and perhaps the wisdom to see the war itself is wrong, based on lies, deception, coercion, bribery, terror, assassination, and as always -- mass murder into the millions!”

~ Bill Mitchell, Friday, March 21, 2003

The Chief of Police tried to incite a riot, we started a spontaneous peaceful march around Colorado Boulevard that quickly grew from 15 to about 200 people. We chanted to end the war on Iraq and "Arrest Bush". We did a die-in in the quad to rise up with the people of the world. People carried signs calling for an End of Corporate Terror on Columbia, U.S. Out of Afghanistan, U.S. Out of Iraq, and End the U.S. Clandestine Occupation of Palestine. It should be noted that the largest military recruitment office in California is directly across the street from Pasadena City College. We have protested nicely for the recruiters to leave us alone. We want education not incarceration into an unjust war. We chanted "Peaceful Protest" and for Victor and Marco's release for at least 2 hours until they finally told us Victor was being released from the downtown Pasadena jail. I think the Chief of Police on the Pasadena campus needs to be suspended, fired and arrested at once for felony assault.

Regina Record







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PEACEFUL PCC STUDENTS ATTACKED, ARRESTED BY PASADENA POLICE

PROTEST PASADENA POLICE BRUTALITY AND PCC ADMINISTRATION COMPLICITY

FRIDAY 3/21, 3:00 pm

QUAD AREA NEAR THE C BUILDING

During a peaceful walkout rally today (Thursday, March 20, 2003) at 1:00 at Pasadena City College, students Victor Mendoza and Marco Martinez were assaulted with pepper spray and batons by Pasadena police officers and arrested for helping organize the lawful, First Amendment-protected student protest.

Witnesses report BRUTAL, UNPROVOKED FORCE USED BY POLICE OFFICERS before the walkout had even begun. Several other students were pepper-sprayed, batoned, and detained, but Victor and Marco, members of Students for Social Justice and MECHA, respectively, were held on campus and then transported to Pasadena jail.

As of this writing, Victor Mendoza is being released with a citation for public disturbance, while Marco Martinez is being held on much more serious felony charges for inciting a riot -- a riot which never occurred. THE ONLY VIOLENCE IN THIS PEACEFUL STUDENT WALKOUT AND PROTEST CAME FROM PASADENA POLICE, WHO ASSAULTED STUDENTS AND THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

Representatives will meet with Pasadena City College President Kossler Friday 3/21 at 3:00 p.m. in the C Building. Supporters of Marco and Victor will also converge on the quad area outside the C Building to demand that President Kossler and the PCC administration have these charges dropped and PROTECT THEIR STUDENTS INSTEAD OF ATTACKING THEM.

Students are outraged that this school administration could allow the Pasadena police to attack its own students as they peacefully practiced their freedom of speech rights. But this is only the latest in a series of fascist crackdowns on freedom of expression on this campus. Several months ago, a PCC shuttle driver was fired for playing KPFK radio in the shuttle while working.

Please come join us FRIDAY, 3/21, at 3:00 ON THE PASADENA CITY COLLEGE CAMPUS. Demonstrators will gather in the quad area outside the C Building. Victor and Marco and all students of conscience need your support.

THE WAR ON STUDENTS HAS BEGUN. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF STUDENTS AND OF ALL AMERICANS.