Santa Ana police attacks peaceful protest against HR4437

SANTA ANA POLICE DEPLOY ARMORED CARS AND HORSES TO
SQUELCH PROTEST ALONG BRISTOL STREET

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People watch in horror as riot squad attacks crowd of
peaceful and festive observers

By DUANE J. ROBERTS
duaneroberts92804@yahoo.com

SANTA ANA, CA -- Several of Santa Ana's poorest working class Mexican neighborhoods suddenly found themselves under a state of siege last night when an estimated two hundred Santa Ana police officers, Orange County Sheriff's deputies, and California Highway patrolmen descended into the area and squelched a peaceful protest near the intersection of Bristol and McFadden Streets.

More than 700 people had assembled about a quarter mile away to express their opposition to legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in December that would criminalize undocumented workers. The demonstration was peaceful and festive as people carried flags, signs, and wore clothing symbolizing their Mexican heritage. The street was flooded with
cars honking their horns.

Things took a turn for the worse when Santa Ana policemen dressed in full riot gear suddenly came up from behind the crowd I was standing in and began yelling for everybody to "get the hell out of here." Without warning, cops started jumping out from their patrol cars and began shoving and pushing people; several Mexican males trying to move away from them stumbled and fell as they lost their balance.

After being herded out of the area like a bunch of cattle, this reporter retreated to the safety of his vehicle. In the dark, a black armored car carrying Santa Ana policemen slowly moved east on McFadden. Several California Highway Patrol units also whizzed by, their lights quietly flashing; they positioned themselves further up the street to prevent people from entering the neighborhood.

When things cooled down, I exited my vehicle and found myself watching about eight policemen on horseback ride their ponies directly through one working class neighborhood in an attempt to get to Bristol street. Moving to a nearby shopping center, I observed a formation about sixty Orange County Sheriff's deputies and California Highway patrolmen march South on Bristol street toward the intersection.

It's unclear at this time if anybody was arrested or seriously injured, but after the army of cops
retreated, the only visible property damage one could see was graffiti that somebody sprayed on local businesses. On the wall next to a convenience store I bought a bag of chips and a soda from, somebody wrote the words: "Mexico, don't hate."