Border Patrol Headquarters Occupation Protesters Found Not Guilty

June 30, 2011 Infoshop News

NEWS RELEASE
DATE: Thursday June 29, 2011
Contact: Alex Soto
Phone: 602-881-6027
Email: stopbordermilitarization@gmail.com

Border Patrol Headquarters Occupation Protesters Found Not Guilty
Reaffirms Call to End Border Militarization

Chuckson (Tucson), AZ – The six protesters who locked-down and occupied
the United States Border Patrol (BP) – Tucson Headquarters on May 21, 2010
were found not guilty on the remaining count of a disorderly conduct “with
serious disruptive behavior” charge. The legal defense, William G. Walker
and Jeffrey J. Rogers, argued that the remaining charge of disorderly
conduct did not apply because it did not meet any of the statutes of the
charge. After three hours of deliberation, the judge found the six not
guilty.

The city prosecutor had attempted to re-introduce the previously misfiled
criminal trespassing as a misdemeanor charge, but this charge was
dismissed after the first trial date for the occupiers in February. After
an objection by the defense, the state’s motion was denied.

“Today’s not guilty verdict shows that we, as O’odham, are not the ones
who are disorderly. It is the Border Patrol, the Department of Homeland
Security, and the various levels of government that perpetrate the
violence in our communities,” stated Alex Soto, Tohono O’odham, one of the
protesters and member of O’odham Solidarity Across Borders Collective.
“When will the institutions, whose conduct continues for more than 500
years of trespassing, that terrorize indigenous and migrants communities,
be held accountable?”

“No state entity can deny peoples’ inherent right to freedom of movement,”
said Marisa Duarte, one of the protesters standing trial. “Borders are a
colonial weapon used to continue the genocide of indigenous people and
their culture. Through trade they exploit natural resources and use the
profits to further the progress of neo-liberal infrastructure projects
such as CANAMEX and NAFTA. This results in the criminalization of those
who defy borders through living their lives traditionally. You see the
forced relocation of families from borders all around the world. Today we
say no more to this criminalization of people.”

O’odham Elders and community members attended the court proceedings to
demonstrate their support.

“Today we celebrate our victory in court, but understand this is just one
step in ending border militarization. We took action last May in order to
directly confront the issues in our communities by physically intervening
and occupying the Border Patrol station.

Since that time, many have answered the call to end border militarization,
and victories like today have inspired more action,” said Franco Habre.

As the six waited for the state’s decision, 16 angry community members
targeted the prison firm G4S (formally Wackenhut) and were cited criminal
trespassing charges. The 16 declared in no uncertain terms their
opposition to the company’s profiteering at the expense of immigrant
communities in Tucson, across the nation and throughout the world. Their
action, which was organized autonomously by Tucson community members, was
carried out under the banner of Direct Action for Freedom of Movement.

The six still stand firmly with their commitment and demands to end border
militarization and their initial demands are listed below:

- Immediately withdraw National Guard Troops from the US/Mexico border

- Immediately halt development of the border wall

- Immediately remove drones and checkpoints

- Decommission all detention camps and release all presently held
undocumented migrants

- Immediately honor Indigenous Peoples rights of self-determination

- Fully comply with the recently signed UN Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples

- Respect Indigenous People’s inherent right of migration

- End NAFTA, FTAA and other trade agreements

- Immediately end all CANAMEX/NAFTA Highway projects (such as the South
Mountain Freeway)

- Immediately repeal SB1070 and 287g

- End all racial profiling

- No BP encroachment/sweeps on sovereign Native land

- No raids and deportations

- Immediate and unconditional regularization (“legalization”) of all people

- Uphold human freedom and rights

- Uphold the rights of ALL Indigenous People – repeal HB 2281, support the
UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People

- Support dignity and respect

- Support and ensure freedom of movement for all people

Soto concluded, “This action was a prayer. We’d like to thank those who
stood with us during this process and to all who firmly stand with us to
end border militarization. The occupation of the Border Patrol station was
never about any group/organization, or us, it was about directly
confronting the terror that the state unleashes upon indigenous and
migrant communities, so we can critically challenge border militarization.
As an O’odham, I always think back to my grandparents’ teachings: We as
O’odham people have always traveled freely, regardless of the border. It’s
our land, who we are, and we will defend it.”

To view the occupation video and for additional resources please visit:

http://www.oodhamsolidarity.blogspot.com

http://www.survivalsolidarity.wordpress.com