Police chief criticized for tweet that shows guns, rosary, union symbol

SAN JOSE >> A tweet from San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia has landed him in hot water with some members of local labor and faith communities.

Posted Wednesday, the tweet highlighted a recent arrest and included a photo of two guns that were seized, along with a rosary and a face mask bearing the logo of the United Farm Workers.

“Chief Eddie Garcia tweeting a picture of the UFW face mask and rosary next to images of guns shows great disrespect to our Latino and faith community,” said Darlene Tenes, an event planner in San Jose who has organized three caravans to deliver masks, food and household goods to farm workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Unfortunately, these symbols of faith, hope and struggle have been hijacked by teenage gang members,” she continued, “but it shows great irresponsibility for the chief of police of the 10th-largest city in the nation to perpetuate and make people believe otherwise.”

Tenes said her cousin, Andy Zermeno, designed the UFW logo, which was based on a drawing of an eagle by Richard Chavez, the brother of late labor leader César Chávez.

“The eagle is an inverted pyramid showing the strength of our ancestry,” Tenes said. “The black symbolizes the plight of the farm workers, the red the struggle and the white the hope.”

Garcia’s tweet also drew a rebuke from Jon Pedigo, director of advocacy and community engagement for Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County.

“I am not sure what the non-gun items have to do with the guns and pistols,” he said in a reply to Garcia’s tweet. “These symbols are sacred and in our current context, putting these items next to the guns only fans the flames of racism.”

In a statement Thursday, Garcia said he will be “more thoughtful” about what he shares on social media going forward.

“A recent surge of shootings in our gang-neighborhoods included two homicides, one victim being a juvenile,” said Garcia, referring to the shooting death of 15-year-old Uriel Mendiola Zepeda. “Rather than waiting for the next victim, officers are proactively getting these guns out of the hands of those causing violence.

“As a Latino and Catholic, I’m offended by the use of sacred items to show gang involvement like the rosary, and the United Farm Workers flag whose rich history we cherish and celebrate,” he continued. “I will be more thoughtful in considering how to depict what we frequently see on the street with the impact imagery can have in perpetuating racial negativity.”

Despite the outcry, Garcia had not deleted the tweet as of early Friday afternoon. “After seeing Chief Garcia’s statement about being more careful about what he tweets, I was surprised to see he did not remove the tweet,” Tenes said. “Very disappointing.”