ATLANTIC CITY — El Pueblo Unido of Atlantic City is escalating its dispute with the Atlantic City Police Department, laying out a series of demands following Saturday's contentious demonstration and promising to return to the streets every week until those demands are addressed.
At a news conference Monday, El Pueblo Unido Executive Director Cristian Moreno-Rodriguez called for an impartial investigation into three Atlantic City police officers the organization says interacted with federal immigration agents last week.
The immigrant advocacy group is also demanding that charges stemming from Saturday's protest be dropped, that the Police Department apologize and that Atlantic City fully fund the organization's immigrant-defense fund.
Moreno-Rodriguez said El Pueblo Unido intends to hold demonstrations every Saturday until its demands are met.
The announcement signals that the confrontation outside Atlantic City's Clayton G. Graham Public Safety Building is developing into an ongoing dispute between the advocacy organization and city police rather than ending with Saturday's arrests.
'You have lost all the trust of our community members'
Moreno-Rodriguez directed some of his strongest comments Monday at Atlantic City Police Chief James Sarkos.
"You have lost all the trust of our community members because of the failed leadership of those you left behind while you went away," Moreno-Rodriguez said. "So we hope that when Chief Sarkos returns he will issue an apology for the failed leadership of those you left behind while you went away."
Moreno-Rodriguez also said the arrests would not deter the organization.
"Saturday did not silence us. Saturday did not break us. Saturday did not erase what our cameras have documented," he said.
The organization contends that Atlantic City police have interfered with its efforts to monitor and document federal immigration enforcement operations.
Police strongly dispute that characterization.
Dispute began before Saturday's protest
The confrontation grew out of events earlier in the week when Moreno-Rodriguez followed vehicles that El Pueblo Unido believed were associated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Atlantic City police stopped Moreno-Rodriguez while he was following the vehicles.
El Pueblo Unido alleged that local police were assisting federal immigration authorities and interfering with the organization's efforts to document ICE activity.
Sarkos has rejected that allegation.
Police said Moreno-Rodriguez was stopped because an officer observed dangerous driving. Video released and reviewed by news organizations showed traffic violations during the pursuit.
"The officer did exactly what our officers are trained, sworn, and expected to do," Sarkos said in defending the stop. "He conducted a motor vehicle stop after observing dangerous driving and issued the appropriate summons."
The dispute prompted El Pueblo Unido to organize Saturday's demonstration outside police headquarters.
Five arrested, sixth person issued complaint
Police said the demonstration began peacefully at about 11 a.m. before an altercation occurred among people in the crowd.
According to ACPD, officers leaving the Public Safety Building to respond encountered protesters in the street and in an area that police had kept open to maintain access to the building.
Police said people were ordered to clear those areas and arrests followed when some did not comply.
Five people were arrested:
Diana Chaparro, 50, of Hammonton, charged with simple assault.
Jose Salazar, 18, of Princeton, charged with simple assault and illegal possession of a chemical device involving pepper spray.
Cristian Moreno-Rodriguez, 31, of Atlantic City, charged with obstruction of justice.
Keli Smith, 41, of Egg Harbor Township, charged with obstruction of justice and resisting arrest.
Anthony Diaz, 30, of Newark, charged with obstruction of justice.
Devon Barber, 28, of Atlantic City, was issued a complaint charging him with simple assault.
Police said one person suffered minor injuries and was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center for treatment.
The Police Department's charging information establishes that Salazar was accused of illegally possessing pepper spray and simple assault. Public reporting has included claims that an officer was pepper-sprayed during the confrontation, but ACPD's released charging information does not, by itself, establish precisely who was sprayed or the circumstances in which the chemical device was allegedly used.
All charges are accusations. Those charged are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Sarkos: Protest cannot block police headquarters
Sarkos has defended his officers' response while emphasizing that ACPD recognizes the right to demonstrate.
"The constitutional right to peacefully protest is fundamental and is respected by the Atlantic City Police Department," Sarkos said.
"That right, however, does not extend to physically obstructing access to a public safety facility, preventing police officers from safely entering or exiting the building, or interfering with the public's ability to obtain police services."
El Pueblo Unido disputes the Police Department's account and has accused officers of failing to de-escalate Saturday's confrontation.
Small: City isn't notified about ICE operations
Mayor Marty Small Sr. weighed in Monday, saying Atlantic City government and its Police Department do not control federal immigration enforcement and are not notified in advance when federal agents operate in the city.
"This is an unfortunate situation, and I want to be clear that, as Mayor, and with respect to the Atlantic City Police Department, we do not have jurisdiction or authority over federal law enforcement operations," Small said.
"While we may not agree with the tactics being used, there is nothing within our legal authority that allows us to intervene in federal operations."
Small also pushed back against any suggestion that the city is hostile toward its Hispanic community.
"We are not against the Hispanic community," Small said. "Atlantic City is a diverse, welcoming and multicultural city, and we value the many contributions the Hispanic community has made to our city and our community."
Small strongly defended ACPD, saying its officers would continue to protect all residents regardless of their background or nationality.
Dispute isn't over
Monday's announcement makes clear that neither side considers the controversy resolved.
Police maintain that the original traffic stop was based on Moreno-Rodriguez's driving rather than his immigration advocacy and that Saturday's arrests resulted from alleged assaults, obstruction and failure to maintain access to the Public Safety Building.
El Pueblo Unido maintains that the incidents are part of a broader pattern of police interference with its efforts to document federal immigration enforcement.
The group is now calling for an outside investigation, dismissal of the protest-related charges, an apology and city funding for its immigrant-defense efforts.
And Moreno-Rodriguez says the organization plans to return to the streets of Atlantic City every Saturday until those demands are addressed.
About the Author
Peter Killeen
A 25-year radio news veteran, Peter covers South Jersey for NewsTalk 1400 & 92.3 WOND radio. Known for his concise and impactful delivery, he ensures listeners and readers stay informed without unnecessary filler.
