Meet and Support Alberto Tovar in Salinas (7/7/)

Speaking Freely
Salinas police arrest a young man who challenged military recruiters.
Jul 05, 2007
By Kera Abraham

He’d gone in with a free ticket, but Alberto Tovar left the Día de la Familia celebration at the Salinas Sports Complex in handcuffs. Weeks later, the recent CSUMB graduate’s run-in with police has turned into a hands-on civics lesson that has attracted the support of local teachers, Latino community members and civil rights activists.

Read The Full Article
http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/issues/Issue.07-05-2007/news/Article.news1

Though he’s facing fines and jail time, Tovar says he has no regrets. “It kinda sucks, but I’m glad that it happened because I want people to know what’s going on,” he says. “They’re trying to silence me, and that’s what the military does.”

CSUMB student fights for his rights
http://www.thecalifornian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070704/NEWS01/707040322

The charges for Alberto are much more severe than those received by the Ragging Grannies arrested at the Capitola recruitment center two days later. Alberto was held in a Salinas jail for 8 hours, while the Grannies were taken to the Capitola police station and released.

When you're asked to leave and you don't that's tresspass, whether you had a ticket or not means jack shit at that point.

Actually, you are not trespassing unless the person throwing the party/ event asks you to leave. It doesn't matter if he had a ticket or not. The police cannot kick him out before arresting him. The owner of the club/establishment must first say they need to leave. According to all reports the manager at the event had no idea and had never asked him to leave. The police lied... surprise, surprise.

Well? Why mention the ticket then when saying he didn't understand the charge?

Ok, these charges are absurd. I was in monterey county Jail and had a first hand experience dealing with Monterey county sheriffs, salinas PD and others. Let me tell you they LIE, not all but I say most of them. They would violate inmates rights it was ridiculous, and when I confronted them about it I was threatened. They would humiliate farm workers even more, making fun of their poor english, about their clothes, everything. They jugde people when everyone is inocent until proven guilty, right? I hope they drop all charges against this young man and he needs to seek compensation for this bullshit.

Wasted Noise
Para La Gente
Simmer Downs

THURSDAY JULY 19TH
7:00PM
$5-$20 Donation
Ol' Factory Cafe
http://olfactorycafe.com/
(All green all sustainable business)

1725 Contra Costa St.
Sand City

Do you really think that people don't understand that signing up for the military means they may have to go to war? Is that not what the military does? Beyond that, if the individuals approaching the recruiter pay any attention to the news, they should know the current operational tempo of the military, meaning common sense would inform them of their chances of going to war. I am assuming that the same people that are supporting Alberto are the same complaining that minorities and people from low-income families do not have opportunities to succeed. The military offers many opportunities for young people to get an education and earn a decent living. The recruiters were accurate in explaining the benefits of military service, stop insulting the intelligence of the people the recruiters are talking to. The potential recruits are not as stupid as you think they are.

as one of the emcee's of para la gente (playing at the benefit show)...i want to invite all to come check out the show....
including those who believe this is an "insult" on future recruits...come get a history lesson....(but donations are recommended)

Exercising constitutional rights, standing up to the oppressive government, these are just some of the things Alberto did, and he should not be penalized for it whatsoever. By doing this act, this man has become an heroe to me and most of all to his people. He stepped up and stood up for his constitutional rights and if that doesn't make him a great American I don't know what does. The police and their actions were not justified in any way that just made a bunch of bullshit up, trespassing, dangerous weapon, intoxication, resisting arrest, etc. Everything that they did was plain stupid and they know it, they just do this kind of stuff to shut people up and to them it seems more easy because he's a Latino. There's a reason why we have a freedom of speech and it's to educate others and reveal the truth to them no matter how hard it is to deal with it. In essence Alberto was just trying to educate that young boy about the military. I think it's fucked up if this heroic young man, Alberto Tovar, is put in jail or punished at all, vice versa, the police should be the ones getting punished because they basically violated his constitutional rights that are clearly written in black & white.

wow John I am shocked that you think only lower class people are defending alberto's side. I am a upper class WHITE female who feels that the charges agaisnt alberto are a bunch of bull. Yes are young children know if they inlist there is a chance of having to go to Iraq, But let me tell you a diffrent side to this. My son being in Rojtc program was told if he went down and took the test at the recruiters office he would get extra credit at his school. These recruiters had my son preinlisting without my knowledge, i happened to call my son and went down there. My son was told he would get an education and if in the right feild there was little chance he would see Iraq. It wasnt untill i confronted this man he started telling my son the truth. They lie plain and simple and I am glad this young man spoke up

The test you take at the recruitment office does not oblige you to any sort of service. It is merely an assessment tool, indeed, you could go to a military base, take the ASVAB and still not be enlisted.

Also, it's JROTC - Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps

How old is your son? if he's under the age of 18 it would be impossible for him to enlist without your express permission.

my son was 17 1/2 and it was a PRE inlistment they where signing him up for so when he turned 18 he would go right in....

stupid, no misinformed, yes.most teens are to immature to understand what theyre doing by signing up . recruiters paint a rosey picture of miltary life, they arent about to tell you the downside.