Office of the Director of Media & Communications

LULAC District VIII

July 1, 2004

Immediate Release Contact:
July 1, 2004 Johnny N. Mata, Director of Media & Communications
Sylvia Gonzales, District Director (713) 695-5980

LULAC News Conference with Family of Francisco Garza who was fatally shot by a Harris County Precinct 1 Deputy Constable after routine traffic stop

Houston,The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) has scheduled a news conference with the family of Francisco Garza, who was fatally shot by a Harris County Precinct 1 deputy constable after a routine traffic stop.

The family has requested LULAC's help and support in acquiring a proper and impartial investigation in the death of their relative by a Precinct 1 Deputy Constable, Brian Kirsch, who fatally shot him Sunday June 27, during a routine traffic stop, in the 11130 block of Airline.

Contradictory witness media reports and reports to the family have heightened serious concerns in the Hispanic community and LULAC officials.

In this news conference LULAC District VIII will present a resolution that the district will introduce before the National LULAC Convention assemble, on July 10, 2004 in San Antonio, Texas.

The resolution will request congressional and state legislation hearings to address the unbridle use of deadly force by law enforcement against Hispanics and other groups in the streets of Houston, Harris County and surrounding areas.

Elected officials and candidates that will be on the campaign trail this fall should listen to the grief inflicted to the many Hispanic families by the numerous of unjustified shootings and deadly force in our area.
LULAC News Conference
Tuesday, July 6, 2004
10:00 am
LULAC District VIII Office
5702 Airline Suite 102
Houston, Texas 77002

This is the second death of a Hispanic motorist by a deputy constable in almost 2 years. On July 2002, Melvin Alejandro Romero, 20, died shortly after being shot in the abdomen by Precinct 1 Deputy Constable, Matthew W. McCord.

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LULAC DISTRICT XVIII RESOLUTION



2004 resolution


WHEREAS; The LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS supports the purpose of fostering and enlarging the opportunities for training, education, civil rights, job opportunities, housing, economic development and welfare of all Hispanics in the United States;

WHEREAS; the number of senseless and high profile deaths of Hispanics while in the custody of police officers and other law enforcement in Harris County and surrounding area, receive unresponsive attention by most of our public officials, and;

WHEREAS; the high profile unjustified shootings and deadly force deaths of a 14 and a 15 year Hispanics youth within two weeks span by Houston Police Department police officers In 2003, bewildered the Hispanic and general community and;

WHEREAS; a report/article, the Houston Police Department, Harris Co. TX - ranked No. 2 in the nation for police killings, second only to Harris County Sheriff's Department which was ranked No. 1. - Houston Chronicle 11/04/01

WHEREAS; a four-month Houston Chronicle analysis of 184 police shootings in Harris County since 1999 found that Harris County Sheriff's Department deputies killed six and wounded 16 others by firing into vehicles. The investigation, detailed in a June 6, 2004 story, also found that incidents in which deputies fired into vehicles accounted for half of all shootings where a citizen was killed or injured during that time period. Among those shot were 19 unarmed people, including bystanders and others who had committed such minor offenses as shoplifting or speeding.

WHEREAS; other similar deaths, violations of minorities civil rights, and complaints of excessive force by police and sheriff departments in the city of Houston and surrounding communities, and other parts of Texas have caused grief to loved ones of the victims and disturbed the tranquillity in our communities; and

WHEREAS; let us not forget the death of Luis Torres (2000) while in the custody of the Baytown Police Department outraged the Hispanic and general community by the manner it was handled by the City of Baytown, the Baytown Police Department and the Harris County District Attorney. Also in Houston, Texas the death of Pedro Oregon by six Houston Police Department officers in 1998 brought a reminder and a chilling effect of another senseless and deplorable death in 1977 of Jose Campos Torres, and;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that at the LULAC National Convention held in San Antonio, Texas on the 10th day of July 2004, a majority vote of those present voted to adopt this resolution. Requesting that the US Senate/US House of Representatives conduct Congressional Hearings on the use of deadly force, and the use of excessive force by law enforcement officers in Harris County, and other counties in Texas.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: the LULAC National President and National Board Officers present this request to the proper authorities in the US Senate/US House of Representatives;

Submitted by:______________ LULAC Council # _________District_______State ________

IN WITNESS THEREOF, I Have hereunto set my hand for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) This _______ day of ___________ 2002.

___________________

LULAC National President



Keep the faith!
Johnny N. Mata
jnmata@swbell.net