Protestors Call For “Justice” At Funeral March

by Allan Appel | Aug 31, 2011 10:00 am

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Posted to: Legal Writes, Fair Haven

After the family of Oscar Santiago-Rivera gathered to say goodbye before his open casket, their grief flowed out into the streets as dozens of mourners followed his hearse down Blatchley Avenue in an anti-police brutality march. Tuesday afternoon’s march was sparked by questions raised by family members in the wake of the death of Santiago-Rivera. The 51-year-old, who had serious liver problems, died shortly after he was ejected from Lou’s Lodge in Fair Haven Aug. 20 and encountered New Haven cops. Relatives think police were too rough with Santiago-Rivera, who died at Yale-New Haven Hospital of what the hospital said was a ruptured spleen. The details of the incident remain murky. The case is being investigated by the police department’s internal affairs division. Click here for a story about the incident. “Too many things don’t make sense,” said Doel Santiago, Oscar’s brother, who initiated the march and then invited a coalition of anti-police brutality activists, including Unidad Latina en Accion and ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), to meet with him and to participate. Their calls as they paraded down Blatchley towards Lou’s Lodge, where Santiago spent part of his last night, included “Justice for Oscar Santiago—End Police Brutality Now.” The answers sought by Santiago-Rivera’s family may take weeks to arrive. Mayoral spokesman Adam Joseph said, “The New Haven Police Department takes any allegation of police brutality seriously. The department has initiated an internal affairs investigation, as is standard in such cases. We can’t comment further until the medical examiner’s report is released and internal investigation is complete.” A staffer at the the state medical examiner’s office said, “Both cause of death and manner of death are pending further studies to come back from the lab.” Asked to clarify, she said “further studies” means toxicology reports on, for example, blood and tissue. The full report usually takes between eight and 12 weeks. Meanwhile, dozens of family members and friends of Santiago-Rivera filed into the storefront Pentecostal Iglesia Emanuel Revelacion Divina church on State Street near Ferry Street Tuesday afternoon, where the message above the coffin read “Santidad a Jehova” (“Holiness to the Lord”). Amid hallelujahs and songs of praise accompanied by drums and tambourine, Santiago-Rivera was remembered as a good husband, brother and friend. His faults were not overlooked either. The presiding pastor, Guillermo Torres, said, “If people say Oscar drank, and did bad things, they shouldn’t. Where he ends up is between him and God.” (Sister-in-law Elena Cummings provided the translation.) Dozens of people viewed his body, touching his hands—which held several pale red roses—and pausing before sitting down in pews adorned with black balloons. Cummings said they were to be sent aloft after the service, because Santiago-Rivera is being cremated, with no grave site for placing flowers. When a memorial blanket with an image of Santiago-Rivera was unfurled, a gasp of emotion filled the small sanctuary. Then the coffin was transferred to the waiting hearse, where mourners and activists queued up for a march beneath the overpass on State Street and down Blatchley Avenue. Heading for Lou’s Lodge Unidad Latina’s John Lugo said of the police, “Every time they do something, we will mobilize the community. Talking doesn’t produce results.” He said there are several cases of alleged police brutality pending. One, involving Abel Sanchez, was settled for money about three months ago, Lugo said. “We feel that’s not enough. Money doesn’t pay the suffering,” he said. Norman Clement of ANSWER said he had no doubt that Santiago-Rivera’s case involved police brutality. The line of marchers arrived at Blatchley and Pine Street, where the arresting officers allegedly tangled with Santiago-Rivera amid bushes behind a gray stoop. “They murdered a man on this corner,” Clement said. He offered a solution: “If we put 1,000 people on the street corner next week, something will happen.” By the time the marchers arrived at Lou’s Lodge, at the triangle where Blatchley meets Clay Street and faces the police substation, a group had gathered there. Doel Santiago addressed them: “Today’s my brother. Tomorrow one of your family. I know some of you know and you don’t talk. Tomorrow can be your son, your brother. They killed my brother. We need your help.” Santiago said he wants a full and complete investigation. He pointed to a contradiction in the case, at least in terms of what’s publicly known: the police report says there was blood from an alleged knife fight on Santiago-Rivera, while the bar’s owner/manager, Anthony Ornato, told the Independent there had been no fight involving blood in his bar that night. Motioning to the security camera high above the intersection, Doel Santiago wondered aloud why the camera can’t offer more definitive information. “I’m contemplating a lawsuit against the city. We want the people who did this to be held responsible. We don’t want money,” he said. Other next steps include possible larger marches with the anti-police brutality coalition members. “We’ll work with these people,” he said. Lugo agreed that the next step is up to the family. Before the march dissipated, people were told they could find information about next steps through the family or via flyers to be distributed at C-Town on Ferry. Few of the watchers along Blatchley made comments or joined up, although several passing drivers honked horns. Ornato came out of Lou’s and offered quiet praise for the marchers: “I have no problem with their expressing themselves. They have every right. This is America.” Gerard Joseph, a 20-year patron of Lou’s Lodge, said he hadn’t known Santiago-Rivera. But the patrons, he said, “all feel bad at a loss of life.”

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posted by: Jason on August 31, 2011 10:10am A pic of the deceased is a bit much.

posted by: westrock on August 31, 2011 10:56am @jason- agreed. it’s not my call, but i don’t find it very tasteful.

posted by: MIke Powers on August 31, 2011 11:05am Yes where he ends up is between him and God ,but the way he behaved to others while he was on this earth is between him and his fellow humans not God.

We ought to replace our PD with a Social work dept made up of 100 pound men and women who only talk and whine and beg.

Lets distribute our PD’s guns to the people on the street who really need them.

And of course lets not forget that word racism.

posted by: Mister Jones on August 31, 2011 11:34am Funerary photos are more common in other countries/cultures than is typical in much of America. The discomfort with the photo goes along with some folks’ discomfort with open caskets at wakes and funerals. Myself, I find it more disconcerting to dispose of a body without the viewing, either with a closed casket or a quick cremation. I have been asked by family members to photograph the body in a casket, although certainly most people don’t do that, so it could be shared with absent family. I have also been at funerals streamed live on the internet so that far away family and friends could watch even if they couldn’t travel. In this case I believe there is journalistic and societal value in showing the photo. As there are accusations of police brutality, there is something to be said for showing the condition of the body. I wouldn’t want to see the autopsy photos, and a body in a casket has the benefit of morticians’ art, but I still think it is helpful.

posted by: The Rev. Mr. Samuel T. Ross-Lee on August 31, 2011 11:49am Could the Independent be any more sensationalist than to show a picture of the deceased in his coffin? (The United States government was more respectful with Bin-Laden’s body than you are with this private citizen.) Maybe the handling of this story should raise the question of why the NHI is constantly covering the funerals and deaths in this city of private citizens who are racial minorities in such a disproportionate manner to white citizen, even those White citizens whose deaths, one could say, are of public interest: e.g. I recall no such pictures of Mitchell Dubey’s body or pictures of his grief stricken relative at his funeral for the entire world to gawk at. Are Black and Hispanic citizens unwittingly giving this medium more access to our private moments than we should be? You should really take that picture off of the WORLD WIDE WEB and apologize for having put it here in the first place.

posted by: Christina on August 31, 2011 11:50am I was thinking the same thing Jason.

posted by: Joanne on August 31, 2011 12:06pm I know of a child whose father was killed and was given a picture of his his dead body from the viewing. That picture ended up causing the child to be reminded about the trauma every day. I believe the photo should have only been published with the family’s consent (and maybe it was gotten). [Editor’s note: The family gave full permission to use the photo and even requested that it be published.]

posted by: vc man on August 31, 2011 12:16pm Cmon independent, please don’t resort to sensationalism. Is the mere accusation of police brutality enough to warrant a banner headline? This mans own family admitted he was an alcoholic, so he damaged his own organs on a daily basis. The police were actually called, which is fairly rare for that area of the city, which means the deceased must have been pretty belligerent. In addition, you reported a “witness” to the beating who didnt give a name and whose testimony regarding the time it occurred was directly contradicted by both ambulance and hospital records. Also, I drove by that rally and saw at least one participant drinking from out of a brown paper bag. If you are going to maintain some journalistic integrity, please make more of an effort to be impartial.

posted by: The Rev. Mr. Samuel T. Ross-Lee on August 31, 2011 12:37pm Why did the NHI ASK for permission to use this picture? What is it’s journalistic value? [The family requested that we publish the photo.]

posted by: anon on August 31, 2011 12:48pm Before folks start mouthing off about the NHI’s motive in displaying a photo of the deceased, they might venture to understand and relate to other cultures…it is not always about you, your culture and your standard. Examine the photo albums of any or your friends from the Caribbean. You will likely find one of these pics of a grandparent or other loved ones or extensive recordings of a family member’s funeral service. NHI’s readership quite possibly includes immigrants for whom, such a display by local media is perfectly normal, appropriate and even welcomed.

posted by: Jay on August 31, 2011 1:29pm A ruptured spleen is a common cause of death in patients with cirrhosis.

I bet he was killed by John Barleycorn , not the police.

It is silly to give this much attention to unsubstantiated claims. Why not wait until the autopsy findings are available before covering this story?

At least, I hope the autopsy findings get as much press as this story did.

posted by: Bill Saunders on August 31, 2011 3:16pm The last time a picture of a dead-man in a coffin made an appearance, was maybe 5 years ago, when an ‘illegal alien’ was murdered in Fair Haven. Paul used the same excuse. This is poor journalistic practice to say the least. Whether the family wanted the picture published, or not, should have no bearing. Any way you cut it, it comes out as crass-sensationalism. Next time, save the open casket viewing for the mourners at the wake.

posted by: Ex-NHPD on August 31, 2011 3:30pm It would appear that both Unidad Latina en Accion and ANSWER are studying the playbook of Al Sharpton. They make their way into the grieving family and using smoke and mirrors, convince them that the Police/Establishment is responsible for their loss. There is no need for evidence/facts at this stage of their involvement with the family. EVERYONE knows the NHPD is brutal.(Saracsm). The two groups then get the signs printed up, mobilize their constituency, alert the media, and away they go. The sad thing is that if the NHPD is exonerated, it will not matter to the two organizations. It will be declared a cover-up/conspiracy/business as usual. Remember, Norman Clement of ANSWER has already declared that Santiago-Rivera was MURDERED by the NHPD. How is he going to retract that if the EVIDENCE shows they did not murder him? Spokesmen from both organizations are already fanning the flames, by saying how the community should respond to this death.

John Lugo of Unidad Latina is quoted as saying “Everytime they do something, we will mobilize the community. Talking doesn’t produce results.” So, if talking doesn’t produce results, what is Lugo’s plan to have the community do when it mobilizes?

Clement then adds “If we put 1,000 people on the street corner next week, something will happen.” Not very specific; but it certainly has an ominous tone to it. In a New York newspaper recently, Al Sharpton published an Op-Ed piece where he wrote that in retrospect, he now regrets how he has acted in the past. He specifically cited the Crown Heights Riot. That was just one of several instances in which “Facts” were espoused to the community by Sharpton and his ilk, that turned out to be nowhere near the truth. More death and destruction followed their involvement with the families that entrusted Sharpton to support them. Unidad Latina en Accion and ANSWER (along with their leaders and spokesmen) have a moral obligation to Santiago-Rivera’s family, the community, and themselves to make sure that they do not place their organization’s goals and agendas ahead of the FACTS and make sure that they have the family’s best interests in mind as they go forward.

posted by: Anymouse on August 31, 2011 3:41pm “common in other countries/cultures” Thank God he wasn’t Tibetan. I’d hate to have a family request photos of a sky burial. This is an Emmet Till gesture, plain and simple.

posted by: Funky Chicken on August 31, 2011 4:39pm Paul, the fact that the family asked you to publish the picture is quite telling to me that they are running a PR campaign to re-brand this guy as a perfect angel. You are allowing your paper to be a tool. What was your thought process in posting the picture? Can you publish such a photo and still be neural? Respectfully yours, FC

posted by: THREEFIFTHS on August 31, 2011 5:51pm posted by: The Rev. Mr. Samuel T. Ross-Lee on August 31, 2011 12:49pm

Could the Independent be any more sensationalist than to show a picture of the deceased in his coffin? (The United States government was more respectful with Bin-Laden’s body than you are with this private citizen.) Who said the government has Bin-Laden’s body? By the way, Here is a picture of Malcolm X in his coffin http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/terrorists_spies/assassins/malcolm_x/5.html

posted by: proof on August 31, 2011 6:34pm I believe this just shows how low NHI is willing to go. They have only their agenda

posted by: The Rev. Mr. Samuel T. Ross-Lee on August 31, 2011 6:42pm AGAIN NHI, what is the JOURNALISTIC value of running a photo of the deceased in his coffin? “The family asked that we show the photograph”, is NOT an excuse for the NHI to take NO responsibility for having done so. Had a family requested the photograph of a woman who had been sexually assaulted and unable to speak for herself published, would you do that too? If not, why not? @Anymouse: This is NOT “an Emmet(sic) Till gesture”. Mamie Till had her son’s coffin opened and his body photographed to dramatize decades of racial harassment and killings of African-Americans in the South. Here we have a SUSPECTED case of police brutality, which is far from proven.

posted by: this is nonsense on August 31, 2011 8:32pm @EX-NHPD, I have to agree with your statement. These organizations are going to cause a serious riot in our streets one day. John Lugo preys on the grieving families for his own vendetta ... These organizations do not take the time to research the truth about the deceased and his failing health. Lugo needs to be stopped before he causes a major riot in our street. These organizations are unprofessional and out of control.

posted by: K on August 31, 2011 9:54pm @ The Rev

I believe Dubey was the ONLY victim that was not Latino or Black., and I think he had a Jewish service near his home town.

posted by: Edward_H on September 1, 2011 12:22am I wish I could say I was surprised by the comments here but I am not. Funny how people in New Haven are always claiming to embrace cultural differences and diversity until their delicate sensibilities are offended http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-mortem_photography Such photography was even popular in the U.S. at one point. One would think the NHI published pictures of a mangled child’s body at an accident scene from some of these responses. I also wish I could say I was surprised that a “man of the cloth” was one of the first to post accusatory comments toward the NHI but that seems to go along with the territory of being a “man of God” these days. Whatever happened to the Reverends of my youth who used to act as mediators or conciliators who attempted to calm people down and try to facilitate peace and understanding when tempers flared up? I guess anger and standing in judgment of your neighbors puts more money in the collection plate. (I am not saying ALL men of the cloth behave in this manner, just most of the ones I have encountered in the last 15-20 years.)

posted by: James DG on September 1, 2011 5:30pm I don’t know what happened here, but the fact that there are several instances in recent memory where the police have been involved in instances of possible brutality that resulted in people dying is a bad sign. It would be nice to think that allegations like this would surprise and shock the community. The worst part is that most police officers try to do their job and keep people safe. I also understand that they face stress and danger that we can’t understand. But, things like this happen and then people wonder why nobody will snitch. To get our crime problem under control we have to get a handle on this stuff. And I say that with no disrespect to the huge majority of the police officers who are outstanding individuals.

posted by: DMV on September 2, 2011 7:18pm Police need to be held accountable. That is that. There’s no debating it. They are not above the law no matter how you frame who the victim was. And no one deserves to die because they’re “alcoholics”. With horrific logic like that you can justify any murder.Oh, he was a XXXXX. No thanks. POLICE NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND INVESTIGATED. This reminds me of the old saying. It was something like “First they came for the Jews and the blacks, then they came for the communists and the socialist, then they came for me and there was no one left to support me.”

posted by: che15 on September 3, 2011 5:02pm ... This man was not murdered by anyone. It is a tragic loss for a family that’s it. Unidad Latina en Accion and ANSWER are using this poor family just as they have used others. ... Sad thin is the first people they are gonna call for help is the New Haven Police and we will come and solve her problem, I hope with professionalism. At least if I have to I most definitely will.

posted by: amazed on September 4, 2011 2:42pm in my eyes most and i repeat MOST family members who take out the time to scream police brutality are always the ones seeking $. Sadly to see that a community will take time out to rally and scream out police brutality without even having the true facts in hand…Oddly enough Most of the ones shouting out police brutality are the family members of guilty people who run around destroying our communities as criminals who when finally are caught and put in custody freeing our community of the danger they cause in it…feel that they have their hands tied and that their loved ones no matter what menace they are to society are in the hands of the law and have no other escape but to face up to their charges…then they want to scream police brutality in hopes to shift the blame on to the Police to free some of the attention off their loved ones…I do not wish death upon anyone and it’s truly a sad situation that this man lost his life but i am a firm believer that you reap what you sow and in this case it seems very clear that this man chose his life style and his own fate…

there are bad seeds in every profession…Teachers, Law enforcement, Medical field, Ministries, however investigations are the last truth to any allegation…

tragedy brings out the worst in everyone but come on people lets get facts in order before tarnishing and embedding false accusations toward innocent people

How about getting a rally started to clean up our neighborhoods and turning in family members who are out their creating havoc on our streets instead of housing them and enabling their criminal acts

posted by: connman on September 4, 2011 10:58pm Al Sharpton will be on his way to New Haven soon, to protest. This is why New Haven has 25 murders. ...These protests only encourage people not to cooperate with police. This man had an alcohol problem and was doomed to fail.

posted by: Chris Gray on September 5, 2011 10:08am While long an advocate against police brutality (I was once ruled out of order for a calm but passionate statement about the use of “horse soldiers” at public protests by Chuck Mascola at a public hearing on police brutality) I want to take this story as an excuse to offer sincere condolences to Capt. Joann Peterson on the loss of her son Tristan Saturday, as reported by AP and misreported by NECN. (They called her just Capt. Joann in their crawl.)

posted by: Chuck Mascola on September 17, 2011 6:25am Chris Grey—What are you talking about? What did I do? When? What hearing? I think that you have me confused with someone else. Please clarify.

posted by: Samantha O. I agree that the picture wasn’t needed and personally seemed a bit disrespectful. I’m sorry for the family’s lose, i’m sure it’s quite an amount of grief seeing that there was multiple people in mourn. Also, for those who are consistently looking down upon police officers, my father and cousin are one of the fellow people who arrive to calls in time of need. Every one is different whether average citizen or officer.

posted by: Chris Gray on September 21, 2011 3:20pm This probably won’t clarify anything. Mr. Mascola, not only do I have a fairly good memory, I also kept copius calendars & diaries of my community efforts, so I could drag all that out, or research the Register story of that day of elders being trampled by a wedding carriage that I quoted or ask the people I know who were there to confirm me ...

posted by: chuck mascola on September 25, 2011 6:04am Mr Gray, You are correct, that didn’t clear up a thing. Whatever your reason was for pulling my name out of your memory and accusing me of something insignificant 25 years ago it is quite odd. I contine to have not the slightest shred of an idea of what you are talking about. Really—horses? elders? brutality? I never chaired a committee of the BOA, so how could I rule you or anyone out of order about an issue I do not recall? Glad that you keep notes and make obscure references across the decades. Carry on. I thought that I cared, but I was misstaken.

posted by: Chris Gray on September 25, 2011 11:58am History and civics are subjects much neglected these days, even by news reporters. Apparently I used an incorrect term, I apologize. As a member of an unnamed BOA board you charged that my testimony about mounted police brutality was too obscure and out of order and the chair so ruled, thus silencing me, then. The Sounds of Silence become deafening even when you don’t care. While I know that there are many fine police here, it is hard to deny my continuing charge that there are gangs of police who have run rough-shod over New Haven citizens for literally generations now.