Photo Diana K. Arreola Vol. 44 No. 8 Published by Acción Latina Abril 24–Mayo 7, 2014 Laura Waxmann El Tecolote he past four weeks have perhaps been the hardest T times that many of Ale- jandro Nieto’s close family and friends will have to experience in their lives. The shocking news of the 28-year-old man’s death at the hands of San Francisco police of- ficers, the storm of media cover- age and confusion that followed, as well as the accusations and lack of information revealed by those responsible, have led many com- munity members to denounce police brutality and injustices in the legal system. On April 21, a group consist- ing of those who knew Nieto and many who didn’t, participated in the first of what they said will be monthly memorial gatherings to “demand justice.” Burritos in hand, they trekked from Precita Park up to the west side of Bernal Hill, where the young man was gunned down just a month ear- lier—Nieto is said to have been eating a burrito at this spot before being shot at least 10 times by San Francisco Police officers on the evening of March 21. “How many people who were born and raised in the Mission or in Bernal, had one of their very first kisses on this hill? This place was traditionally called ‘Lover’s Lane.” This is what they called it, because everybody came out here to have their first romance,” said Adriana Camarena, a law con- sultant and literary writer. “Alex loved this place— he was a lover, and that’s why he would come up here, to see this beautiful view and sunset.” The grief and anger over what Nieto’s family believes to have been an unjustified shooting has been directed into a community movement demanding justice. “I believe that profiling oc- curred in this case,” said Ben- La primera reunión de Burritos en Bernal, una caminata en memoria de Alex Nieto. The first gathering of Burritos on Bernal, a walk and memorial for Alex jamin Bac Sierra, author and Nieto, on April 21. Photo Nina Parks professor at City College of San Francisco, who is serving as the Nieto family’s spokesperson. In a “The claim is the first step a Laura Waxmann disparos por parte de los oficiales “caminando en círculos” en la recording of the 911 dispatch call person must take in order to file El Tecolote de la policía de San Francisco en colina Bernal con la apariencia de made on the evening Nieto was a lawsuit against the city district la noche del 21 de marzo. tener un arma en una funda de killed, a neighbor reported that he court... (we) filed so that the City as pasadas cuatro semanas “¿Cuantas personas que han pistola. Más tarde se determinó had seen a man “pacing” on Ber- will do the right thing, which is tal vez han sido las más di- nacido y crecido en la Misión o que Nieto estaba en posesión de nal Hill, with what appeared to be not only to provide the informa- L fíciles para muchos de los en Bernal, han tenido uno de sus un Taser, para el cual tenía licen- a gun in his holster. It was later tion that we believe the family familiares y amigos cercanos de primeros besos en esta colina? cia para portarlo para su trabajo determined that Nieto was in pos- and the community are entitled to Alejandro Nieto. Este lugar era tradicionalmente como guardia de seguridad. session of a Taser, which he was in order to evaluate this incident La noticia impresionante de la llamado ‘La línea de los amantes’. “(Los oficiales) escucharon licensed to carry for his job as a on their own, but also to com- muerte de ese joven de 28 años de “Así es como lo llamaban, porque su descripción —hombre latino, security guard. pensate the family for the loss of edad a manos de los oficiales de todo mundo venía aquí a disfrutar 6 pies de alto— que les causó “(The officers) hear his de- their child,” said Adante Pointer, Policía de San Francisco, la tor- su primer romance”, dijo Adria- algo de intimidación, por ser alto, scription—Latin male, 6-foot an associate attorney with the law menta de la cobertura por los me- na Camarena, una abogada con- con una chamarra roja puesta. Él tall—and that causes them some offices of prominent civil rights dios de información y la confu- sultora y escritora literaria. “Alex nunca se involucró con armas, intimidation, because he’s some- lawyer John Burris, who is repre- sión que ha continuado, así como amaba este lugar —era un aman- nunca fue arrestado, pero creo what tall. He has a red jacket senting the family. las acusaciones y la falta de infor- te, y es por eso que subió hasta que lo perfilaron como un pandi- on. He has never been involved The City has yet to respond mación revelada por aquellos res- acá, para ver esta hermosa vista y llero involucrado en alguna activi- with guns, never been arrested in a given 45-day timeframe, ac- ponsables, han llevado a muchos el atardecer”. dad”, añadió Bac Sierra. “Si Alex in his life, but I believe they cording to Pointer. miembros de la comunidad a de- La tristeza y el disgusto hubiera sido rubio, de ojos azu- profiled him as some type of Besides seeking compensa- nunciar la brutalidad policíaca e por lo que la familia de Nieto les, un tipo de 6 pies con lo que gang-involved individual,” added tion for the family, the claim injusticias en el sistema legal. considera han sido disparos in- parecía ser una pistola en funda, Bac Sierra. “If Alex had been a demands that the City and its El 21 de abril, un grupo de co- justificados, los ha llevado a un comiéndose un sándwich de cor- blond-haired, blue-eyed, 6-foot entities “preserve all evidence” nocidos de Nieto y otros, partici- movimiento comunitario deman- ned-beed, podía haber sido toma- individual with what appears to relating to the case. The family paron en la primera de las que di- dando justicia. do por error como un oficial de be a gun on a holster, eating a accuses the police department jeron serán reuniones mensuales “Yo creo que en este caso se policía fuera de su servicio. Había corned-beef sandwich—he may of not having been forthcoming en su memoria para “demandar ejerció un caso de perfil de mi- una predisposición que ocurrió have been mistaken as an off-du- with information regarding Ni- justicia”. Con burritos a la mano noría”, dijo Benjamin Bac Sierra, conforme ellos se aproximaron”. ty police officer. There’s a mind- eto’s death—the San Francisco viajaron desde el parque Preci- autor y profesor del City College Una semana antes de la reu- set that occurred as they were Medical Examiner’s report has ta hasta subir al lado oeste de la of San Francisco, quien está sir- nión conmemorativa, la familia approaching.” yet to be released, nor have the colina Bernal Heights, donde el viendo como portavoz de la fa- Nieto presentó una queja contra A week before the memorial names of the officers involved in joven fue baleado apenas hace un milia Nieto. En una grabación de la Ciudad, iniciando el proceso gathering, Nieto’s family filed a the shooting been disclosed. mes —se dice que Nieto estaba una llamada al 911, la noche que para una demanda. claim against the City, initiating comiendo un burrito en ese lugar Nieto fue acribillado, reportó un the process for a lawsuit. See NIETO, page 6 antes de recibir por lo menos diez vecino haber visto a un hombre Vea BERNAL, página 6 2 El Tecolote News Noticias April 24–May 7, 2014 Latin American Briefs Breves de América Latina NICARAGUA: SERIES OF EARTHQUAKES RATTLE ISTHMUS Nicaragua was visited by ghosts of 1931 who were able to assist more than 2,295 and 1972 on April 10, when the impact evacuees. of an earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale shook the country, followed The communities of Mateare and Nagarote, by two 6.7 and 5.6 aftershocks three both a few miles from the capital Managua, days later. were the most affected by this recent blow from nature. The Institute of Territorial Studies (INETER) in Nicaragua reported a total of 535 earth- The epicenter of the earthquake was re- quakes between April 10-21. Tremors kept corded at a depth of 10 kilometers south- Nagarote, Mateare, Managua and other east of Lake Managua. Note that the faults surrounding cities sleeping in public parks that triggered this phenomenon, located on and streets for five consecutive nights as a the lake and through the Momotombo and precaution. Apoyeque Volcanoes are different to faults that destroyed Managua years ago. “There is little fight … [it’s more about] dis- tress and anxiety,” described Indira Ortega, Nicaragua is a country that ,historically, has a resident of Managua, relaying the general been hit hard by natural disasters. In 1931, feeling of the population. the country suffered an earthquake that left about 1,500 people dead, and in 1972, yet Two people died, 231 houses collapsed another quake that killed 20,000 people. and 2,408 houses were reported damaged. The Nicaraguan Army mobilized 260 men —Written by Oscar Palma Nicaragua ha sufrido cientos de sismos en las últimas semanas. Nicaragua has suffered hundreds of earthquakes within the last few weeks. Photo Courtesy www.infobae.com NICARAGUA: SERIE DE TERREMOTOS SACUDEN ISTMO Nicaragua revivió fantasmas de 1931 y 1972 consecutivas en las calles y parques como Las comunidades de Mateare y Naga- bo, Momotombito y Apoyeque, son este pasado 10 de abril, con el impacto de medida preventiva.