Western Massachusetts Copwatch

Cops and ICE collaborate to deport local immigrant workers

alex — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:11:51 +0000

By Caleb Gallus

Two weeks ago local, state, and federal police, including Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) simultaneously raided massage parlors in Longmeadow, West Springfield, Hadley, Springfield and Chicopee More than 30 agents took part in the two Hadley raids, in which two people were arrested. In total, the police arrested nine people. Six were arrested on immigration charges and three on prostitution charges.

How do the police justify these expensive, high profile raids? An anonymous tip that a Chicopee massage parlor employee had offered sex for cash. Undercover cops investigated this tip multiple times but were never able to verify it. According to the cops, they had been investigating the massage parlors in Springfield for some time, but could not come up with enough evidence to arrest anyone there on the prostitution charges.

In these raids only three of the arrests had to do with prostitution. The majority of the arrests were for immigration violations. If these raids were targeted to break up a prostitution ring, then why are the majority of the charges related to immigration? It’s clear that when the vice squad couldn’t find enough evidence to put people away on prostitution charges, they turned to ICE to do their dirty work.

Now what about the six women who are now in ICE custody? At the East Longmeadow parlor that was raided, three of the employees that were undocumented were also living in the parlor. This means that they were almost certainly not paid a living wage and may even have been held against their will. They, like the 12 million other undocumented immigrants in this country, would have had almost no way of asserting their rights as workers. How many hours did they work a day? How many days a week? What happened to them if they were injured or assaulted by a customer? Their boss could have told them to do anything, and they would have no choice but to obey. If they spoke up, they could have easily been handed over to ICE to face imprisonment and deportation. Now that they have been arrested—not on prostitution charges but on immigration charges—they will be held without bail until a federal immigration judge reviews their cases. This means that people whose only crime was working will be sent to federal prison until they are deported.

While incarcerated by ICE, they will have no contact with their families or anyone else until they reappear in their home countries. This detention period could be as short as a few weeks or as long as a year. The ICE tactics of holding people without trial, contact with the outside world, or bail, is disturbingly similar to the practice of “disappearing” dissidents used by military dictatorships around the world. In the United States, this is the fate of millions who have come seeking jobs to support themselves and their families.

Most undocumented workers in this country are refugees of trade policies which devastate economies abroad. It is inhumane, hypocritical and unjust to then deport these people, tearing apart lives and families. We must organize against repressive immigration policy that makes it unsafe for immigrants to live and work in our communities. We must fight for dignity alongside undocumented workers—if ICE is coming for them, you can be sure the cops will be there too. So we must also organize ourselves against the police, who will always be willing to brutalize working people, immigrants or otherwise, in order to maintain economic inequality.

Las Policias y ICE colabaran para deportar a los trabajadores inmigrantes locales

Hace dos semanas el local, estado, y policia federal, incluyendo El Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE) simultáneamente allanaron salas de masajes en Longmeadow, West Springfield, Hadley, Springfield y Chicopee. Mas de 30 agentes tomaron parte en las dos redadas de Hadley, en donde dos personas fueron detenidas. En total, la policía detuvo a nueve personas. Seis fueron detenidos en cargos de inmigración y tres en cargos de prostitución.

¿Cómo justifica la policía estos caros y de alto perfil redadas? Un anónimo aviso que una empleada de la sala de masaje de Chicopee habia ofrecido sexo a cambio de dinero. Policías encubierto investigaron este anónimo aviso muchas veces pero nunca pudieron verificarlo. Según las policías, ellos habian estado investigando las salas de masaje en Springfield durante algún tiempo, pero no pudieron ofrecer suficiente evidencia para detener nadie alli en cargos deprostitución.

En estas redadas sólo tres de los arrestos tuvieron que ver con prostitución. La mayoria de los arrestos fueron en violaciónes de inmigración. Si estas redadas fueron concentradas en separar una banda de prostitución, entonces por qué es que la mayoria de los cargos eran relacionado ainmigración? Es claro que cuando la brigada anitivicio no pudo encontrar suficiente evidencia para encerrar las personas en cargos de prostitución, ellos voltearon a ICE para que haga su sucio trabajo.

¿Ahora que pasara con las seis mujeres que ahora están en custodia de ICE? En el salon de East Longmeadow que fue parte de una redada, tres de los empleados que eran indocumentados también vivian en el salon. Esto significa que es casi seguro que ellos no fueron pagados un salario digno e incluso pueden haber sido retenidos contra su voluntad. Ellos, como los otros 12 millones inmigrantes indocumentados en este país, no habian tenido casi ninguna manera de hacer valer sus derechos como trabajadores. ¿Cuántas horas trabajaban al día? ¿Cuántos días a la semana? ¿Qué les pasó a ellos si fueron heridos o asaltado por un cliente? Su jefe podría haber dicho que hagan cualquier cosa y ellos no tendrían otra opción sino que obedecer. Si ellos alzan sus voces, ellos podrían haber sido fácilmente entregados a ICE para ser encarcelado y deportado. Ahora que ellos han sido detenidos — no en cargos de prostitución pero en cargos de inmigración — ellos seran tenidos sin fianza hasta que un juez federal de inmigración revise sus casos. Esto significa que las personas cuyo único delito fue trabajar serán enviadas a la prisión federal hasta que sean deportados.

Mientras encarcelado por ICE, ellos no tendrán ningún contacto con sus familias o cualquier otra persona hasta que vuelven a aparecer en sus países de origen. Este período de detención puede ser tan corto como un par de semanas o tan largo como un año. Las tácticas de ICE de tener a personas sin juicio, contacto con el mundo exterior, o fianza, es inquietantemente similar a la práctica de la “desaparición” de los disidentes utilizados por las dictaduras militares en todo el mundo. En Estados Unidos, esto es el destino de millones que han venido en busca de trabajo para mantener a sí mismos y a sus familias.

La mayoría de los trabajadores indocumentados en este país son refugiados de las políticas comerciales que devastan las economías en el extranjero. Es inhumano, hipócrita e injusto para luego deportar a estas personas, destrozando vidas y familias. Tenemos que organizarnos en contra de la política de inmigración represivas que lo hace inseguro para los inmigrantes a vivir y trabajar en nuestras comunidades. Nosotros debemos luchar por la dignidad, junto a los trabajadores indocumentados — si ICE está llegando para ellos, usted puede estar seguro de que la policía estará allí también. Así también debemos organizarnos nosotros mismos contra la policía, que siempre estará dispuesto a tratar brutalmente a los trabajadores, los inmigrantes o de lo contrario, a fin de mantener la desigualdad económica.

Mass. Police: Ready for Conflict

esther — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:26:45 +0000

Springfield cops are fully armed — with high-powered weapons supplied by the military. Which war do they think they’re fighting?

State plans a review of weapons program

The Republican

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

By ANGELA CARBONE

acarbone@repub.com

A federal program that hands out surplus military equipment, including high-powered weapons, to local police departments has come under fire from the state.

Local law enforcement officials, however, say the weaponry provides trained forces with equipment that will prove invaluable if the unthinkable happens in their communities. Moreover, the costs of such equipment do not fall on the taxpayer.

Gov. Deval L. Patrick suspended the 1033 program, pending a state review, Terrel Harris, spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety, said Tuesday.

“We don’t know everything about it that we should know,” he said. The program is under the control of the federal Defense Logistics Agency and is administered in Massachusetts by the state police.

David Procopio, spokesman for the state police, said Tuesday that a report on the program alleges that some agencies that received weapons through the program are in contradiction to federal regulations.

“That’s enough to warrant a look,” he said.

The suspension came after the Boston Globe published an article revealing that 82 local police departments have obtained more than 1,000 military-grade weapons in the past 15 years. Firearms ranged from .38-caliber revolvers to a grenade launcher. In Western Massachusetts, eight communities were listed as recipients, according to the Globe.

West Springfield received two M-79 grenade launchers, one M-21 semi-automatic sniper rifle, and four M-14 rifles, all in 1996.

West Springfield Police Chief Thomas E. Burke said Tuesday that the federal program also provided his department with vehicles, Kevlar helmets, gas masks and ballistic shields.

“We wouldn’t have been able to buy these,” he said. Even pairs of winter boots obtained through 1033 come in handy in winter when police are on traffic duty.

“They’re excellent stuff,” Burke said. “We only took what we could use.”

West Side doesn’t have grenades, but can use gas canisters in the launcher to disperse crowds or in hostage situations. The sniper rifle also may be used if a hostage-taker is armed with a high-powered rifle, Burke said.

“I have a 25-man special response team that we train for every situation,” he said. “I think (the community) would expect us to be able to respond.”

Chicopee received two M-14 rifles in 1994.

“We haven’t participated in the military program for years,” Chicopee Police Chief John R. Ferraro Jr. said. The city, which has a SWAT team, received more than weapons, but everything was useful, he added.

“Police officers everywhere are authorized to use deadly force. They’re used to oversight,” Ferraro said. In fact, the state has made regular calls to Chicopee to see that the weapons are still in their possession and are properly secured, he said.

State Sen. Stephen M. Brewer, vice chairman of the legislature’s joint committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, said Tuesday that a report issued on the 1033 program unearthed some interesting facts. Small communities received some powerful arms. Five M-16 rifles went to Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Goshen, with no full-time police, received one M-14 rifle.

While the state police SWAT team does a great job, it is most often the local law enforcement personnel who get to the scene of a crisis first, and the training of local police is extraordinary, Brewer said. Still, keeping the weaponry secured is a significant issue. Some are in the trunks of cruisers. It only takes one individual stealing a cruiser for there to be a problem, he said. The review will look at establishing and maintaining uniform standards of deployment, inventory control and storage.

“I don’t think there’s any harm to be done by a review,” he said.

Goshen Police Chief Jeffrey Hewes said the M-14 arrived at the Goshen police station in 2000 brand new and in its original box.

“That one stays in the lockup. We’ve never had to use it,” he said. The officers who would use it have the qualifications to do so and prove it every year, he said.

Sen. Stephen R. Buoniconti, a member of the joint committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, understands why West Springfield could find a launcher useful for crowd control.

“Having the Big E in town, there’s always a chance for major crowd issues,” he said.

But, like Brewer, he believes legislators should ensure that the distribution of high-power weaponry has sufficient oversight.

“I welcome an open review process,” he said.

Monson Police Chief Stephen Kozloski said his department has 12 full-time police, including himself, although he will lose one officer on July 1.

Monson took custody of three M-16 and three M-14 rifles in 1997. Having all officers trained in their use makes their presence judicious, he said.

“We have the ability to respond to any kind of call with appropriate force,” he said. This is particularly important in a world in which there have been tragedies such as Columbine, he said.

Two cruisers are typically deployed on each shift. One carries a shotgun and the other a rifle, Kozloski said.

“We don’t have someone in the station waiting who can take them out of the closet,” he said. While state police are called in under the protocol of a crisis, it is local police who are first to the scene, he said. “I owe it to my officers and my community to be prepared,” he said.

Kozloski takes issue with the Globe reporting that no department is supposed to receive more than two rifles for every 10 full-time officers. Kozloski quoted a memo from the state sent to his predecessor in 1994 that said there are no limits to what a department may receive. In fact, the memo advises departments to “put together a wish list,” Kozloski said.

Other communities that received weapons through the 1033 program are: Springfield, four M-14 rifles in 1996; Hadley, five M-14 rifles in 1994; Warren, three M-14 rifles in 1999; and Westfield, 15 M-14 rifles in 1999, and 19 M-16 rifles in 2003.

(Material from the Boston Globe was used in this report.)

Know Your Rights

esther — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:17:57 +0000

Copwatch is hosting a Know Your Rights forum this Friday, March 20th at the Out Now office at 1695 Main Street, 2F in Springfield, MA.

Downlaod the flyer [PDF]

View Larger Map

Three Articles from Oakland

chris — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 03:10:22 +0000

The following three articles are by George Ciccariello-Maher and were originally published in Counterpunch. They follow the uprisings in Oakland after the killing of Oscar Grant by BART cops.

Arrest and Containment Fail to Blunt Anger in the Streets
“Oakland is Closed!”

From Oakland to Santa Rita, the Struggle Continues
“Fired Up, Can’t Take It No More”

The Wire Attempts to Imitate Life… Local Cops Attempt to Imitate The Wire

chris — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:33:27 +0000

In what can only be described as something out of HBO’s The Wire, local police show that whether it’s Baltimore, Holyoke or Springfield the cops are corrupt to the core.

It’s not the first time that Holyoke drug cop Paul Barkyoumb has had judges throw out his evidence, but it may be the most important. Barkyoumb and a state cop Daniel Soto have been called out for flat-out fabricating evidence against a suspected Springfield drug dealer. They invented some evidence, disappeared other evidence, and made-up reports about surveillance and informants.

In The Wire, When McNulty and Freamon concocted false evidence in order to catch a suspected drug kingpin, the plan backfired on them, ruining careers, lives, and ultimately seeing the their target back on the streets. In Hampden County, two cops wove a web of deceit so tangled that two million dollars in cocaine and a gun were thrown out by a judge because the stories the cops told him were so unbelievable.

We should expect that if it happens on the scale that it did here, cops are doctoring reports and tampering with evidence every day, everywhere – and with impunity. Most people are not lucky enough to have their cases thrown out because cops lied.

The Republican story can be found here.

Open Letters

esther — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:17:49 +0000

One of the most frustrating things that comes out of encounters with the police is a feeling of powerlessness. We can fight against this feeling of impotence by documenting and sharing these interactions in a public forum.

Jennifer writes an An Open Letter To Trooper Pinara on her blog Growing Up in Granby.

Upcoming Copwatch Training

geert — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:14:00 +0000

Want to get involved in Western Mass Copwatch? Come to our training, starting next week in Springfield. The dates are: Monday, January 12th and Tuesday, January 20th at 7:00pm.

How we train

There are three parts to our training. In the first session, we answer questions such as: What is copwatch? Where does this type of activism come from? How do we copwatch, as opposed to other groups? What are our rights as civilians and while we are copwatching?

The second session is more hands-on and focuses on our process during patrols. We practice acting out situations that we might encounter during a patrol. We also learn how to use a video camera, scanner, and discuss our decision-making process.

The final part of training for Copwatch is to ride-along on a patrol. Or, if you aren’t interested in participating in patrols, you complete your training by attending a meeting and getting involved in other aspects of our work.

Get in touch!

If you are interested in Copwatch you are welcome to attend. The training is open to the public, but not to cops.

Send us an email or leave a comment if you would like to train up. If you aren’t able to attend this training, let us know that you are interested and we will let you know about our next trainings, likely taking place in Holyoke in April or May.

BART Police Shoot 22 Year-Old On New Year’s

chris — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:30:53 +0000

Early on New Year’s Day, the BART cops shot and killed Oscar Grant, a 22 year-old father, at the Fruitvale station in Oakland. The train was stopped and Grant and others pulled off because they were allegedly involved in a brawl. The BART cops restrained him, shot him in the back, and then cuffed him. He died later at the hospital.

Passengers videotaped the BART cops as they restrained Grant and then shot him in the back. The videos clearly show Grant facedown on the platform with cops on top of him, when the officer draws his gun and shoots him. They also clearly show Grant putting his hands up, and putting up a minimal amount of resistance. The cops are going to try to claim that the shooting was a mistake, that the gun “discharged” accidentally instead of being fired into Grant’s back with intent to kill him.

Here is the San Francisco Guardian article about the shooting and here and here are news stories from KTUV featuring the cell phone video’s taken by other folks on the scene.

Cops Shoot Teen, Go Unpunished

alex — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:05:09 +0000

The cops who shot Louis Jiles last summer have been cleared. At a traffic stop, the police mistook a beer bottle in Jiles’ hand for a gun, and shot him in the wrist. Months later, “independent arbitrators” and the Hampden County District Attorney rule that the cops did nothing wrong.

So, what’s the punishment for these cops shooting an unarmed, African-American teen? Not even the customary slap on the wrist. Instead, the officers are lauded as heros. In the words of Commissioner Fitchet, “These officers exemplify the type of courage that our officers display every day and night in the city of Springfield.” Somehow, to Fitchet, the cops are the victims: “They’ve gone through a tremendous amount of stress, not only during the incident but as a result of the review by the D.A. and police department.”

Jiles is still recovering, and his lawyer, Perman Glenn, is considering filing a Civil Rights lawsuit against the city.

Check out CBS 3 Springfield for video footage of Glenn discussing the Jiles case.

RAC Function Raided - Comrades Arrested

esther — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:28:53 +0000

The following is an account of a recent raid of a Revolutionary Autonomous Communities fundraiser for the Anarchist Bookfair held at the Food Not Bombs warehouse in Santa Fe, CA.

Last night the at the Revolutionary Autonomous Communities fundraiser for the Anarchist Bookfair at the food not bombs warehouse on 6th and Santa Fe was raided by the LAPD. They kicked open the door and unlawfully entered in to the private space. Joaquin Cienfuegos a member of RAC and Copwatch LA Guerrilla chapter was targeted by the police and pulled out from the space. When folks inside the space heard what was going on in front they went over to observe and document what was going on. Joaquin asked why he was being detained and they told him to “Shut up” and “Do as he’s told”. He was handcuffed and searched without his permission. While he was being searched Joaquin stated loud and clear that he did not consent to their search and once again asked to please be told why he was being detained.

While i was at the door way observing what they were doing to the comrade outside i could see the the street was blocked off and there were about 12 police cars on 6th street and about 30 or more Deputies/Depupigs. As we tried to get cameras to document what was going on the police rushed the door again and i was pulled outside by 4 police officers. They pushed me against the wall and made me place my hands on top of my head and searched me. I asked the Officer why i was being detained and he said, “A crime had been committed a few blocks away and they were going to bring the victim to identify the person.”

As i was pulled out, the folks inside closed the door to prevent the rush of pigs into the property. They began to kick the door and yell at the folks inside to get out. Not once did they announce themselves as the Police Department or why they were there or wanted folks to exit the show. Police officers were outside making joke;” Do you smell that? i think its weed, we should go inside and find out”, and “This is some kind of illegal rave or show or what do we call it?”. Clearly unable to choose a reason why they were trying to raid the space they made up whatever we want.

After i had been searched, a female officer came over and i asked once again why i was being detained. She stated that this was an illegal gathering and they wanted to figure it all out. Officers were walking all over the front in very confused manner having to be told by other officers to move out of the way. I could see the shadows on the officers behind me and Joaquin who continued to hold their hands on their weapons while we were handcuffed with our hands behind our backs.

After the police ignored the request by the owner of the space to present a search warrant or leave the private property, the comrades from the Black Liberation Party that were there in part to perform for the fundraiser exited the building and were immediately detained and sister Nadia and Kambui were placed in handcuffs and the rest of the the Black Riders where made to face the wall. The police then rushed inside and pulled everyone out. They had us right in front of the space and then made me walk down the blocked as they lined everyone up against the wall. They pull more than 60 people out from the space and had them with their hands against their back facing the wall. They separated the women from the men and began to search everyone.

A police officer that searched me came and asked for my ID. They said they were going to check me for warrants or any priors. He pulled out my ID and pulled out a card that he began to fill in with all my personal information. I asked what that card was for but i was not given an answer. My ID was retuned but the card with my information was kept by them.

After they searched everyone’s belongings they lined up all the males and females and said that this was going to be a line-up and they were going to bring the the victim of the crime to identify the perpertrator. When asked what crime (had been committed) an officer told another brother that they had had a crime committed a few blocks away and some beer was stolen from a liquor store. When asked why so many officers where there for stolen beer the officer said, “He didn’t know”, that they just felt that whoever committed the crime was in the space.

A police helicopter was circling and made the announcement after everyone was removed that they were the LAPD. 2 folks from food not bombs who were in the premise were pulled out and placed in handcuffs.

A police car with 2 Officers in the front and a woman in the back seat drove by slowly. The officers proceeded to tell people to look into the light and not look at the car. Everyone said they couldn’t look at
the light because it hurt their eyes but the officers from inside continued to shine the light into people’s eyes. As this was going on, officers continued to line up and make jokes about “overtime” and the
way different folks were dressed. For one officer in particular he lamented his rookie friend, “was off tonight because he would have loved to have been a part of this!” As the police car made its way down the street they stopped and singled out one youth . He was immediately arrested. They drove back again slowly and continued to point the light in people’s face. My handcuffs were removed but i was not allowed to leave. i was made to remain facing the fence with my hands behind my back.

After a police officer from some other car came with a piece of paper and pointed to Nadia and Kambui from the black Riders Liberation Part and said they were being detained for “148″- interfering with a police officer. When people asked why they were being detained or singled out police officers told them to shut up. They placed them both in cuffs and removed all their belongings and put them into plastic bags. They were then placed into the backseat of a police car.

Another police officer came and then announced that the party was over and people needed to leave. People still had equipment inside and were made to line up and escorted inside to get their belongings. While inside i noticed that money from the fundraiser was missing and according to folks inside the money was there before the police ran inside to pull everyone out. We got out all the groups’ equipment and waited for someone to come close the space. They continued to harass people and tried to intimidate many of the youth to leave and to learn their lesson.

Besides the one youth that was arrested for supposedly stealing beer, everyone was arrested for interfering with a police officer when all they asked was why they were being detained.

The officers were congragulating themselves and laughing at everyone. Many of the officers were staring down many of the sisters that were there and making sexist jokes about he’d rather be home with his wife than here. Then he proceeded to make a hand gesture to 2 sisters who were standing near by. No one but the other officers were amused by these pigs but they continued to talk shit and tell people to leave. The majority officers left smiling and staring at folks in attempts to instigate some incident to lead to further arrest.

While we were waiting the final officer drove by and rolled down his window. He stated” Im sorry we had to shut down your party but you have to keep the youngsters in check and can’t be letting them go anywhere stealing beer. If they hadn’t stolen the beer we wouldn’t have canceled your show”

Everyone was pissed as this provacateur behavior which is being utilized as the excuse to enter into private property and raid a peaceful gathering. The police looked for whatever excuse to shut the show down.

Joaquin is currently being held for misdemeanor . He has not been taken to jail and is still being held by Central Division. He will probably be going to court tomorrow or Wednesday.

Please speard the word help support Joaquin and the Black Riders Liberation Party and Food Not Bombs folks to get out.

This is a quick report trying to include as many of the important details as possible but i’m sure i might have overlooked other important details from last night that other folks who were also there can maybe share and i will try and write more about last night later tonight and will follow up with more details.

Free ALL Political Prisoners. Organize Organize Organize

Booking No.: 1698919 Last Name: CORTEZ First Name: JAVIER
Middle Name:
Sex: M Race: H Date Of Birth: 02/10/1983 Age: 25
Hair: BRO Eyes: BRO Height: 507 Weight: 155

Charge Level: M (Misdemeanor)

ARREST

Arrest Date: 11/16/2008 Arrest Time: 2200 Arrest Agency: 4201
Agency Description: LAPD-CENTRAL DIVISION

Date Booked: 11/17/2008 Time Booked: 0028 Booking Location:
4273
Location Description: LAPD - JAIL DIVISION

BAIL

Total Bail Amount: 10,000.00 Total Hold Bail Amount: 0.00
Grand
Total: 10,000.00

HOUSING LOCATION

Housing Location: LAPD

Permanent Housing Assigned Date: 11/17/2008 Assigned Time: 0028
Visitor Status: N

Facility:
Address: City:

Public Visiting Guidelines

For County facility visiting hours, Please call (213) 473-6080 at Inmate
Information Center.

COURT

Next Court Code: Next Court Date: Next Court Time: 0000
Next Court Case:

Court Name:
Court Address: Court City:

RELEASE

No Information On Release Date.

CASE INFORMATION

Case No.Court NameCourt AddressCourt CityBail Amt.Fine Amt.Court DateSent.
DateSent. Day(s)Disp Code