The nook of Backyard and Micheltorena streets was packed Sunday night time as demonstrators shut down the intersection for a number of hours in a gathering that was organized in response to viral movies displaying what seems to be a Santa Barbara lady harassing a building employee and spewing racially derogatory language.
Within the two movies, which had been recorded by the development employee and shared by Los Angeles–primarily based activist Edin Alex Enamorado, the girl — who was recognized later as a neighbor and former UCSB legislation professor Jeanne T. Umana — confronts the person at a property on East Micheltorena Road.
The development employee, who was solely recognized as “Luis,” begins by recording Umana, who’s strolling round alone contained in the property earlier than being knowledgeable that she is trespassing. Upon being instructed she is on personal property, Umana says: “I work for the police. That’s okay.”
After being requested to depart, she begins to push again, asking the person for details about his employer and in regards to the property proprietor.
“I stay right here. I’m American,” she says. “You’re a Tijuanan.”
As she walks away, she turns again round and seems to slap the telephone out of the person’s hand as she says: “I’m very a lot in opposition to people who find themselves breaking the legislation.”
The video sparked outrage on social media, and within the second video, Enamorado — who has made a reputation for himself on-line for his activism defending road distributors all through California — posts a clip of himself on a telephone name with Umana the place he tells her he’s a journalist.
Within the clip, Umana is heard saying that she entered the property after seeing flashing lights on a piece automobile. She meant to seek out the property proprietor “so I may register my issues about these folks — this gentleman — breaking the legislation,” she says.
When Enamorado pushes in opposition to Umana about impersonating an officer, she responds by saying: “I stated I labored with the police; I didn’t say I used to be one.”
Umana didn’t reply to messages from the Unbiased requesting additional remark.
Enamorado made a public callout for a “spiritual gathering” at 8 p.m. Sunday night time on the nook of Backyard and Micheltorena; the submit gained traction on social media, and by night, there have been greater than 250 folks packed into the intersection.
A whole bunch Take to the Streets in Santa Barbara After Viral Video Sparks Outrage
[Click to enlarge] Credit score: Don Brubaker
For almost two hours, the group chanted and fireworks flew into the night time whereas vehicles burned rubber and honked their horns in solidarity and several other audio system took to the megaphone to share their ideas.
“You’re not doing it for you. You’re doing it in your abuela; you’re doing it for the following Brown child who’s going to get handled like shit,” Enamorado shouted throughout one level. “It’s not your fault — it’s your duty.”
After shutting down the nook at Micheltorena, the group marched down Backyard to a building web site, the place they confirmed some like to a team of workers earlier than heading over to the police station. They had been met there by Metropolis Councilmember Oscar Gutierrez, who promised to work with the police division to pursue any expenses which will stem from the video.
A whole bunch Take to the Streets in Santa Barbara After Viral Video Sparks Outrage
[Click to enlarge] Credit score: Don Brubaker
Michael Montenegro, a neighborhood historian and activist behind Chicano Tradition S.B., was livestreaming the occasion on Instagram.
After the demonstration, he instructed the Unbiased that a majority of these incidents — which he described as “brazen Karen conduct” — occur extra usually than most locals want to admit, regardless of the town being almost 40 % Latino.
“Luis’s expertise is much too widespread, and thank goodness now we have cameras to let the world know that the kind of discrimination that blue-collar staff of Latin American heritage face is much too widespread,” he stated.
“Who constructed this metropolis? Nosotros [Us]! Who retains the town clear and delightful? Nosotros! Who takes care of the youngsters and aged? Nosotros! Who makes the meals scrumptious in Santa Barbara? Nosotros!”
He added that he was glad to see so many individuals present as much as defend the employees of their neighborhood, and that the occasion confirmed how a lot energy the folks can have when referred to as upon.
“It was stunning to see our neighborhood come collectively, a day after Mexican Independence Day, to have fun our cultura for a racist Santa Barbara ‘Karen,’” Montenegro stated.
[Click to enlarge] Demonstrators collect in entrance of the Santa Barbara Police Station on Figueroa Road. | Credit score: Don Brubaker
The Santa Barbara Police Division, which was conscious of the gathering however allowed the group to reveal freely, launched an announcement Monday relating to the incident in query, significantly Umana’s declare that she labored with the police.
Within the assertion, Santa Barbara Police spokesperson Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale stated that the gathering was “in response to a disturbing video of an interplay between two people posted on social media.”
“Within the video,” Ragsdale continues, ”a lady acknowledged, ‘I work for the police.’ The girl has no affiliation with the Santa Barbara Police Division, and the police division doesn’t condone her conduct.”
The “troubling video,” Ragsdale stated, “understandably stirred feelings and reactions inside our neighborhood. The Santa Barbara Police Division monitored the gathering and helps the suitable for all people to peacefully assemble to be able to voice their issues.”
No expenses have been introduced relating to the preliminary incident, although Ragsdale stated the division is “actively wanting into” the scenario. “Since that is an ongoing investigation, I can not present any extra data at the moment,” he stated.
