13 Suspects Arrested In Connection With The Escape Of Celada Galdámez In Malacatán, Guatemala

Elmer Aroldo Celada Galdámez

Homicide suspect still at large

By H. Nelson Goodson
December 10, 2010

Malacatán, San Marcos, Guatemala - On Thursday, 13 suspected men connected to los Zetas involved in the deadly prison escape of Elmer Aroldo Celada Galdámez, 20, have been arrested, announced the Attorney General of Public Ministry Office. Two men were killed and six federal agents, including a soldier were reported injured on Wednesday. Galdámez is still at large and is being sought for the homicide and dismemberment of pro-soccer player Carlos Mercedes Vásquez on November 27.
Galdámez is also wanted for homicides of a Guatemalan federal agent on November 25, several men from Mexico and causing injuries to former beauty queen Odalis Lutin Rodas, 30, from Sinaloa, Mexico.
A joint operation by the National Civil Police, Guatemalan Army and the Attorney General of Public Ministry Office were able to capture the suspects. The suspects were identified as Sergio Alex de León Cinto, 34, Mario Guillermo de León Cinto, 43, Wilver Aroldo de León Cinto, 23, Edgar Roberto Lux Meda, 21, Gerson David Castañaza Cruz, 23, Hudo Emmanuel Alvarado Pop, 25, Jim Manahem Herrera Sol, 22, both from Cobán, Alta Verapaz and Luis Danie Rodríguez García, 27, from Poptún, Petén, Ovando Chanay Canaquic, 22, from Salamá, Baja Verapaz and Jorge Alberto Set Vaides, 22, from Poptún Peten, Jesús Cruz Maldonado, 24, from Tamaulipas, Mexico, Luis Alberto Montufar Pérez, 25, and Darwin Gudiel Vásquez Hernández, 23.
All the suspects were transported to the Guatemalan capitol for processing. Authorities confiscated numerous high power weapons and vehicles used in the prison escape shoot out.
Galdámez who was arrested on December 5, for the murder of Vásquez escaped from prison with help of at least 20 armed men believed to be members of the Mexican Zetas who launched a daring attack on a prison around 2:45 a.m. and managed to flee the area along with Galdámez.
Police say, prison official Carlos Alberto Fuentes and Otto Barrientos Sánchez, 39, a passer-by were killed. Sánchez 10-year-old daughter Débora Barrientos Maldonado was injured. The following federal agents Usvín Amílcar Miranda Godínez, Lelvin Israel Ramírez Cifuentes and Edwin Freddy Godínez Orozco, including Sergio John Sosa López, a member of the military were reported injured while trying to repell the attack at the prison.
Galdámez kidnapped Vásquez on November 27, and later killed and dismembered his body, which was then dumped in five plastic bags under a bridge. A note was placed on a bag saying, "died for messing with another man's woman."

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Suspect Accused Of Killing And Dismembering Guatemalan Soccer Player Escapes From Prison

Elmer Aroldo Celada Galdámez

Photo: Prensa Libre

Two dead and six reported injured in daring prison escape in Malacatán

By H. Nelson Goodson
December 9, 2010

Malacatán, San Marcos, Guatemala - On Wednesday, Elmer Aroldo Celada Galdámez, 20, who was arrested on December 5, for the murder and dismemberment of pro-soccer player Carlos Mercedes Vásquez on November 27 has escaped from prison, according to the National Civil Police. At least 20 armed men believed to be members of the Mexican Zetas launched a daring attack on the prison around 2:45 a.m. and managed to flee the area along with Galdámez.
Police say, prison official Carlos Alberto Fuentes and Otto Barrientos Sánchez, 39, a passer-by were killed. Sánchez 10-year-old daughter Débora Barrientos Maldonado was injured. The following federal agents Usvín Amílcar Miranda Godínez, Lelvin Israel Ramírez Cifuentes and Edwin Freddy Godínez Orozco, including Sergio John Sosa López, a member of the military were reported injured while trying to repell the attack at the prison.
Galdámez kidnapped Vásquez on November 27, and later killed and dismembered his body, which was then dumped in five plastic bags under a bridge. A note was placed on a bag saying, "died for messing with another man's woman."

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Milwaukee Senior Walmart Greeter Needs Sensitivity Training To Appropriately Talk To Minorities?

Milwaukee, WI: Does Walmart greeter Lois Speelman need sensitivity training to appropriately speak to minorities? JSOnline: No charges in incident involving 100-year-old Walmart greeter http://bit.ly/gPvPEi

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U.S. Senate Democrats Postpone DREAM Act Vote Until They Can Assure 60 Votes Needed To Prevent Filibuster

Photo by HNG

U.S. student immigrants long awaited DREAM Act put on hold as lame duck session comes to an end in three weeks

By H. Nelson Goodson
December 9, 2010

Washington, D.C. - On Thursday, U.S. Senate Democrats decided to postpone the DREAM Act vote until they can assure the 60 votes needed to prevent a filibuster. Democrats voted down a previous Senate DREAM Act version to let the new House version come to debate and a vote.
Senator Harry Reid (D-Navada) majority leader decided to postpone a vote until Democrats can secure enough votes to pass the act. There are only three weeks left for the lame duck session to end.
House Democrats before noon on Thursday decided on a binding vote not to bring up to a vote the Republican/Obama tax cuts, including extending federal unemployment conssessions.
The latest, feds taking high-speed rail $1.2 billion funding from Wisconsin and Ohio and allocating it to other states, according to White House sources
On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the long awaited DREAM Act by a margin of bipartisan 216 - 198 votes, including eight Republicans. 38 Democrats voted with a majority of Republicans against it.
The DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Aliens Minors Act) would provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented students who were brought to the U.S. at a young age of 16 and lived in the U.S. for five years. Students must have graduated from a credited high school or have completed the G.E.D., have good moral character, pass a background check and complete at least two years of college or military service.
The DREAM Act will affect about 2 million undocumented students in the U.S.
The House approval comes after millions of undocument parents have already contributed billions of tax dollars and Social Security (SS) in the last twenty years and don't collect tax refunds or qualify for SS retirement benefits. The enormous support that was generated by immigrant rights groups and supporters throughout the nation to convince House representatives to approve it, finnally paid off. But now, Democrats are stalling approval until they can get the votes needed to pass it.
The House DREAM Act approval comes as a major blow for anti-immigrant groups and anti-amnesty organizations, which have engaged in racially motivated attacks and negative propaganda advocating against it.
Last week, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report indicated that the approval of the DREAM Act would help cut the federal deficit by $1.4 billion, and generate $2.3 billion in corporate and social insurance taxes within the next ten years. http://bit.ly/fk6B3N

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House Approves DREAM Act By 216-198 Vote, Now It Heads To U.S. Senate

Students of all ages protested on September 21, after the defeat of the DREAM Act by comming out and marching in S. Cesar E. Chavez Drive in Milwaukee. Today, they celebrated the House approval of the act. Photo by HNG

U.S. student immigrants long awaited DREAM Act almost a reality

By H. Nelson Goodson
December 8, 2010

Washington, D.C. - On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives shortly after 8:00 p.m. passed the long awaited DREAM Act by a margin of bipartisan 216 - 198 votes, including eight Republicans. 38 Democrats voted with a majority of Republicans against it. The DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Aliens Minors Act) now heads to the U.S. Senate for a vote on Thursday morning, which is most likely to approve it after passing the main hurdle in the House.
The DREAM Act would provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented students who were brought to the U.S. at a young age of 16, lived in the U.S. for five years, had graduated from a credited high school or have completed the G.E.D., have good moral character, pass a background check and complete at least two years of college or military service.
The DREAM Act will affect about 2 million undocumented students in the U.S.
The House approval comes after millions of undocument parents have already contributed billions of tax dollars and Social Security (SS) in the last twenty years and don't collect tax refunds or qualify for SS retirement benefits. The enormous effort for support that was generated during the last four years by immigrant rights groups, activists, supporters, public and elected officials throughout the nation to convince House representatives to approve it, finally paid off.
The DREAM Act approval comes as a major blow for anti-immigrant groups and anti-amnesty organizations, which have engaged in racially motivated attacks and negative propaganda advocating against it.
Last week, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report indicated that the approval of the DREAM Act would help cut the federal deficit by $1.4 billion, and generate $2.3 billion in corporate and social insurance taxes within the next ten years. http://bit.ly/fk6B3N

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Milwaukee South Side Alderman Blasts Police Department And Bradley Tech High School For Student Brawl Blackout

Photo: MPS

Police OpenSky radio communications keeps response to incidents from media and public

By H. Nelson Goodson
December 7, 2010

Milwaukee - On Tuesday, Alderman Robert "Bob" Donovan from the 8th District exposed and blasted both Milwaukee Public Schools administration (MPS) and the Milwaukee Police Department's (MPD) lack to inform the media, public and parents of students about an alleged gang brawl at Bradley Tech High School on November 30. Donovan in a press release says, the brawl involved at least 28 police officers, 39 squads cars and sargeants who arrested 18 students and had recovered a sawed-off rifle and fake gun outside the school. Donovan claims it was a gang fight.
MPS says, both the sawed-off rifle and fake gun were found in an area away from the school and the youths taken into custody for the rifle and fake gun were not students at Bradley Tech.
The teens arrested ranged in ages 14 to 18, including Deandre Martin, 18, who is charged as an adult. Ten of the youths were referred to Children's Court Center and are facing charges connected to the November brawl incident.
The brawl began when Milwaukee students posted comments criticizing certain Chicago high schools and targeted students on Facebook. Milwaukee school officials fearing retaliation from Chicago students they decided to shut down four high schools including Bradley Tech. Students called relatives about the school shut down and they showed up at Bradley Tech. MPS is planning to ban cell phones during school hours.
Chicago students apparently showed up in Milwaukee, but police haven't released information about any Chicago student taken into custody during the November incident.
Donovan stated, "It is unconscionable to me that citizens of Milwaukee haven't been made aware of this situation at the school... I believe that it borders on criminal behavior for MPS officials not to have notified public officials about the incidents at Bradley Tech." The school should be declared a nuisance property and should be closed because it has become a "dumping ground" for troubled students by MPS, according to Donovan.
Alderman Donovan came short of calling for an inquiry by the Common Council of the blackout of information by MPD and MPS. 
Police also responded to a second incident in December. On December 1, 29 police squads were assigned to patrol the school area and on December 2, 14 squads were assigned once again, but no information was released.
The MPD OpenSky radio communications can't be monitored by the media or the public. The police communication's media director failed to post or send out a press release informing the media about the massive police involvement and incident at Bradley Tech High School in November. MPS has also failed to inform public officials and parents of students about such incidents, according to Alderman Donovan.
MPD has previously kept information from the media and public concerning police response and involvement in certain incidents. Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn has not commented on Donovan's allegations that the police department has blackout information from the media and public.

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Voces de la Frontera Files Employee Termination Complaint Against Esperanza Unida With NLRB Resulting From Wage Payment Issues

Robert Miranda
Executive Director, Esperanza Unida, Inc.

Esperanza Unida could face legal action for firing two employees for complaining about pay issues.

By H. Nelson Goodson
December 6, 2010

Milwaukee - On Monday, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (JSonline) reported that Esperanza Unida is facing a complaint from Voces de la Frontera (VDLF) with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). VDLF filed the complaint alleging Robert Miranda, Executive Director of Esperanza Unida terminated Jose Toledo and Nydia Millan after going to VDLF to complain about receiving pay checks without funds on occassions.
Miranda in a termination letter wrote, Toledo had violated a "Confidentiality" provision, by revealing pay issues to VDLF, according to JSonline. But the clause is vague and pertains to revealing trade and product secrets and not to keep employees from exercising their right to complain about wage issues as protected by federal labor laws.
Toledo earned $16.35 an hour and worked at Esperanza Unida for more than five yeaars as a truck driver, forklift and mechanic instructor. Millan who is married to Toledo worked for four years as a day care instructor and earned $8.32 an hour.
Esperanza Unida, a non-profit organization is currently experiencing financial issues and is reorganizing. It provides job training and job placement to low-income workers.
VDLF also a non-profit organization advocates for low-income workers rights and fair wage.
VDLF in the complaint alleged that Miranda terminated both Toledo and Millan for complaining about not getting paid and receiving payroll checks that bounced. 
If NLRB finds that Miranda violated both Toledo's and Millan's rights they will file legal action against Esperanza Unida, Inc., according to JSonline.

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