Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

November 26, 2011

Tucson Police make two arrests at Occupy Tucson

By Alex Maldonado
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com


TUCSON (Sat., Nov. 26, 2011) Tonight, at approximately 1 a.m., two more from Occupy Tucson were taken into custody, after seven Tucson Police Department vehicles arrived at Veinte de Agosto Park for the nightly citations for staying in the park after hours.
Joan Zatorski Puca sat passive and silent as Tucson police took her into custody for refusing her citation. Tucson Police then proceeded to carry her limp body without handcuffs into a police cruiser. A statement was read as Joan remained passive and silent with two Tucson police officers on each side of her. "... who has never been arrested, much less walked into a jail..." "... I ask you to surround me with your personal prayers this evening. That I may stay committed to my decision to display non-violent behavior, speech, and attitude in the face of (what may be) a physically and medically challenging experience for me tonight (and beyond)." Matthew Pence was also taken into custody after refusing his citation. Matthew was escorted to another police cruiser, and handcuffed and physically searched. Matthew, who was also passive, was then seated into the vehicle and led away.
Occupiers and supporters waved and yelled words of encouragement to both as they were led away.
Alex Maldonado (Peacekeeper and Veteran For Peace)
thelatinodoctrine@gmail.com
Occupy Tucson's Matthew Pence was handcuffed, searched and taken into custody after midnight on Saturday, November 26th after refusing his citation. TPD has been issuing citations for staying in the park after hours since the occupation started on Saturday, October 15th. Pence surrendered passively without incident as fellow occupiers and supporters gave Pence encouragement.
Video courtesy Alex Maldonado (Peacekeeper & Veteran For Peace)
thelatinodoctrine@gmail.com

Occupy Tucson's Joan Zatorski Puca was taken into custody after midnight on Saturday, November 26th for refusing her citation. TPD has been issuing citations for staying in the park after hours since the occupation began on Saturday, October 15th. Zatorski Puca remained passive and silent, as her limp body was seated into a police cruiser without incident.
Video courtesy Alex Maldonado (Peacekeeper & Veteran For Peace)
thelatinodoctrine@gmail.com
Friday, Nov. 25, evening
By  Joan Zatorski Puca
After much personal introspection, I came to the decision today that this evening I will place myself in position to be arrested at Pancho Villa Park downtown (Veinte de Agosto Park) and jailed in relation to my involvement in the OCCUPY MOVEMENT in Tucson.

I've been carefully studying and meditating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's most erudite essay, his "Letter from Birmingham Jail (1963)" this past week. I am convinced that it is essential for deliberate, immediate attention be refocused on the issues of economic injustice which initially galvanized the OCCUPY MOVEMENT world-wide (as opposed to issues related to local city curfew, park ordinances, or even this issue of First Amendment Rights).

I have come to this conclusion not as a leader of any movement or group but as a singular individual desperately concerned about the profound suffering presently experienced by millions of human beings across every economic and social class, generation, gender, sexual orientation, political persuasion, religious or spiritual belief.

In good conscience, I simply cannot let Mary DeCamp (recent Mayoral candidate, Tucson Peace Activist) be the lone Tucsonan willing to enter jail (as she did in the wee hours of November 25th) as a means of drawing attention to our country's blatant issues regarding economic injustice.

As an educated white woman, legally disabled by illness, a civil servant with almost 20 years of service to children who were living at or below the poverty line, a mother, grandmother, spouse, avowed Christian, registered and consistently-participating voter, American citizen by birthright, granddaughter of immigrants, who has never been arrested, much less walked into a jail, I believe I am the most "common" example of the "common person" impacted by the devastatingly serious economic issues that thousands upon thousands of people are demanding be addressed.

I am you... we are all one and we are suffering. Only by uniting with one another can our most egregious issues be solved.

Look in my eyes and see the reflection of your own face, your own pain... Look again and see, as well, the possibility for redemption, for resolution, for renewal of all that is good within the soul of America.

In closing, I ask you to surround me with your personal prayers this evening. That I may stay committed to my decision to display non-violent behavior, speech, and attitude in the face of (what may be) a physically and medically challenging experience for me tonight (and beyond).

Joan Zatorski Puca
Tucson, Arizona

zatorskijoan@yahoo.com

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