Transit station police sweeps denounced
Members of Living United for Change in Arizona gathered Friday in front of Valley Metro to express their concern about experiences with “unnecessary police sweeps” of light rail stations in their community.
LUCHA is a membership-led economic justice organization that is trying to “support the most vulnerable communities that struggle on a day-to-day basis to make ends meet,” LUCHA coexecutive director Alejandra Gomez said.
The group gathered Friday to denounce recent police actions that have led to arrests of members of their own community, Gomez said. LUCHA’s offices are located next to the station at 19th Avenue and Bethany Home Road so the members have witnessed an increased amount of police presence on the platform, Gomez said.
Gomez said the officers ask riders for their fare card or ID and if they do not have it, they risk being detained. Gomez added that the officers are not being helpful to the community or explaining the process of how to obtain a correct fare card.
Gomez said the LUCHA members gathered in front of Valley Metro Friday to try to speak with the regional public transportation authority and understand why they are calling police on their own riders.
“We are working with everyday communities who are struggling and just trying to get to work or from point A to point B and are met with a swarm of police officers,” Gomez said.
The most recent arrest of Mitzi Castro, the program director for LUCHA, happened on Nov. 13 at the light rail station on 19th Avenue and Camelback Road.
“It really mobilized us into action and to really band with our partners to ensure that these practices stop,” Gomez said.
Castro spoke about her “traumatizing” experience where she was almost detained by Phoenix police officers while on the light rail. She was on her way to work Wednesday when she was stopped and approached by several officers because her light rail pass was not validated.
“This is not okay. Something needs to be done, and it needs to be done immediately. PD (police) needs to stop, and Valley Metro, you need to consider your actions. You need to treat people with dignity,” Castro said.
Valley Metro released a statement regarding the Nov. 13 incident with Castro.
Susan Tierney, spokesperson for Valley Metro, said the police presence on this day was part of a crime suppression project generated by the Phoenix Police Department.
“Fare sweeps occur on occasion to encourage fare and code of conduct compliance. The crime suppression efforts that occurred on Nov. 13 were initiated by the Phoenix Police Department,” Tierney said.
The statement said Valley Metro “seeks to create a positive and safe rider experience for all.”
LUCHA also brought a stroller that belonged to a mother who was detained at a platform recently to the offices of Valley Metro in hopes of showing them what their actions are doing to families.
“Please keep in mind the families of the people who are being criminalized,” Gina Mendez community organizer for LUCHA said. Mendez talked about several incidents that she has seen of families or high school students being detained at the light rail stations for not having proper fare tickets.
“We are hoping that the mayor will do something about the situation,” Mendez said. She said they hope Valley Metro will understand that the light rail is supposed to be accessible for those who might not have money for transportation.
“They are criminalizing these folks and yet it (the light rail) was supposed to be created to help them out,” Mendez said.
The group also addressed the concern of the arrest in July of Naomi Rosales-Ramirez, a 34-year-old transgender woman from Mexico, who is being detained in an all-male jail and facing deportation.
Stephanie Figgins, media project coordinator at Trans Queer Pueblo, spoke Friday about the arrest of Ramirez and called for Mayor Kate Gallego and Valley Metro to intervene and call for her release.
She said she attended Friday in support with LUCHA who has also seen some of its own members detained by police officers.
“We’ve been collective witness to many stories where people get picked out of the crowd and then end up in jail and face deportation preceding,” Figgins said.
LUCHA, along with community members, said it hopes to speak to Valley Metro and discuss its use of police force and how it is affecting the community.