Ozomatli attacked by Police in Austin, Texas

AUSTIN POLICE ATTACK EAST LA BAND AT SXSW

AUSTIN, TEXAS - Early this morning, Austin Police arrested Will-Dog Abers & Jiro Yamaguchi, two members the East LA band Ozomatli & their manager (don't know her name). According to one source, the three are charged with assaulting a police officer & distubing the peace. As of right now, two of three arrested are still in jail with no bond set. Here is the story of what happened given by a witness who was there:

Hola,

I hope this message reaches you in good health. Last night, I was a front row witness/survivor of austin police brutality. Here is what happened:

Ozomatli (www.ozomatli.com), Los Angeles-based band was doing there usual gig. During the later part of an Ozomatli show, their music act consists of group members picking up acoustic instruments and joining the crowd offstage. After Ozomatli does this, they usually march with instruments in hand "conga line style" through the audience and out the venue door. Between 2:30-2:45am on Austin's Sixth Street, Ozomatli took to the streets with their instruments leading the conga line outside. This is when "it" happened: Austin PD over reacted and ordered the band to stop playing in the street. Ozomatli listened and the band members started walking back into the venue, Exodus. Austin PD then forcibly pulled two band members out of the entrance way (with their backs turned; while they were heading back inside) and arrested them! While their manager tried to help those being arrested, she was also arrested and pepper sprayed. The crowd which included fans coming out of the venue and people that were walking Sixth Street starting yelling to let the cops know that they were arresting members of Ozomatli for no reason. I vividly heard, "they are with the band, stop over reacting, do not do what you always do". During the time of arrest, the cops also sprayed the crowd with pepper spray. A few seconds after smelling something in the air my eyes started burning and my nose began itching. Ouch! -that is what it is like to be sprayed by cops!

As I write this, two members of Ozomatli, a band who preaches Social Justice via their songs and website, are waiting to be released from jail.

PLEASE help by spreading the word and attending:

March for Peace and Justice! Global Day of Action!

This Saturday, March 20

Austin, Tejas

For more info please feel free to contact me via [email protected]