Will UNM Professor David Correia, who has been leading protests on the APD body count problem, be charged with a felony for 'bumping' a police officer who arrested him? If so, can we assume that is going to be how all protestors might be treated?
This is ridiculous. And if the charges stick then just look for more trouble for our invisible Mayor and cowed City Council. And what will UNM do about their public dissident? They damn well better support him in the tradition of institutions of higher education leading the way in social change. Remember Viet Nam Protests and Kent State?
We had an impromptu gathering of folks the other night in the neighborhood after Channel 13 ran a story meant to give the Mayor and Police some cover. They were interviewing folks on whether or not the protestors are hurting their own cause by protesting. Many of my neighbors thought they were as we hung around a burglary crime scene nearby. It really made me think that the protestors are more important than ever because most people naturally rally around police, just like they do for soldiers. And because of that bias we need people to stand up and say when something is wrong. Remember My Lai?
This is ridiculous. And if the charges stick then just look for more trouble for our invisible Mayor and cowed City Council. And what will UNM do about their public dissident? They damn well better support him in the tradition of institutions of higher education leading the way in social change. Remember Viet Nam Protests and Kent State?
We had an impromptu gathering of folks the other night in the neighborhood after Channel 13 ran a story meant to give the Mayor and Police some cover. They were interviewing folks on whether or not the protestors are hurting their own cause by protesting. Many of my neighbors thought they were as we hung around a burglary crime scene nearby. It really made me think that the protestors are more important than ever because most people naturally rally around police, just like they do for soldiers. And because of that bias we need people to stand up and say when something is wrong. Remember My Lai?
10 comments:
Here's my letter to UNM and thoughts on what is happening to David and the Movement. BTW, here's a video of EXACTLY what happened during the alleged chest bump.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX9T7QW8_8Q&feature=youtu.be
The Honorable UNM President Robert Frank
1 University of New Mexico-MSC05 3200
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
Sent via unmpres@unm.edu
Re: felony charges for Mr. Correia and his employment at UNM
Dear Dr. Frank:
Unfortunately, I was unable to sign the letter sent to you in support of Mr. Correia. After having been through my own experience of abuse by this government, not related to APD, and observing the response to citizen's voicing their opinions or trying to get justice, I was sure that the ONLY solution was to protest. In fact, based on what I had observed with my own experience starting in 2013, I saw an Albuquerque Spring coming. Without Mr. Correia's fearless progression to move forward, the necessary change will not occur. This is in spite of the fact they try to silence him and ostracize the Movement. Isn't change for the better what universities are all about? UNM should be proud to have a professor that is willing to risk his career, livelihood to the detriment of his family, and potentially be charged with a felony based on falsehoods. I personally know this government at both the city and state level do a masterful job at deception, falsifying documents, lies and cover ups. They are fully aware of what I know. The Movement, which Mr. Correia has so generously helped by providing his knowledge of history on how to elicit change, can be used as a model to make the United States great again. I don't think I need to explain how the U.S. has fallen in stature globally, as I expect that you are well aware of it. I think most people would agree that our leaders in government at both the city, municipality, state and federal level generally do not represent the citizen’s interest, regardless if they are a Republican or Democrat. It's a new era in Albuquerque and this Movement will be a model for the rest of the country so that WE THE PEOPLE can be represented in a democracy where there is no right or left, Democrat or Republican, but a unity of voice to do what is in the best interest of the citizens and the country as a whole.
I look forward to observing Mr. Correia’s career. He has a bright future ahead of him because he speaks truth and is willing to put everything on the line for truth, justice, integrity and making Albuquerque all that it can be. I hope you will be part of that evolution and support Mr. Corriea in his valiant effort to transform Albuquerque, New Mexico and the United States into all that it can be.
Sincerely,
Dianne Goodman, CPA, FCPA
I agree with this blog, but would contend that David Correia is not the leader of these protests--
Correct me if I am wrong but is it true that the city council has prohibited public comment from the next meeting? If so, Ken Sanchez lied about why they canceled the previous city council meeting because he said the closed building prevented citizens from accessing the meeting and making a public comment.
RJ Berry said that the demonstration was a bad idea and crossed the line. I have to say that crossing the line would be going to his home or his kid's school but a demonstration in a public building is not crossing the line nor is a demonstration held in the "secure" area of the mayor's office.
I was saw Mayor Chavez at Costo buying several bottles of wine and I approached him to say hello. He was actually nice and his two security officers were also very pleasant. Who knew?
I am also troubled by the excessive security surrounding the RJ and his administrative staff. All of the security that were in the mayor's office during the demonstration are the same security staff that attend the city council meetings and sit next to Rob Perry.
One final note on race - I am glad that Mr. Correia is White because the dialogue would be nonexistent if Mr. Correia were Latino. By way of example, Andres Valdez has been demonstrating in front of the city council for years and so has Michael Gomez. It wasn't until a White university professor started demonstrating against a white mayor and his white staff that dialogue began to happen.
It is sickening how much cover our news media give Berry, especially Channel 13. Charging a UNM Professor with a felony will no doubt jeopardize his job and tenure in the long run, even if he is found not guilty or if the charges are dropped. He now has a felony criminal arrest record that will follow him that can never be expunged.
Channel 4 also did a "cover the Mayor's ass story" on the Mayor's reaction to his office being taken over and Berry of course sounded so brave and reasonable four days after the take over saying he would have met and talked to them. Problem is he also admitted that one of the protesters asked for a meeting a year and a half ago, he said he never met with her and that he and his staff needed to do better. Channel 4 could have easily interviewed the Mayor by phone the day of the take over, but no doubt Channel 4 did not want to disturb him at a Mayor's conference or assume the cost of a long distance call.
Berry does not like confrontation nor criticism. He avoids it like the plague always hoping it will blow over. Same with the protests. He thinks it going to blow over, but its only going to get worse, a lot because of his failure to act.
Then you had the thug Rob Perry inflaming the protestors with his antics, comments and using his cell phone to record the protest. You got to wonder if it was the same cell phone Perry used to take pictures of Mary Han's body when he went to gawk at the scene of her death.
As a retired 20 year street cop with APD, I know first hand that you don't arrest felony charges for being pushed, bumped, shoved, punched, slapped etc. unless you have great bodily harm. You charge misdemeanor but not felony. I would like to see that criminal complaint and I would like to know if the detective was ordered to arrest on those charges.
These folks probably did violate criminal trespass ordinance, but felony battery on a Police Officer just makes APD, Eden, Perry and Berry look foolish and vindictive.
Democracy can get ugly, but it is our ugly. The alternative is North Korea or Syria,,,,,,, I would much rather have our protests.
Dan
You have got to wonder how many of the protesters actually voted 8 months ago when Berry ran for re-election? How many actually voted in the June 4 primary?
For 10 months, Berry's opponents said APD was out of control and needed aggressive leadership to end the culture of corruption and abuse. No body cared, no one listened and only 19% of eligible voters voted.
Protesting and sit in are great to make a point, but voting is what makes a difference and results in real change or for that matter no change. A recall vote of Berry is what is needed, but it is a lot easier to shout and chain yourself to works of art in the Mayors office resulting in faux news reports about whether the protesters are hurting their own cause.
Here is the video of Mr Correia getting pushed around by Chris Romero, the bearded security guy.
It is worth watching the entire event because Rob Perry tells one of the Hispanic protesters, "Yup, I got you Chief" after the protester objects to Perry calling him "son"
http://newmexicomercury.com/blog/comments/video_shows_unm_professor_did_not_assault_officer
And that fellow New Mexicans is the world we are currently living in.
Meh... this is ridiculous. How far will one mans greed and lust for power go?
This is an excellent post. There are many facets of it to think about and people have left some great comments.
Re David Correia. Universities sometimes have to be reminded of their role in a society as a place where everything can be questioned and debated. It was that way during Vietnam, as you point out.
Most recently it's been over the right of people to criticize the practices of Israel. Pressure brought by Zionists organizations have caused pro Palestinian groups to be shut down, professors have been denied tenure, their publications censored, etc. The university generally does the right thing when it's brought to light and starts getting heat for it, and it's important for you to have raised this issue.
Once academic freedom is dead and when colleges become mere places of indoctrination we are in big trouble.
Comparing this situation to My Lai is like comparing a tornado with a little wind gust in the back yard.
Even so, it seems obvious that a hardened and protected cell of APD insiders is still is running the show with no current fear of being openly identified and properly brought in line with the majority of officers who routinely perform with civility, reason and basic common sense. The mentality of shoot first followed by saying get those hands in the air continues to be a problem that the so called internal investigation has not openly addressed and brought under control.
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