Spring 2019 Issue 10

Page 1

THE STUDENT VOICE OF SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1927

TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 2019

REMEMBRANCE

CITY HALL APPROVES MEMORIAL FOR NIETO Community honors memory of Alex Nieto five years after he was shot 59 times by SFPD CARLY WIPF Staff Reporter

SAN FRANCISCO—A cheering crowd surrounded Refugio Nieto at City Hall April 4, moments after commissioners solidified a memorial honoring his 28-year-old son who was shot and killed by San Francisco Police five years ago. “At this moment I am very happy. My heart feels at ease,” Nieto said. “Now it’s beating how it should be.” The San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission voted unanimously to approve the memorial, which will rest atop Bernal Hill, where Alex Nieto died. The words on the plaque dedicated to Nieto were read aloud to all who attended the final vote: “Against the violence and injustice of 59 bullets, family and grassroots community arose as a movement to promote the positive spirit and to defend the honor of a beloved young man, Alex Nieto, who was killed by the police. Amor for Alex Nieto.” District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen addressed the crowd, at one point holding back tears. “He was shot 59 times by the SF Police Department,” she said. “Now there’s going to be a lot of disagreement about what happened in between, but those are facts that are documented on the plaque on this monument that I believe are essentially important because they’re acknowledging facts that occurred that are problematic aspects of our society here in San Francisco and in our country at large.” The vote provided some closure for supporters of the Amor for Alex Nieto movement after a jury determined in Refugio Nieto, et al v. City and County of San Francisco, et al that officers were not liable for wrongful death in November of 2015. “It would be disrespectful, that we would even question one aspect of this project,” San Francisco Recreation and Park Commissioner Gloria Bonilla said. “Es justo y necesario. It’s just and necessary that we do this and that we do this wholeheartedly.” After the memorial was approved, Refugio Nieto’s eyes narrowed as a smile took over the lower half of his face in recollection of his son. He said even as a child, his son was a good kid who stayed in school and out of trouble. During Alex Nieto’s time at City College of San Francisco, he mentored at-risk youth. Refugio Nieto said his son came home one day and revealed his calling: working with youth in a juvenile detention center, pursuing a certificate in administration of justice. But on March 21, 2014, those dreams were cut short when SFPD shot him 59 times at the top of Bernal Hill. Benjamin Bac Sierra, a longtime friend of Alex Nieto, organized the Amor for Alex Nieto movement. According to Sierra, Alex Nieto

PHOTOS BY TRISTEN ROWEAN/Golden Gate Xpress

PLEA HEARING

University silent about allegations against track coach Track and field assistant gets additional charges TOP: Alex’s father, Refugio Nieto, hugs Jennifer Raviv after the decision was made to build a memorial with the proper language to remember Alex Nieto’s death in Bernal Heights, where he was shot 59 times by police officers in 2014. BOTTOM: Benjamin Bac Sierra lets out a glorious yell as the decision was announced at a City Hall meeting Thursday, April 4, 2019.

went to Bernal Heights Park to eat a burrito before heading to his security job at El Toro Night Club. Sierra said Nieto was dressed in his uniform, which included a taser, under a red San Francisco 49ers jacket when police got a call about a Latino man with a gun. “In their mind, they’re going up to that hill thinking, ‘Let’s go kill the gang member, let’s go take the hill,’” Sierra said. As a former Marine, Sierra said he understands the mentality he called “militarized police occupation forces,” which disproportionately targets people of color. Alex knew the law, Sierra said. He even interned for a semester at the Youth Guidance Center’s Probation Department. “He was a man that was working with children trying to help our kids do better in our lives, and we’re going to miss him,” Rafael Picazo, a friend of Alex Nieto, said.

See NIETO >> PAGE 3

At this moment I am very happy. My heart feels at ease. Now it’s beating how it should be.” - Refugio Nieto Alex’s father

GEOFFREY SCOTT AND JULIE PARKER Staff Reporters

Women’s assistant track and field coach Chioke Robinson will respond to charges that he sexually assaulted at least six minor girls in ROBINSON an April 22 plea hearing in Santa Clara County, but the University will neither confirm nor deny whether any SF State students have come forward as victims. Robinson was arrested by San Jose Police on campus Feb. 21 and, according to Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Anne Seery, he was released from custody on 5 percent of his $605,000 bail shortly after his most recent court date on March 11, when her office added four additional felonies to the 12 with which he was initially charged.

See COACH >> PAGE 3


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