Category: Uncategorized

Note: describing the final minutes of a 15 minute ride that he gave to two friends.

As I was approaching the stop sign at Quicksilver and Pleasant Valley I
saw an unmarked police behind me. When we got to the intersection
I saw a gray unmarked police car pass Quicksilver southbound on
Pleasant Valley and then back up real fast. I stopped at the stop
sign and the gray police car pulled in front of me. When the
police car stopped in front of me I just stayed where I was. Rick
and Daniel said something like, "Oh Shit!" and they got out and started
running. I heard a female voice yell to Rick an Daniel by name
and tell them not to run. A female officer who was wearing a
yellow top came to my side and opened my door. She placed her
hand on my arm she told me to get out of the car. I then asked
her if I should put it in park. Right after I put the vehicle in
park, I heard the gunshot…

Signed and notarized June 10, 2005

RECOMMENDATIONS of Aug. 16 Press Conference

In Response to No-Billing of Police Officer

In Daniel Rocha Killing

1) Institute a "Uniform Disciplinary Matrix" that makes officer
punishments consistent from case to case, including mandatory
termination for the most serious offenses. Per the latter, the adoption
of this recommendation would induce the termination of Julie Schroeder,
who shot an unarmed, 132-pound 18-year-old boy in the back at point
blank range after he was already face down on the ground.

2) Mandate pairing of proven (i.e. no history of excessive force,
discrimination or suspension) veterans with rookies on the East side.

3) Institute accountable, documented and independent [of the patrolling
officer(s)] handling of all patrol car video cameras and tapes, and have
all video and audio recording devices in operation during all activity,
not subject to arbitrary control by the patrolling officer.

In addition to these recommendations, we call for a public apology by
Chief Knee to the Rocha family and to the community at large for the
behavior of Julie Schroeder, and for the behavior of all of the officers
who have used excessive force.
For Immediate Release: ADVISORY
August 16, 2005
Contact: Debbie Russell, 573-6194
or Austin Dullnig, 443-5616

ACLU & Other Community Leaders Call for Termination of Julie Schroeder
in Light of Grand Jury Decision

What: The Central Texas ACLU and other community leaders will hold a
press conference urging APD Chief Stan Knee to terminate Julie Schroeder
in accordance with their recommendations asserted earlier this week (see
below). Given the recent shooting of 18-year-old Hispanic Daniel Rocha,
such respected figures as Rev. Sterling Lands, II and prominent local
organizations as PODER, LULAC, the NAACP and the American Friends
Service Committee agree with the ACLU that these recommendations would
help to ensure that no more violent injustice is perpetrated by the APD
in our potentially peaceful city.

Where: Travis County Courthouse steps, 1000 Guadalupe St. (between 10th
and 11th on Guadalupe)

When: Tuesday, August 16, 2005, 5:00pm press conference and demonstration

Who: the Central Texas ACLU, PODER, LULAC, El Concilio, Austin Area NAACP

Why: too many people of color have died as a result of excessive use of
force by the APD, and many more have been wrongfully and violently
treated. The Grand Jury process is characterized by conflict of
interest, and the ball is now in the court of the APD. By terminating
Julie Schoreder and adopting a few very specific policies and practices,
the APD could prevent such tragedies as have occurred with Sophia King,
Jesse Owens and Daniel Rocha, and begin to restore the trust of the
Austin community.

‘No Nonsence in November’ has a campaign website, announced this week
by
Texas political prodigy Glen Maxey, aiming to defeat that ugly
amendment to constitutionalize homophobia in Texas. Remember,
Texas was one of
the few states to turn back ballot ID, and we can beat this
Republican-led effort at public paranoia, too. Here’s where you go to
stay on message:

http://www.nononsenseinnovember.com/
Sez the website: "For the first time in history, you are being asked to put a
prohibition against someone’s human rights in a document that has long
been seen as the place where you grant and expand protections for
people."

See also TCRR review of initiative to constitutionalize homophobia in Texas.

I am a resident of Austin Texas and read your recent articles About
Alex Jones and his counter Diez y Seis de Septiembre rally on Saturday.
I believe that you along with our local mainstream media have
completely missed the point here. No where does Alex suggest that his
is protesting against the celebration of Diez y Seis, but in fact
explicitly states "Our press release that was sent to the media clearly
stated that we were there to expose racist groups that were preaching
their message in the Hispanic community, and that these groups were
creating division that was detrimental to everyone." From this and
listening to anything that he says you can easily realize that he was
not protesting the celebration at all, but only certain elements that
are overtly racist. How can you attack him for this? You are obviously
eating all the lies thrown down by the mainstream media, who in this
case outright lied and completely mislead the public. I Would not be
supprised if some of our local media will eventually be sued for their
slander. Alex and you are working for the same cause. The man hates all
forms of racism and has proven so time and again. Why attack him for
it?

Concerned Austinite
(with a Harte-Hanks email address) From the Austin American-Statesman of Sunday, Sept. 18:

"We’re
protesting the concept of a parade about Mexico’s independence from
Spain," said George Pangborn, 48, of Burnet, who wore a T-shirt from
the conspiracy Web site infowars .com and was videotaping the
demonstration. He said most of the demonstrators were from Austin.

Things
got noisy when about 200 people in the parade, who were marching to
protest the Minutemen — an ad hoc citizens group planning to try to
stop illegal immigrants at the Texas-Mexico border — confronted the
demonstrators.

"Hey, hey, ho, ho, Minutemen have got to go," the marchers chanted, some with bullhorns.

The
demonstrators yelled back through their bullhorns and waved signs with
such slogans as "Mexico out of USA" and "One Nation, One Language."

"If anything, we’re pro-Minutemen," Pangborn said.

Alex Jones to Minutemen, from the Alex Jones Show of Sept. 22: "Alex is on the horn having rallies to defend you!"