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GUEST: Belinda Escobosa Helzer, staff attorney at the ACLU of Orange County.

Immigrant rights activist Coyotl Tezcatlipoca was addressing a meeting of the Costa Mesa City Council in January of last year when he was abruptly cut off by local mayor, Allan Mansoor. Coyotl was criticizing a proposal to mandate local police officers enforce federal immigration law. In this audio from that meeting, Coyotl addresses the Council, and encourages opponents of the proposal to stand up to show their numbers – as Mayor Allan Mansoor cuts him off. Mansoor claims he did so because Coyotl violated a rule that forbids speakers from encouraging audience members to stand up. But it should be noted that just a little while earlier, at the same meeting, Mayor Mansoor allowed Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist to encourage audience members in favor of the anti-immigration proposal to stand up without incident. In fact, video footage shows Mansoor praising Gilchrist’s efforts. Local police forcibly removed Coyotl from the meeting, despite the fact he complied with their orders. Witnesses say and video shows Coyotl was physically assaulted by the officers outside. He was charged with resisting arrest. Now, nearly two years after the incident, Coyotl faces charges of violating two provisions of the local municipal code. His trial is set to begin tomorrow.

Coyotl Tezcatlipoca’s trial begins:
Tuesday, September 25th, 2007, 8:00 a.m.
Department H1
Harbor Justice Center
4601 Jamboree Road
Newport Beach, California