Crime

March and Rally in S.F. on Anniversary of Immigrant’s Shooting Death by Police

Published

7 years ago

April 10, 2017

By Adriana Camarena

Undaunted by the threat of rain, dozens marched and rallied on the anniversary of the death of Luis Gongorra-Pat, an immigrant worker from Yucatan, Mexico, who was shot by San Francisco police on April 7, 2016, at 19^th and Shotwell streets.

Cell-phone videos taken by witnesses a year ago show that Gongora-Pat, 45, was shot by four to five bean bag rounds and seven bullets by Officer Michael Mellone and Sergeant Nate Seger in the span of 28 seconds from the moment of their arrival in response to a call that someone at the camp for the homeless was wielding knife. Gongora-Pat, an indigenous Mayan who spoke little Spanish and even less English, was sitting down when police showed up, witnesses said.

Gongora-Pat immigrated to the U.S. in 2004 and worked as a dishwasher among other Mayan Yucatecs at a Mels’ Diner in the Mission. But he would lose that job, and later his housing by 2013 putting him among the homeless in San Francisco.

The altar built in his memory was erected at the site where he was killed. Bernardo Caamal, an expert in Mayan customs from Peté, Yuctaán, led a Ceremoniral Ku’sakai prayer and Ohlone activist Corrina Gould and Danza Azteca were on hand. The march then proceeded to the Mission District police station, where the police who killed Gongorra-Pat worked and then on to the rally at City Hall.

To underscore the suffering of his brother, José Góngora Pat, the brother of Luis, carried a heavy cross from station to station of the protest march, called the March on Police Terror in the anctuary City.”

“My brother’s unjust killing by police is the cross that I have to bear,” said José. He concluded his protest march in honor of Luís by re-enacting his brother’s death at the steps of City Hall, adding “I put myself in his shoes to help the people of San Francisco understand the horror and pain and injustice inflicted on my brother by those officers.”

Gongora-Pat’s cousins Luis and Carlos Poot were also among the marchers.

POOR Magazine’s Tiny Gray-Garcia was the MC of the rally which involved with a large cross- section of supporters, including family members, Causa Justa, Mothers on the March for Justice and homeless advocate organizations.

At City Hall, Adante Pointer, of the John Burris law firm, who represents the family in a federal civil case against SFPD, reminded the crowd that the trial won’t happen until 2018. Carolina Morales, legislative aide to District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen and Francisco Ugarte, Immigrant Defense Public Defender of San Francisco also spoke. The rally closed with a poem by Amalia Alvarez in honor of Góngora-Pat.

POOR magazine, and El Tecolote contributed to this report.

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

3 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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California Black Media

Anti-Theft Bill with Jail-Time Requirement Gets Wide Ranging Support

Fed up with the alarming frequency of retail theft across California, including smash and grabs, a diverse group of business leaders, law enforcement officials, policymakers and public safety advocates joined their efforts in Sacramento on Jan. 24. Their purpose: to increase public support for Assembly Bill (AB) 1772, a bill that would make jail time mandatory for repeat theft offenders.

Published

5 days ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

San Bernardino Police Chief Darren Goodman speaks as Asm. James Ramos (D-San Bernardino), left, stands beside him at a news conference in Sacramento concerning retail theft across the state.

By California Black Media

Fed up with the alarming frequency of retail theft across California, including smash and grabs, a diverse group of business leaders, law enforcement officials, policymakers and public safety advocates joined their efforts in Sacramento on Jan. 24.

Their purpose: to increase public support for Assembly Bill (AB) 1772, a bill that would make jail time mandatory for repeat theft offenders.

Co-authored by Assemblymembers James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim) and Devon Mathis (R-Tulare), AB 1772 would require jail time “of one to three years for theft crimes depending upon the circumstances.

“Offenses would include grand theft, theft from an elder or dependent adult, theft or unauthorized use of a vehicle, burglary, carjacking, robbery, receiving stolen property, shoplifting or mail theft,” the bill language reads.

Ramos said the need to act is urgent.

“It’s time for us to reverse the spikes in theft crimes since the pandemic. Our law enforcement members and district attorneys need additional tools such as AB 1772. We must reverse the trend before the problem grows worse. Last year I requested a state audit of the impact of Prop 47 on Riverside and San Bernardino counties,” said Ramos.

Prop 47 is the California initiative, approved by voters in 2014, that reclassified some felonies to misdemeanors and raised the minimum amount for most misdemeanor thefts from $400 to $950.

According to a Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) report, the rate of occurrence of petty crimes like shoplifting and commercial burglaries have increased by double digits over the last four years.

In Orange County alone, commercial burglaries have spiked by 54%.

“Our communities are experiencing an increase in retail crime and deserve appropriate action from their legislators,” Valencia said.

San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus thanked Ramos.

“This bill, designed to impose stricter penalties on serial retail theft suspects, responds urgently to the escalating consequences of shoplifting and related crimes on our communities,” he said.

AB 1772 supporters who spoke at the gathering included Sacramento Sheriff Jim Cooper and San Bernardino Chief of Police Darren Goodman. Listed as supporters are the California State Sheriff’s Association, City of Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez and Redlands Chamber of Commerce.