Police go Cucamonga on Survivors
On November 13, Operation Rescue reports that police at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, roughed up and arrested 3 members of Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust, who came on campus to get a permit to conduct pro-life outreach.
Video of the incident shows an out-of-uniform police officer pushing one of the Survivors. The officer refuses to identify himself despite repeated requests. Then the officers purposefully moved the arrestees away from the documenting eye of the video camera (what did they have to hide?) and confiscated an audio recorder they have yet to return. My bet is the tape will be erased. See the video of the arrest on page 2.
OR reports….
[C]ollege 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…. [A]n officer named Tran called Joey a “retard.”…
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….
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
For all the incredible claims of drama, I’d like to see what went on before the tape was rolling, if it really was merely trying “to get a permit to conduct pro-life outreach.”
Hey Jill, several members of Survivors were also attacked this weekend while picketing a fundraising concert for Planned Parenthood in Riverside, CA. Here is what Kortney wrote on her Facebook:
My CLT team along with local pro-lifers protested a PP benefit concert with a bunch of pro-abortion punk rock bands. Near the end of the night as we were about to leave around 8:30pm, a drunk/high girl attacked us. Joey left with a bloody nose, I was punched several times in the face, Krista was thrown down and punched and Amanda, who was filming, was attacked. We’ll be pressing charges on the two girls involved. A video of the incident on Youtube is forthcoming.
They already had a permit to conduct prolife outreach. It’s called the first amendment to the constitution.
Brownshirt pigs are just insecure, bullying cowards with badges and guns, and like to harass and bully people. I think they like to pick on prolifers because the prolifers have the guts to do what the police are sworn to do but don’t, and that is protect and serve the innocent.
*shakes fist at Jill*
You ALWAYS beat me to these things! ;)
I followed this story last week, and I have to wait to watch the video until later, but I find this to actually be a good thing. When you are persecuted like the Survivors are, you know you’re on the right track.
Dude, I would never mess with the college police. Also, it seems like they are being rather overly dramatic, don’t you think?
Anonymous: Not sure who you are, but referring to police officers as “pigs” is rude and disrespectful. You, nor I know what happened before that tape was rolling. Officers risk their lives protecting people in their cities, and they don’t get the respect that they deserve from the public, nor do they get paid enough for what they do.
I am thoroughly offended by your statement, because both of my parents are police officers. They do nothing, but risk their lives every day trying to save the innocent. What are you doing that so great??
Jason and James are great prolife warriors!.. I remember getting arrested with them many many years ago, when they were much younger. Their mom is an awesome prolife warrior as well..
Phil, thanks for the info. When it’s up, would you please let me know?
Nathan, pro-life blog wars? :)
I must say I very much second what midnite said. I have never understood the whole “hatred for police” subculture. Sure you can find corrupt ones and ones who abuse their power, but this is true of any job. We would live in fear 24/7 if they weren’t out protecting us each and everyday.
Unfortunately, this isn’t surprising. It seems like people can get get away with any kind of bullying — or worse — behavior if they can claim it was for “security” reasons. See also Robert Dziekanski, Mostafa Tabatabainejad, Andrew Meyer, and Pleajhai Mervin. (Not to mention Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay.) We the people need to find the courage to rein in the people who abuse and kill in our names.
They already had a permit to conduct prolife outreach. It’s called the first amendment to the constitution.
Obviously not, from what Jill said.
Anyway, if they really were doing nothing wrong, then the police overreacted and are “bad” there. I’m not convinced that is the whole story, though.
Doug
Also, what does ‘going Cucamonga’ mean? Is it before my time, or do they have a very corrupt police department or something?
Thanks Bobby.
Sure, there are some who abuse their power (as you pointed out), but that happens in every profession!
It is very difficult for me to listen to people talk about how “pigs” abuse their power and “will get what’s coming to them”. Last year there were three B’ham Police Officers shot that were serving a searching warrant. People in the community said that the three men “got what they deserved”.
I wake up every day, knowing that this could be be the LAST day I ever see my mother and father. I have accepted that stress in my life, but hearing things like this make it harder on me…
My CLT team along with local pro-lifers protested a PP benefit concert with a bunch of pro-abortion punk rock bands. Near the end of the night as we were about to leave around 8:30pm, a drunk/high girl attacked us. Joey left with a bloody nose, I was punched several times in the face,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Phil and Joey got their @zzez kicked by a CHICK?
Forget “Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust,” you guy were lucky to be “Survivors of the 3rd Period PE Wedgies.”
“I wake up every day, knowing that this could be be the LAST day I ever see my mother and father.”
My heart goes out to you, midnite. Your bravery highly commendable.
Thanks Bobby, that really means a lot to me :-)
Bobby,
I saw the pictures of your wife and little baby girl. They are so beautiful. Congratulations. Live long and prosper.
Phil and Joey got their @zzez kicked by a CHICK?
Forget “Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust,” you guy were lucky to be “Survivors of the 3rd Period PE Wedgies.” – Laura
——————————————-
It wasn’t me, that was an excerpt from Kortney’s Facebook.
Guys! Guys! Guys!
Look what I found.
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1790030
It’s Chuck Norris’ official approval of Huckabee!
If anything could make me vote republican, it would be Chuck Norris
^
Me
You all should have known that though. I love me some Chuck Norris.
midnite678
I understand your defense for the police because your parents are police (God bless them!), but calling a pro-lifer, or anyone for that matter a “retard”. How pathetic is that?
Doug, I agree with you. There’s no hint on the video or in any of the online accounts about what happened prior to the arrest. The fact that the “survivors” are so silent about what provoked the confrontation speaks volumes.
On a slightly related note, I find the use of the terms “survivor” and “police brutality” in these contexts to be so disrespectful. These are privileged white college students. Calling themselves “survivors” is an insult to people who actually deserve the term. And calling this police brutality? What a joke.
If you listen on the video, one of them says that he had already left when he was told and one of the girls says that he was just going in to get his tape recorder which had been confiscated.
I have the utmost respect for police officers. There is a long line of them in my family. But I don’t see why such force was needed. These kids seem to be cooperating.
That trick of putting paper over the window made me laugh. They do that at the clinic I have counseled at.
‘Police go “Cucamonga” on Survivors’
Guyssss…please explain this reference to me! Wiki isn’t helping, for once…
It wasn’t me, that was an excerpt from Kortney’s Facebook.
Posted by: Phil at November 19, 2007 1:43 PM
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My bad.
Sorry Phil. I’m still sending frilly pink panties to Joey.
You know, the funniest thing about the video was the very beginning where they are literally standing right in front of the campus police office, there is a uniformed officer present, and the blonde guy is all self-righteously demanding that they identify themselves as police officers…..what a genius.
Carol,
He’s not asking the uniformed officer to identify himself. He’s asking the other guy to. He could have been anyone. And he was pissed. (The officer was ticked, not the kid) I’d have asked too, before I let him touch me. I bet you would have too.
Coincidentally Laura, both Joey and I are vegan :)
And regarding Huckabee and Chuck Norris……an endorsement from Chuck Norris is one thing, but having a website of one-liners a la Chuck tops it…..www.ronpaulfacts.com
Ron Paul doesn’t deliver babies…he liberates them!
Carol,
He’s not asking the uniformed officer to identify himself. He’s asking the other guy to. He could have been anyone. And he was pissed. (The officer was ticked, not the kid) I’d have asked too, before I let him touch me. I bet you would have too.
Posted by: mk at November 19, 2007 3:04 PM
MK – I know who he was asking, I’m just saying that anyone with normal powers of observation wouldn’t have needed a verbal confirmation that the guy was a cop. It was obvious within the first 20 seconds of the video. I’m guessing that there was pre-video activity that made it even clearer that the non-uniform guy was a cop.
The kid demanding that the cop identify himself as a cop was just grandstanding, and making himself look like a moron in the process.
When I was a kid and before I knew any better, I used to taunt my older brother to the point where he would lose it, and either pop off at me or take a swing. Then I would immediately run to my mother and tell on him for picking on me. This video TOTALLY reminds me of that.
It really did come across as grandstanding, but why couldn’t the cop just identify himself? It might have defused the situation, and anyway I thought he was required to by law.
Jen – I think the cop was honestly confused by the request. It probably seemed obvious to him that he was a cop, and so it just didn’t make sense, especially since the shouting guy was just playing it up for the camera.
And yes, police officers have to identify themselves as police officers before taking action. But that doesn’t necessarily mean producing a badge, and in a context like this one, where the police officer is so OBVIOUSLY a police officer, it seems understandable that the request would be greeted with puzzled silence.
‘Police go “Cucamonga” on Survivors’
Erin asks: Guyssss…please explain this reference to me!
Erin, Jill has a nice and inventive turn of phrase once in a while. Once it was “brouhoho” instead of “brouhaha.”
I’d say it means the same as going “coo-coo” or “getting medieval on their butts” – something like that. Using unwarranted force….
Who knows, perhaps we’ve seen the birth of a new adjective today?
Doug
P.S. I used to like Cocoa-Puffs. And as far as prolix verbosity and floribund circumlocution, count me in.
I have the answer!!! Erin – Rancho Cucamonga is where Chaffey College is located. Whew.
Although I guess that isn’t really the answer…because it still doesn’t explain how Jill used it in the post’s title….oh well.
I knew that, I’m just trying to figure out if it was supposed to be a pun. You know, like ‘going medieval’. Or something. Maybe I over thought it.
I’m actually not a member of a “hate the police” culture. I have all due respect and appreciation for REAL police officers, who actually protect and serve innocent people, put their lives on the line for the protection and well-being of others. But I have no sympathy or respect for people who abuse their abilities, advantages, positions, power etc. to hinder, harass, or harm innocent people, whether they are brownshirt cops, Al Queda terrorists, or abortionists, and I don’t appreciate their “contributions to society”. It’s just a thing sane people don’t do.
How about this?
http://tinyurl.com/2vncej
“Deputy Shooting Of Man Caught On Tape”
Carol,
He could have been someone from the college or just an irate bystander that didn’t like the kids message. He was putting his hands on the kid. All the guy did was say “Identify yourself”…I’m sorry, but I don’t blame him. I wouldn’t let anyone touch me, unless I knew who he was.
It may have seemed obvious to you, but in the heat of the moment, I would guess that people grabbing at you could be a little disconcerting.
Erin, Carol, re: cucamonga, Doug, 5:25p, got it right. Thanks for noticing, Doug. I’m often so witty I’m the only one who understands my wit. It’s scary that you get me. LOL.
Ahhhh.
I figured it was some type of pop culture or historical reference. Like Waco. Or something. :-P I totally think too much.
Joey seems rather beligerant as well as overly dramatic. Also seems to have little regard for persons of authority.
MK, I agree with you. I want to see some ID.
Let’s just call a spade a spade, here. These “cops” did what they did because it’s NOT politically correct for them to be pro-life or to ever side with pro-life people/groups.
We can thank our liberal society for that.
God forbid law enforcement take a pro-life stance.
I’m often so witty I’m the only one who understands my wit.
Ha! Woo-Hoo! Love it, Jill.
……
It’s scary that you get me. LOL.
I was born on a Friday the 13th.
Doug
Doug,
I was born on a Friday the 13th.
So much explained with so few words….lol
Is the whole world turnin’ communist? Has the respect for law and order broken down? The attacking students might have been brandishing machetes and howitzers seconds before the camera was turned on. Were they planning to occupy the premises and take everybody prisoner? Stranger things have happened, and law enforcement cannot afford to take any chances these days.
Cntf
Doug,
I believe they were planning on catapulting cows over the wall…the flying sheep were waiting in the background. Could have been a bloody mess. Cow pies everywhere!
Survivors was doing exactly what you should do if you are not 100% certain that the person you are dealing with is a cop. There are times when people will pretend to be a cop, just because they don’t like your message. At a protest in April 2004, I was threatened with “more than arrest, son…” by a dude with a gun tell me he was a cop, but he was unable to produce a badge. He claimed he was off duty. I called the cops, and they said they’d send someone over right away. He took off.
Always make sure.
Oh please. “Survivors” was doing exactly what you should do if you want to stage a big drama queen showdown for your buddy to post on YouTube.
If the yelling guy wasn’t 100% certain that the plainclothes was a cop, then I’ve got a bridge to sell you….
Carol, how was he suppossed to know for sure?
Heather – from the enormous amount of clues available.
1. They were at the police station.
2. There was a uniformed officer present.
3. The uniformed officer was just fine with the plainclothes taking care of the situation.
4. If the plainclothes had been a civilian, the uniformed guy wouldn’t have been letting him deal with things.
5. The guy was obviously a cop.
Come on. I know the yelling guy is on “your side” and all, but does that really mean that you have to suspend disbelief to the point of absurdity?
Carol
They weren’t at a police station.
Several time I have witnessed people being assaulted in the presence of a police officer. In protest situations, a cop is no guarantee of your safety.
Not all cops are good. Quite a few are shady, and not only allow others to physically assault demonstrators, but will participate in it themselves. James and Jason are no stranger to police brutality, and their mother recently had surgery for a shoulder injury (it wouldn’t stay in its socket) that was the result of repeated brutality by police during her involvement in non-violent civil disobedience. Those two boys, as well as the rest of the Survivors, have every right and reason to be suspect of the cops.
Several time I have witnessed people being assaulted in the presence of a police officer. In protest situations, a cop is no guarantee of your safety.
Marykay can attest to that.
Phil said “Not all cops are good.”…You’ve sure got that one right. I know how corrupt some are!
Phil,
Too true, too true. I also have had my share of run ins with police officers that weren’t everything they should have been.
It can be quite scary. Because if they are a cop, you want to do the right thing, but if they aren’t a cop you could get seriously hurt.
I was in a similar situation. There was a uniformed officer sitting in a parked car while another man was physically threatening us. He just sat there. After three calls to nine one one we learned that mr. notinuniform was indeed a cop.
He got fired and the other officer got suspended. It was truly frightening.
Until you are there Carol, you really can’t know what it’s like.
If the yelling guy wasn’t 100% certain that the plainclothes was a cop, then I’ve got a bridge to sell you….
Posted by: Carol at November 20, 2007 12:56 PM
Silly, silly Carol. You don’t even have the facts straight about the circumstances.
2 “legit” police officers in my state were caught a few months ago. They were pulling females over, and accepting sexual favors in exchange for setting them free on traffic violations. They took turns in the police car. One was the “look out,” and the other hopped in the back of the cruiser with the woman. Use your imagination from there.
Needless to say, their careers are over.
For the record, I do respect police officers, but there are some who abuse their power, and some believe they are indeed above the law.