Pubdate: Sun, 06 Feb 2000
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2000 The Denver Post
Contact:  1560 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202
Fax: (303) 820.1502
Website: http://www.denverpost.com/
Forum: http://www.denverpost.com/voice/voice.htm
Author: Susan Besze Wallace

RALLY BLASTS CITY'S NO-KNOCK RESPONSE

Feb. 6 - They named the stuffed figure on a stick "bad cop." The real
things were called much worse Saturday at a rally for the man killed by
police after they entered his home by mistake.

More than 250 adults and children pumped signs, chanted and used buckets as
drums, demanding that city leaders stop the practice of no-knock raids and
hold police accountable for their words and attitudes as well as their
bullets.

Denver police officer Joseph Bini was charged last week with lying to get
the warrant that led to Ismael Mena's death in September. That's not
enough, the Justice for Mena Committee said Saturday. Its contentions include:

That a mayoral panel formed to study no-knock raids is too narrow, and to
be trusted should include private citizens not affiliated with the city.

That Jefferson County District Attorney Dave Thomas is reckless and wrong
to say Mena was a gatekeeper for drug dealers next door.

That to cover Mena's death police planted the revolver they say he aimed
and fired. Thomas' investigation found no evidence of that.

The crowd took to the steps of the Denver City and County Building before
marching to police headquarters. Officers on motorcycles and horseback
watched and followed the two-hour demonstration.

The rally brought together people of different races and ages, as well as
Amnesty International members, who pledged "this is only the beginning."

Signs like "S.W.A.T: Swift With A Trigger" and "Officer why did you kill my
daddy?" will be used again, they said.

"I'm here because it could have happened to me," said Alvidia Martinez, who
marched with grandson Samuel Naranjo and spoke of a perceived condescending
attitude police have toward Hispanics. "We can't trust them."

Nita Gonzales told the crowd through a bullhorn that it was time Denver
residents act like the employers of police that they are. A wooden cross,
created by Greg Zanis, the man who has traveled the country with Columbine
victims' crosses, collected messages such as "Sorry America let you down."

The group is working to bring Mena's widow to Denver from Mexico. The
couple has nine children including the eldest, Heriberto, now of Los
Angeles. He attended the rally quietly, applauding and smiling.

A fund-raiser for the Mena family is being held today from 2 to 4:30 p.m.
at Museo De Las Americas, 861 Santa Fe Drive. Donations can be sent care of
Norwest Bank, 1777 W. 38th Ave., Denver 80211.
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