Attack on Homeless by Union Pacific Railroad in Fresno, CA

[annm4peace]

When will the California Attorney General investigate the attacks on the homeless ?

(homeless doesn't mean you don't have a job)

The attacks against Fresno’s homeless continue. This incident involves a rogue officer from the Union Pacific Railroad who, I am told, slit open a homeless persons tent, roughed up one homeless man, and took his tools. The full story is below.

The Railroad Joins in a Tag Team Attack on Fresno’s Homeless
By Mike Rhodes

Geno, Steve, Charles, and Jerry were at a tent near the railroad tracks, not far from San Benito and H street when a large white SUV drove by. They say the vehicle drove by all of the tents that the homeless live in (next to the RR track) and stopped at the last one in the row. An officer, later identified as officer Velarde (badge #477 with the Union Pacific Railroad Police), got out of the vehicle and demanded that whoever was in the tent come out. There was nobody in the tent. The four homeless men (next door) told Valarde that there was nobody in the tent. Velarde used a megaphone to demand that the person in the tent come out. Velarde then took out a knife, drew his gun, and slit open the side of the tent. There was nobody inside.

Geno told me he jumped up and said “hey, you can’t do that, that’s private property, we have a restraining order against the city and you can’t harass us like this.” Geno said Velarde holstered his gun and pulled out a can of mace and began shaking it. Velarde warned Geno and the other three men not to come any closer. Geno told him they were ten feet away and had no intention of coming any closer.

Velarde picked Steve out of the group and ordered him to move closer to him. The officer grabbed Steve, ripped off his bag (the kind that wraps around your stomach), and shoved him into the SUV - hitting Steve’s head on the top of the door. Steve and Geno said the officer then pulled him back and shoved him into the window of the SUV. Steve was handcuffed (very tightly according to Steve), and issued a citation for trespassing and loitering. Steve said that tools he had in his bag were not returned.

Geno said officer Velarde told him that “this is a verbal warning. You guys have until tonight (Tuesday, September 18) to get your stuff out of here.”

This attack by a Union Pacific officer follows a long series of attacks against the homeless in Fresno. There is a preliminary injunction against the City of Fresno and Caltrans because they were taking and immediately destroying homeless peoples property. A Federal court judge had to order the City of Fresno and Caltrans to stop violating homeless peoples constitutional rights.

Does Union Pacific believe they are above the law? Will they be back this evening to destroy this homeless encampment? Is Union Pacific operating on their own or are they proxies for the city in a tag team attack on the homeless? If these attacks continue, will legal representatives stand up and defend these homeless peoples rights?

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/09/18/18448306.php

Previous story of the violent death of a homeless woman who spoke out
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/08/08/18439524.php

I wonder how many of these homeless are veterans and how many Central Valley Iraqi/Afganistan Veterans will end up on the streets of Fresno and how will they be treated ?

[Vilis Veritas]

1. I doubt that they will.

I doubt that the public will really care.

They have been doing this in Florida for quite sometime...

These are real people. Better to slash and burn their belongings than to admit there is a need for help.

http://stpeteforpeace.org/tentcity.html

Here is a link to the slashings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrPdZmPB36U

Peace.

[Perseid]

2. K and R

thanks

[WillyT]

3. CalTrans Is The State Of California DOT (Kind Of)...

Put their involvement front and center, so the Governator will be embarrassed by it, and you might get some action.

:shrug:

[annm4peace]

4. Caltrans already is doing their dirty work

Please read the previous stories when you go to the links, Each story is disgusting. Shameful.
The Mayor, the Chief of Police and previous Sheriff, claim to be Born Again Christians.. yet are behind the "clean up" of Fresno so that investors will invest in downtown Fresno.

[rusty quoin]

5. Grapes of Wrath

[Whoa_Nelly]

6. Did this occur on UPRailroad owned property?

I relayed this story to local Fresno area fried, and she asked that question. She also said that UP does own property along its line.

Just thought I'd share this.

Meanwhile, I think that going about this in the manner Valerde did was wrong. Certainly there are other ways to deal with these issues. Also, have to wonder if there is more pre-story to this current story.

[annm4peace]

8. unfortunately there are many previous stories

If you click on the link on the original post you will see the legalities set down by the judge's order. It is shameful.

[Whoa_Nelly]

14. I do know about all that

I live about 40 miles south of Fresno.

And, I think it's horrible what happened re: UP Police and the abuse of power, abuse of the homeless.

[tritsofme]

7. Trespassing on the railroad right of way is illegal

And the UPPD has the right to protect its property, this display, if accurately reported however, seems uncalled for.

[hang a left]

9. Did you not read this

"A Federal court judge had to order the City of Fresno and Caltrans to stop violating homeless peoples constitutional rights."

Now I don't know if the poor tent people are trespassing or not. But it seems to me that, if, in fact, a Federal judge was compelled to make an order protecting these individuals, that they DID IN DEED need some protection.

Fresno a bastion of common sense and decency.

[tritsofme]

10. We're getting into murky water, but the Union Pacific Police Department

may be independent of Fresno and Caltrans in its jurisdiction.

[hang a left]

11. Independent of an order by a Federal Judge???

I think not. They aren't aren't members of congress or the executive. They are the only ones, SO FAR, that can thumb their noses at the judiciary.

[tritsofme]

12. This is an issue I haven't heard of until tonight

However the Union Pacific Police is a separate entity from the City of Fresno and Caltrans, and I don't know what their legal status is in regards to this court order.

[losthills]

13. Vigilante Man

by Woody Guthrie

Have you seen that vigilante man?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
I been hearin' his name all over the land.

Well, what is a vigilante man?
Tell me, what is a vigilante man?
Has he got a gun and a club in his hand?
Is that is a vigilante man?

Rainy night down in the engine house,
Sleepin' just as still as a mouse,
Man come along an' he chased us out in the rain.
Was that a vigilante man?

Stormy days we passed the time away,
Sleepin' in some good warm place.
Man come along an' we give him a little race.
Was that a vigilante man?

Preacher Casey was just a workin' man,
And he said, "Unite all you working men."
Killed him in the river some strange man.
Was that a vigilante man?

Oh, why does a vigilante man,
Why does a vigilante man
Carry that sawed-off shot-gun in his hand?
Would he shoot his brother and sister down?

I rambled 'round from town to town,
I rambled 'round from town to town,
And they herded us around like a wild herd of cattle.
Was that the vigilante men?

Have you seen that vigilante man?
Have you seen that vigilante man?
I've heard his name all over this land.

Some things never change...