A fight erupts at a protest march in East Haven. Saturday August 15 2009.
Full write up
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2009/08/new_haveners_cr.phpViolence flared in East Haven, as New Haven activists marching to protest alleged police racism tangled with out-of-state “white nationalists.”
The clash happened during an event organized Saturday by New Haven immigrant advocacy organization Unidad Latina En Acción. More than 100 people marched through the streets of East Haven on Saturday, protesting alleged racial profiling on the part of East Haven police. They met groups of counter-protesters along the way, including a visiting band of white supremacists.
The protest was organized in response to allegations of ongoing race-based police harassment directed at Latinos in East Haven. Recent allegations include reports that police in East Haven have begun calling federal immigration enforcement when arresting immigrant motorists.
Two arrests were made following a brief fistfight between a female marcher, Jessica Maldonado of East Haven, and Chelsea Fiorentino, an 18 year-old New Haven woman who was standing with a counter protest made up of members of two white pride organizations. Maldonado’s father, Dimas Maldonado, said that his family has suffered from police harassment. (Click on the play arrow to watch the fight and arrests.)
The argument allegedly started after Chelsea Fiorentino yelled an insult at Maldonado, who then crossed the street and confronted her. East Haven police quickly separated the women, placed them under arrest, and kept the march moving. The women were charged with breach of peace and assault; Maldonado was also charged with interfering with an officer.
The parade passed by several Ecuadorian-owned businesses on Saturday afternoon. Inside, the Latino business owners had mixed feelings about the protest.
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
