Today NPR ran a story on the death of Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez as an example of the confusing and disconcerting actions of our Border Patrol. Anne-Marie wrote a blog post regarding this very event a few days ago which you can check out here.
Here is John and Anne-Marie's comment to the story that is posted on the NPR website.
"I'm a US citizen. In March I visited the site of Jose Antonio's death, we saw the stray bullet holes outlined in red on the medical office building that he was next to when he died. The sidewalk where he died is 23, very steep, vertical feet below the bottom of the fence and is across a wide street. He was standing about 150 feet from the border fence when he was shot. Our Border Patrol shot a kid, multiple times, while he stood a good distance away in a foreign country. Has the US declared war on Mexico? It seems that the ever growing militarization of this border and our Border Patrol's unwillingness to provide a transparent review is a clear measure of our Nation's fear, uncertainty, and embarrassment over these issues."
Location: The shooting occurred at this location on Google Maps: http://goo.gl/maps/ofOuc. Jose Antonio died near the grated window under the sign saying Emergencias Medicas. I saw several bullet holes in the wall around the grated window. If you scan on Google to the other side of the street you will see the old wall. This wall was replaced in about 2010. The new fence type the Border Patrol Agent shot his weapon through is called a Bollard Fence. If you Google Bollard Fence Nogales you will see multiple images of this type of fence."
Here is Steve's comment to the story as posted on the NPR website:
"This shooting is an abuse of power and plausibly criminal in nature. I have been to this site. The geography is such that there is no way that an unarmed 16 year old boy could be of any threat to border patrol personnel on the Arizona side. Most border patrol personnel are good people and seek to do their jobs responsibly. However, when abuse of power is apparent, our government should hold accountable those responsible and do that with transparency and honesty. To not do so sends the message that America does not value humanity in Mexico, and in other countries, the same as our own."
And Susan's:
"I'm so happy to see this NPR coverage of a story that has been largely absent from the news here. I have been to the site in Nogales, Sonora. Nobody could throw a rock from that location that would pose any sort of threat to border patrol; the fence is too high, too far from the street. Even if Jose Antonio was a rock thrower, and I don't think this is certain, shooting at him was absolutely excessive force. Was it border patrol or Mexican drug lords who shot him? Well, I don't hear any denials from Border Patrol. If they hadn't done it, they would be quick to say that. It is shameful that border patrol members would shoot someone across the border. If a Mexican law enforcement agent shot across the border and killed an American, you can bet that the investigation would be swift and noisy, and not like this 6 month silence."
See or listen to the NPR story here.
Here is John and Anne-Marie's comment to the story that is posted on the NPR website.
"I'm a US citizen. In March I visited the site of Jose Antonio's death, we saw the stray bullet holes outlined in red on the medical office building that he was next to when he died. The sidewalk where he died is 23, very steep, vertical feet below the bottom of the fence and is across a wide street. He was standing about 150 feet from the border fence when he was shot. Our Border Patrol shot a kid, multiple times, while he stood a good distance away in a foreign country. Has the US declared war on Mexico? It seems that the ever growing militarization of this border and our Border Patrol's unwillingness to provide a transparent review is a clear measure of our Nation's fear, uncertainty, and embarrassment over these issues."
Location: The shooting occurred at this location on Google Maps: http://goo.gl/maps/ofOuc. Jose Antonio died near the grated window under the sign saying Emergencias Medicas. I saw several bullet holes in the wall around the grated window. If you scan on Google to the other side of the street you will see the old wall. This wall was replaced in about 2010. The new fence type the Border Patrol Agent shot his weapon through is called a Bollard Fence. If you Google Bollard Fence Nogales you will see multiple images of this type of fence."
Here is Steve's comment to the story as posted on the NPR website:
"This shooting is an abuse of power and plausibly criminal in nature. I have been to this site. The geography is such that there is no way that an unarmed 16 year old boy could be of any threat to border patrol personnel on the Arizona side. Most border patrol personnel are good people and seek to do their jobs responsibly. However, when abuse of power is apparent, our government should hold accountable those responsible and do that with transparency and honesty. To not do so sends the message that America does not value humanity in Mexico, and in other countries, the same as our own."
And Susan's:
"I'm so happy to see this NPR coverage of a story that has been largely absent from the news here. I have been to the site in Nogales, Sonora. Nobody could throw a rock from that location that would pose any sort of threat to border patrol; the fence is too high, too far from the street. Even if Jose Antonio was a rock thrower, and I don't think this is certain, shooting at him was absolutely excessive force. Was it border patrol or Mexican drug lords who shot him? Well, I don't hear any denials from Border Patrol. If they hadn't done it, they would be quick to say that. It is shameful that border patrol members would shoot someone across the border. If a Mexican law enforcement agent shot across the border and killed an American, you can bet that the investigation would be swift and noisy, and not like this 6 month silence."
See or listen to the NPR story here.
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