Comités de Defensa del Barrio
c/o Tonatierra Community Development Institute
PO Box 5118
Phoenix, AZ 85010
April 10, 2012
City of Phoenix Police Department
200 W. Washington
Phoenix, Arizona 85003
Dear Chief of Police Daniel Garcia,
The
Comités de Defensa del Barrio, comprised of 15 community based
neighborhood groups, are families united to defend their neighborhoods,
their civil rights, their human rights, their original indigenous
rights, as well as the rights of Mother Earth. We organize throughout
the Phoenix and Maricopa County areas to better our neighborhoods, our
schools, and our living conditions.
We
congratulate you on being chosen to serve as Phoenix's police chief and
appreciate your commitment to “policing with a purpose, protecting
democracy, ensuring justice, with a strong spirit of service to the
entire community that includes fairness to all the community, in order to protect people from harm”.
Although
you will not begin your service until May 15th, we would like to invite
you to the Esperanza Barrio Defense Committee meeting to inform you of
some ongoing community policing concerns. The Community meets on
Thursday April 19th at 6:30 PM at the Macehualli Day Labor Center
located just south of the Bell Rd.and 25th Street intersection. The exact address is 16801 N. 25th Street.
We
want to highlight through a very specific case a widespread problem
with the Phoenix Police Department. Late last year, many families
approached us with concerns of racial profiling by Motorcycle Officer
Graham. We met with PPD liaison Sandra Renteria, Commander Klima and
Commander Piña to explain and formally complain about the systematic
actions of Officer Graham. Unfortunately, the result was only to
transfer Officer Graham to the Palomino Neighborhood. A neighborhood
targeted by minutemen, and hate groups for their work center and their
heavily populated Mexican and Guatemalan community. Officer Graham
continues to profile community members stopping them for no reason other
than asking for their license and insurance. Not one moving violation
is cited on many of the tickets.
Please let us know if you can make this very important meeting with families. You may call us to confirm your attendance at 602.314.5870 or email us at anayanse@gmail.com.
Thank you,
Anayanse Garza
Community Organizer
Comites de Defensa del Barrio
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