People Organized in Defense of Earth and her Resources
Department of Justice Requested to Investigate Civil Rights Violations
Wednesday, November 9th, 2005 marks the fifth (5th) month anniversary of the shooting of Daniel Rocha, an 18 year-old Mexican American youth that was shot in the back and killed by Police Officer Julie Schroeder on June 9, 2005.
PODER will hold a Press Conference on Wednesday, November 9, 2005 at 10:00 am at the Austin Police Department (intersection of 8th & IH 35) to announce their Civil Rights Complaint under Title VI against the City of Austin and the Austin Police Department. PODER is seeking the withholding of federal monies to the City of Austin and its police department for its historical pattern of excessive force, unnecessary deaths, and abuse of search powers against people of color.
President John F. Kennedy, in his message calling for the enactment of Title VI, 1963 stated, "Simple justice requires that public funds, to which all taxpayers of all races contribute, not be spent in any fashion which encourages, entrenches, subsidizes, or results in racial discrimination."
"We have no choice but to invoke our rights under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to stop the racial discrimination by police acting above the law. Whether by abusing people of color or shooting them to death", stated Max Rangel.
"Since the arrival of Chief Stan Knee in 1997, there have been fourteen deaths by police officers. Only one individual was Anglo the rest were all Latinos and/or African Americans. At a time when police officers have mace, tasar guns and rubber bullets at their disposal, they have chosen to use lethal force. This shows a pattern of racial discrimination", stated Susana Almanza.
Texas Civil Rights Review 