PNN Editor's Note: On July 21, 2013, the statewide march against police brutality took place in Anaheim, CA. The march was held on the one-year anniversary of the murder of Manuel Diaz (killed 7.21.2012) and Joel Acevedo (killed 7.22.2012) by Anaheim police. Bus transporation was organized by Answer Coalition from different parts of the state so people could attend, One of POOR Magazine's Poverty/disability Skolaz re-ported n Sup-ported, this is her report.
As a poverty scholar I learned how to demonstrate my writing and incorporate it into my own life. I have done many stories, but the Anaheim case was the most crucial experience that I have had thus far working with my family at PNN. People talk about being in the struggle, but when it comes time to show up and show out not everyone agrees to the misled violence. My heart was pounding before I even got there, because I would be on a bus with people I didn't even know. I was scared to go, because in one article it talked about how Anaheim police killed seven innocent victims in one year. I was thinking, 'Oh hell no,' but I went anyway and prayed the whole time. It was midnight when we left, and everybody was kind and respectful to one another. People from all over the East Bay got on the bus, people from Sacramento to Stockton were there.
As I was riding on the bus, I met mothers who are victims of police brutality, mothers whose children have been killed by police. As I listened to one mother, she started to cry and shared that her sixteen year old son was killed, and they wouldn't let her see him while he was dying. Police said they couldn't identify him, but the mom mentioned she was the only one who knew where his birthmark was. She gave me a hug and I felt honored. It was rough to see so many mothers on the bus and in Anaheim.
When we arrived, we had breakfast at the Answer Coalition organization. People from as close as Los Angeles and far as the East Coast were there. People everywhere are outraged by police brutality. When we arrived to City Hall where the demonstration started, I talked to so many mothers and I met Manuel Diaz's mother. She was so humble and sweet, and not angry one bit. She was confident, and strong for talking to the newscasters before the march. I took a picture of her and she thanked me. I look up to all the mothers who came and spoke about the injustice and pain they have experienced. After all the mothers spoke they marched to the police station. Not only did mothers speak they all shared similar stories and it was the one-year memorial of Manuel Diaz, and Joel Mathew Acevedo's killing. Furthermore on December. 11, 2009 Caesar Ray Cruz was fatally shot by Anaheim police in front of Wal-Mart. All this trauma from one police station. Fifty-two percent of the population in Anaheim is of indigenous descent. I just cant believe police would kill so many innocent victims and the family receives no justice. There are so many other people who were killed by police, and what made the march even more upsetting was Zimmerman getting off for the killing of Trayvon Martin. All the Anaheim police had all white jurors and no people of color. A lot of Hispanic people, as well as every other race, want more minorities on to know about these situations. As I watched and stood in the crowd, I was thankful that a riot didn't break out. People were friendly and loving, especially all the mothers I met. The mother of Ernesto Duenez Jr., from my last article on police brutality, was also at the march. Evidently they have a group every week to survive from the trauma they experience from the loss of their children. The Duenez family of Manteca gave me so much love.
One more thing that afflicted me was Genevieve, the mother of Manuel Angel Diaz, has a tattoo that said, first bullet in lower back, and second bullet back of head. She even brought her only son's ashes. Genevieve wanted to just have a peaceful outcome, and she learned a lot about racism after the shooting, she said. It opened up her eyes to reality within the neighborhood, and how it is practically an epidemic that is happening in Anaheim. At the end of all the mothers crying and talking on stage, Genevieve made a plea for peace, and recommended that people should not go crazy and start a riot like the first time. It was a painful yet beautiful experience for mothers, protestors and some cops. Every thing seemed to work out, and I noticed after the protest we got on the bus with an awesome driver, and people were humbled about all the trauma, because these organizations are built to advocate for people all over the United States. There is going to be a live radio show soon, and I sincerely believe when that information comes out everyone should listen. The protestors got back on the bus and everyone was a little emotional, but you could still feel the loving attitude from everybody. We were sad, and even though the victims are not alive, we made a statement. Another thing that was so absurd - the police in San Francisco had cop cars surrounding the bus. I was scared but everything worked out. Towards the end of the ride a mother cried on my shoulder which made me feel special. We all had a long day, and a lot of us were worried that we would get arrested, but we didn't. As a woman was saying on the way back, no matter what, these killer cops will reap what they sow. I nodded and we both fell asleep.