TAKE ACTION: POLICE ATTACK PRO-LIFERS IN SHOCKING DISPLAY OF ABUSE




Three members of the Survivors were arrested on Tuesday, November 13, 2007, on Chaffey College campus in Rancho Cucamonga, California, in one of the most egregious displays of police misconduct that we have heard about in years.

The three young men, Joey Cox, and brothers James and Jason Conrad, were on campus to obtain permits for a pro-life outreach at the college. They had learned through many experiences to record their dealings for their protection. At Chaffey, the young men had both video and audio recorders running.

In this instance, college police objected to the taping. Without warning, and without identifying themselves as officers, Joey was attacked, shoved to the ground, and his audio recorder forcibly removed from his pocket. Joey saw the officers attempting to erase the recording.

The officers verbally abused and mocked the young men for their pro-life beliefs. To his disgrace, an officer named Tran called Joey a “retard.” Joey was escorted off campus without charges at that time, however, his recorder and other property were never returned to him. He was given no receipt.

Jason and James were placed under arrest, cuffed, then roughed up by the officers, who made efforts to hide their actions from other Survivor members who were attempting to document what was happening. Officers endangered them by transporting them without seat belts and with full heaters blasting on a warm day with the purpose of causing additional physical discomfort. They were held for two days on felony “eavesdropping” charges, even though the videotaping was being done in a public place. Later the charges were reduced to misdemeanor charges of obstructing a police officer and disturbing the peace. Joey was charged with trespassing and released.

The three Survivors were doing nothing but attempting to arrange for a pro-life outreach within their First Amendment rights. In return, they were battered, bruised, abused, and robbed, in what seems like a clear case of bigotry and abuse of power.

Operation Rescue has often worked with the Survivors and we know these young men. We were so shocked to hear of their appalling treatment that we asked the Survivors what we could do to help.

They asked us all to make phone calls to the Chaffey College Police Department. Joey’s audio recorder is still missing. It is unknown if the recording is still intact. Please ask them to return the audio recorder to Charles Cox (Joey’s legal name), and feel free to voice your opinion as well.

Chaffey College Police Department
Phone number: (909) 652-6632

My Comments: Can you imagine what would happen if they did this to any other groups of citizens? It would make front page headlines if it happened to the homosexuals or any other "oppressed group"! These are American citizens peacefully entering a college campus to obtain permits to start a pro-life group on campus and they are arrested without knowing why?
The police don't show them ID's, don't tell them what their rights are and call them names? If a teacher touches a child in public schools he/she can be liable for abuse, yet they were handled by these "officers" and abused. Good citizens behaving peacefully. This steams me! It's unbelievable that something like this could happen like this in our country!
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Comments

  1. gemoftheocean11/19/07, 4:53 PM

    This is shocking. I will personally call the nunmber you posted and link to this post of yours as well. You're right ANY other group and this would be talked about 24/7 on all news channels.

    ReplyDelete
  2. gemoftheocean11/19/07, 5:02 PM

    Jean, I just called the number given and I made a formal protest and said I would do my best to publicize the incident. Let's go all out in having all of Catholic blogdom highlight this story. THings like this have been picked up by the national news before. They can't hide their ugly ways any longer.

    I call on all bloggers who read your item to link to it in a show of solidarity for the first amendment rights of these young men and to bring all necessary resources to the task to make sure these "officers" get punished to the fullest extent of the law and our first amendment rights upheld.

    CALL THE NUMBER and protest, get on your respective news media - especially those of us in California.

    Complain. Don't just sit there and "take it."

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous11/20/07, 7:05 AM

    I called the number and when I ask if they used the KGB tactics, the response given was "no, this is the CIA". Real smart a--.

    ReplyDelete
  4. RobKPhD11/20/07, 10:56 AM

    I agree with Gemoftheocean - don't just sit there - publicize this and call the number listed.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Son12/9/07, 2:41 PM

    I'm a former employee of Chaffey college, site of this instance of police malfeasance. My last run-in with the forces of anti-peace at Chaffey involved an article in the school newspaper lambasting Pope Benedict. The student writer, a self-proclaimed Catholic, knew nothing about his faith and even less about its leader. I wrote a letter to the editor that went to publication but didn't receive a response. This incident doesn't suprise and should not go without comment.

    ReplyDelete

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