Community Demands Continue for Council to Cancel ICE Firing Range Contract.

On Sunday, March 8, over 20 protesters assembled outside the Center for the Arts Escondido to protest Deputy Mayor Joe Garcia for his inaction to cancel the ICE contract at the February 28 City Council meeting.

Protesters were explicit in their message- Joe Garcia’s failure to cancel this contract is a huge betrayal of our community. The protest was to hold him accountable. He can no longer pretend to support the community when he fails to protect us from harm.

Because of his failure to hear the hundreds of residents in the Council Chambers last month, this protest was called to speak to him in the community until the contract is cancelled.

Joe Garcia reiterated on Channel 7 what he has said many times before, he is afraid of ICE retaliation if the contract is cancelled. This means he is ill-equipped to protect the community against the abuses of ICE if he, himself, is afraid to stand up to them. He obviously doesn’t have the stomach for his job.

We need elected officials with the courage to stand up for our community. Joe Garcia should stand down.

Background.

On February 25, Deputy Mayor Joe Garcia joined three other Republicans on the Escondido City Council to allow the contract to stay in place allowing ICE agents to use the city-firing range.

In a memorable moment from the hearing on the 25^th, one speaker passionately stated, ‘If you celebrate us, you must protect us.’  The protest Sunday made that demand real.

Organizers said they learned of Garcia’s intended presence at the Festival from the TV interviews featuring Garcia to promote it. 

ICE raids continue in Escondido. In spite of the allegations that only HSI agents not affiliated with immigration enforcement would use the firing range, a recent video clearly shows HSI abduction of a man in Escondido and the unnecessary smashing of his car windows. 

We need leaders that will stand up for us.

CANCEL THE ICE CONTRACT.