Security officials escorted seven people from an Albuquerque City Council meeting Thursday night amid new rules designed to avoid the sort of angry confrontation that broke out Monday night over a spate of deadly police shootings.
The meeting started quietly with the council president spelling out the rules for the night. Those included no signs, props or any other campaign material.
The Albuquerque Police Department has been under scrutiny over 39 police shootings in the city since 2010, prompting a harsh report earlier this year from the U.S. Justice Department that highlighted the excessive use of force
The meeting started quietly with the council president spelling out the rules for the night. Those included no signs, props or any other campaign material.
The Albuquerque Police Department has been under scrutiny over 39 police shootings in the city since 2010, prompting a harsh report earlier this year from the U.S. Justice Department that highlighted the excessive use of force
Click here to edit.David Correia motions to Albuquerque Police chief Gorden Eden as Correia is escorted from city council chambers in Albuquerque, N.M., Thursday, May 8, 2014. At least seven people were removed from the chambers and given a criminal trespass notice saying not to return to council chambers for 90 days. The Albuquerque City Council gathered Thursday under new rules and heightened security designed to avoid an angry confrontation like the one that broke out earlier in the week amid community outrage over a spate of deadly police shootings
Public Comments were limited while Council President Ken Sanchez said. "If we don't have order tonight, I will clear the room. Please be respectful,"
Several people decided to take a stand by turning their backs to the council members and refusing to speak during their turns at the podium. Before being escorted out of the chambers by security, they raised their fists,On Monday, demonstrators took over the regularly scheduled council meeting, chanting for the ouster of the police chief, shouting at council members and causing so much disruption that the panel's president adjourned the meeting.Protesters also tried to serve a "people's arrest warrant" on Police Chief Gorden Eden. Activist Andres Valdez, called Monday's protest a "coup d'etat" that was needed because councilors had refused to listen to citizen complaints about the police. The latest protest also highlighted the dilemma facing Albuquerque police. Eden was hired just three months ago to bring reform to the troubled department, which recently implemented changes such as lapel-mounted cameras on officers to lead to more transparency about police actions.
Deputy Chief Eric Garcia stressed that officers patiently negotiated with suspect Armand Martin and attempted to de-escalate the situation but had no other choice when he exited his home with handguns. On Monday, protesters called for a citizen's arrest of Eden, charging him with "harboring fugitives from justice at the Albuquerque Police Department" and for "crimes against humanity" in connection with recent police shootings. The police chief quickly left the meeting after the citizens' arrest was announced, and no protesters tried to apprehend him. Had anyone touched him, authorities said they could have faced charges of battery on a police officer.
A state attorney general's office spokesman said it was likely illegal for citizens to arrest a police chief.
This Video below aired on KRQE News 13
Public Comments were limited while Council President Ken Sanchez said. "If we don't have order tonight, I will clear the room. Please be respectful,"
Several people decided to take a stand by turning their backs to the council members and refusing to speak during their turns at the podium. Before being escorted out of the chambers by security, they raised their fists,On Monday, demonstrators took over the regularly scheduled council meeting, chanting for the ouster of the police chief, shouting at council members and causing so much disruption that the panel's president adjourned the meeting.Protesters also tried to serve a "people's arrest warrant" on Police Chief Gorden Eden. Activist Andres Valdez, called Monday's protest a "coup d'etat" that was needed because councilors had refused to listen to citizen complaints about the police. The latest protest also highlighted the dilemma facing Albuquerque police. Eden was hired just three months ago to bring reform to the troubled department, which recently implemented changes such as lapel-mounted cameras on officers to lead to more transparency about police actions.
Deputy Chief Eric Garcia stressed that officers patiently negotiated with suspect Armand Martin and attempted to de-escalate the situation but had no other choice when he exited his home with handguns. On Monday, protesters called for a citizen's arrest of Eden, charging him with "harboring fugitives from justice at the Albuquerque Police Department" and for "crimes against humanity" in connection with recent police shootings. The police chief quickly left the meeting after the citizens' arrest was announced, and no protesters tried to apprehend him. Had anyone touched him, authorities said they could have faced charges of battery on a police officer.
A state attorney general's office spokesman said it was likely illegal for citizens to arrest a police chief.
This Video below aired on KRQE News 13
In conclusion Albuquerque has now hit an all time low, not. Only with the murders, corrupt police force, Now this fascist City Council