Caravan of Resistance points to Continued Action and Anger over Police Terror

Footage from the 'Caravan of Resistance' in 2012

Caravan marches in Stockton.

In late October, demonstrators again took to the streets in Modesto, Manteca, and Stockton to remember those killed and imprisoned by police and to call for resistance to state repression. In Stockton where the crowd was the largest, protesters took over a large street and marched into a park where a BBQ and rally was later held. At a time when Stockton is rife with 'broke on broke crime,' it was great to see so many people united against a system that represses and impoverishes them. Much has happened since the first Caravan took place in October of 2011. The Modesto Sheriff who shot and killed Rita Elias in West Modesto was cleared of murder charges. The FBI wrapped up it's investigation into the murder of Luis Gutierrez, concluding that undercover Woodland cops were not at fault for shooting the unarmed man in the back as he ran from them. Police in Stockton continued to kill unarmed black people, including Luther "Champ" Brown and James Cooke. The Stockton DA also ruled at the Stockton Police and Sheriffs were justified in the horrific shooting death of James Rivera Jr., an unarmed young man that was killed by a large group of police with high powered weapons in a residential neighborhood.

Manteca Flyer

At the same time, the Central Valley over the course of the hot summer saw a rise in large scale demonstrations that grew more and more powerful - as well as potentially disruptive to the status quo. In Stockton during the Spring and Summer, large crowds took over the downtown, clashing with police over the murders of James Rivera Jr., and others. In Manteca, demonstrators took streets and marched on the police station. While solidarity has been given from comrades in the bay and beyond towards these efforts, the real power behind this grassroots mobilizations lies in the families and friends that have not given up these struggles.

Taking to the streets of Manteca.

The caravan also marked over a year since the Manteca police murder of Ernest Duenez Jr., killed by Officer John Moody. Legal proceedings for the case are still moving forward, and the family and friends of Ernest continue to organize and demonstrate outside of the Manteca Police Department, leading police to even issue a restraining order against one of their members. The size and scale and intensity of the protests, as well as the general level of support that the Duenez family has received in the relatively small town of Manteca, points to a growing anger over the repressive nature of the criminal justice system in the United States as well as an increasing desire within people to fight against it. In a recent online letter written by one of Ernest's relatives, she commented on over a year after his passing:

As we end another year and get ready to spend time with our loved ones I want each one of you to remember that my family is incomplete.  On June 8, 2011 my cousin Ernest Duenez Jr. was murdered at the hands of your officer John Moody.  This year will see another that we have been denied Justice and that this City Council has stood silent.  The District Attorney's office sits silent.  The decision made to hire John Moody, the decision to keep him on your force after the murder of Ernest and your decision to defend him and NOT be leaders and demand that this case see resolution makes you accomplices and accomplices after the fact.  In any other situation, if only he did not have a badge to hide behind,  he would be in prison and all of you would be indicted. 

Many of these local cases will be featured in an upcoming film by local hip-hop artist and filmmaker, Zar The Dip. Interviews will include families of both James Rivera Jr., Ernest Duenez Jr., as well as footage from demonstrations in Stockton and beyond.