Tucson Police say that protestors, who chained themselves to the wheels of buses that were transporting illegal immigrants to federal court, deprived the prisoners of their due process rights. The prisoners, at least eight of whom were facing felony charges, were on their way to have their day in court.
The illegal immigrants aboard the buses were restrained with no access to restroom facilities or other comfort necessities, according to police.
The group of well-organized protestors orchestrated a maneuver using vehicles to stop two United States Border Patrol prisoner transport buses. Approximately 70 prisoners were on board the two buses, as they made their way to the United States District Court at 405 W. Congress as part of the United States Border Patrol’s “Operation Streamline.”
The protestors blocked the two buses with their vehicles, and a group of approximately 12 protestors surrounded the buses and physically locked themselves to the vehicles around the wheels using “Dragon Sleeves.” According to police, “Dragon Sleeves,” which is a long PVC pipe, is commonly used by protestors to thwart efforts by law enforcement officers to remove or cut the chains used by protestors during demonstrations.
After locking themselves to both buses, a group of about 50 more protestors arrived, many wearing matching shirts, with signs and posting banners on the buses while chanting and standing in and along the roadway.
Police blocked all entrances and exits on the east side. Interstate 10 frontage road was completely shut down to all traffic between 22nd Street and Granada as a result of this.
At the federal courthouse, a smaller group of at least seven protestors chained themselves together with “Dragon Sleeves” to block the entrance to the Court.
Tucson Police Department Officers and personnel from Federal and State agencies began conversations with attorneys, including radical activist Isabel Garcia a Pima County public defender paid for by taxpayers, “in an attempt to find ways to communicate effectively with these protestors, and to ultimately bring about a peaceful resolution to this demonstration while restoring access to United States District Court,” according to Tucson Police.
“As a result of the actions of these protestors, United States District Court cancelled and rescheduled all court appearances for those delayed by this group. The group interfered with the prisoners’ due process rights in United States District Court. The actions of the protestors created additional safety concerns to the operators and staff on these buses by heightening the risk to everyone involved. The release of the majority of these prisoners from custody was further delayed as a direct result of the actions of all of the individuals,” according to a statement released by Tucson Police.
All (18) of those arrested were charged with a violation of Arizona Revised Statute 13-2512, Hindering Prosecution – a class 5 felony. Additional misdemeanor charges are pending. All those arrested today by the Tucson Police Department were booked into the Pima County Jail.
The protestors at United States District Court were on Federal property and therefore, under the jurisdiction of the United States Marshalls Service. The group, made up with members of Derechos Humanos and Alliance for Global Justice (AFGJ), voluntarily unlinked themselves and left the area prior to any arrests being made by Federal officials.
According to one law enforcement officer at the scene, the protestors were not causing physical harm but merely consuming law enforcement’s time and resources.
Arrestees and ages:
- Carlos Garcia, 30
- Paula Ann Miller, 43
- James D. Wells, 30
- John Heid, 58
- Maryanne Esther Vallet, 30
- Gabriel Matthew Schivone, 29
- Genevieve Ellis Beck-Roe, 21
- Alexandra Nicole Sabo 26
- Angelica Moreno Loreto, 31
- Devora Gonzalez, 24
- Charles Edward Kaufman, 61, Alliance For Global Justice
- Michelle Marie Jahnke, 23
- Stephen Russell Johnston, 68
- Paula Lee McPheeters, 60
- Julia Mihich Harden, 20
- Sarah Anne Launius, 34
- Ethan John Beasley, 42
- Sandra Castro Solis, 25