A number of our volunteers have written us about a disturbing incident of police brutality that took place here in Marin in July. To update everyone and provide an avenue for action, we're sharing below an email from one of our allied partners - SURJ Marin (Showing Up for Racial Justice.)
Please consider attending and speaking out at the San Rafael City Council meeting TOMORROW, 9/6 at 7 PM at the Council Chambers at 1400 Fifth Avenue OR virtually at this Zoom link. If you have questions, please contact Gabriel Garcia (415-261-1302) of a grassroots organization in the Canal called Solidaridad Guatemalteca.
From SURJ MARIN:
"Sharing a few beers with friends after a long day’s work should never result in a bloodied face and a concussion following a violent takedown by a police officer.
That’s what happened this past July right here in the Canal District. A Latinx man and Canal neighborhood resident known as Mateo was left with a broken nose, a concussion and certainly emotional trauma after being violently taken to the ground and assaulted by San Rafael Police Officer Nail. SRPD Officer Brandon Nail, responsible for the brutal takedown of Mateo and Officer Daisy Mazariegos, who initially approached Mateo and interacted with him in a noticeably disrespectful manner, have both been placed on paid administrative leave pending an internal affairs investigation. Other members of the department who witnessed this reprehensible behavior by the officers and didn’t intervene have yet to be named.
Mateo has been cleared of all charges initially filed by Lori Frugoli’s office and is currently considering filing a lawsuit against the SRPD.
Here is a video showing the appalling event. Please know that this video shows a violent assault.
We at SURJ Marin know that this is not just a problem of overzealous police officers, it is a symptom of the toxic culture of policing resulting in the over-policing and use of excessive force that most often targets Black and Brown residents. And this is not an isolated incident. Recently, the SRPD was censured for ‘dropping off’ an unhoused county resident in San Francisco. Frequent complaints have been filed regarding police harassment and use of force against residents living under the freeway in the San Rafael unhoused encampment.
These and other recent incidents that traumatize and target Marin BIPOC residents are the reason we need strong independent civilian oversight, not only of the Marin County Sheriff’s Office and the SRPD, but of all law enforcement agencies in the county.
We would like to acknowledge the Marin District Attorney’s Office for dropping all charges they had initially filed against Mateo.. We also want to acknowledge Marin Superintendent Damon Connolly for denouncing the behavior of the officers and Lt. Scott Eberle from the SRPD for being clear about the seriousness of the officers’ unacceptable conduct..
We also want to be clear to all elected officials throughout the County, local media outlets, and leaders within law enforcement agencies: silence and inaction is absolutely unacceptable. You need to be speaking out against police violence when it occurs, period. We also urge those who have spoken up to make the transition to taking a proactive stance against over-policing, surveillance and excessive use of force, and to accompany their statements with action.
The only way to ensure that more people are not assaulted throughout our county by those that are tasked with protecting them is by ensuring law enforcement accountability. We need civilian oversight committees for every law enforcement agency in Marin County. If you speak up against police violence, and say it does not represent your agency, you also need to be ready to actively support civilian oversight. Otherwise your words are empty. We demand action.
What can YOU do?!
Show up!!!
To the protests that are happening in response to police excessive use of force.
To the Marin Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 13th at 9am (or email by 5p the day before) and let them know we need to ensure that the Sheriff’s Oversight Committee has full subpoena power and an Inspector General in order to respond to these types of incidents when they occur with the MCSO.
Call in to your local Town Council Meetings and ask whether your town has a civilian oversight committee for your local police department. If not, ask why! We cannot wait for this type of incident to happen again in before we take action.
Then you can show up again to the SR City Council meeting on Tuesday evening at 7p, 1400 Fifth Avenue. If you have questions, please contact Gabriel Garcia (415-261-1302) of a grassroots organization in the Canal called Solidaridad Guatemalteca.
In solidarity,
SURJ Marin
Thanks to all of our IndiMarin volunteers who are committed to standing on the side of justice and human rights.
The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Betsy, Betty, Joy, Amy, Andie Laurie and Susan
