Elian (Gonzalez) Assault Trial Set for Monday

NewsMax ^ | 1/22/05 | AP

[wagglebee]

MIAMI (AP) _ A federal judge has set a Monday trial date for the claims of a dozen people who said they were wrongly assaulted by federal officers during the raid that removed Elian Gonzalez from his family's home.

The plaintiffs say they were innocent bystanders who were gassed and beaten outside the home during the early morning raid on April 22, 2000.

U.S. District Judge Michael Moore set the trial date Friday.

"I think the public's going to be surprised that elderly people were gassed while praying the rosary," said Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, which represents 11 of the plaintiffs.

The federal government's attorney did not return a message seeking comment Friday.

Elian was one of three survivors of a November 1999 shipwreck that killed his mother and others fleeing Cuba. He was turned over to his Miami relatives while his custody situation was resolved.

The raid took place after government officials said the family refused to return the boy so he could be taken back to his father in Cuba.

[Eaker]

Besides if they're successful and not sponging off the government what do you care?

Successful bank robbers are not sponging off of the government me either.

Our government needs to have a real policy regarding this issue. Either it is wrong or it isn't. Grey exists for the left not for the right.

We do not frown on the hungry stealing an apple. It would be a different story if that same apple was your child's dinner. This person stole food from your child's mouth.

It is a matter of perspective.

[cyborg]

Yes but it's government's official policy because of Castro. it's not illegal entry if the government says it isn't. Besides ending the policy of asylum for Cubans is NOT going to end in this lifetime as long as Castro is alive and also as republicans are running for office.

[rmh47]

The family still had litigation before the court on this matter, when federal agents stormed the family residence. Due process is either a reasoned concept or it isn't. Evidently the Clinton administration deemed that it wasn't. A final decision from the highest court in the land should have been handed down, BEFORE federal agents were turned lose on Elian's relatives. Even then, the family should have been given the opportunity to hand Elian over in an orderly manor, after all appeals had been reviewed and denied. There are valid claims by both sides regarding who should have been given final custody of Elian. The courts and not the Clinton administration should have had the final say on the matter.

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! You are exactly right!

[Eaker]

You are right.

Yet wrong is wrong and illegal is illegal.

President Bush is doing nothing to change government policy in this respesct.

Can we fix this?

[cyborg]

It's not going to happen anytime soon. Tampering with the wet foot-dry foot policy would be death politically. I am not that familiar with the Cuban community in Florida except to say that how some Cubans get here is considered an act of insulting Castro not illegal immigration (like the Mexicans).

[Ready4Freddy]

Actually, the policy of 'feet wet-feet dry' has its genesis in E.O. 12807, signed by GHW Bush in May, 1992.

Blame Jimmuh and Clinton for wet foot-dry foot.

There was a drop in 2002 - 2003, but probably not from 9/11. 2004 levels approached the 2001 mark.

Maritime Migrant flow from Cuba:

FY2000 - 2811
FY2001 - 3277
FY2002 - 2119
FY2003 - 2823
FY2004 - 3082

Even so, the amount of Cubans getting here by means of studebakers, pickups on tires, and inner tubes has decreased SEVERELY since 9-11.

[cyborg]

I was mistaken about Clinton with wet foot-dry foot, but I do believe the Mariel Boatlift happened under the watch of Jimmuh.

[DoughtyOne]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[Ready4Freddy]

Mariel was April - October, 1980, so it was during the Carter admin. Not like they could do much about Castro emptying his prisons and giving them boats, tho.

Feet wet-feet dry also had genesis in Pres Proc 4685 and EO 12324, both signed in September, 1981 by Reagan.

[Reagan80]

Once Castro is gone...and Elian is in his 20's, I predict that the young man will come back here again. I know he's likely been 'brainwashed'; but I also believe the effects are short-lived and not permanent. That boy knew true freedom when he was here. He'll remember. This time he'll stay.

Reagan80

[Ready4Freddy]

So you assume that circumstances won't get better when Castro goes belly up? When / if things do improve in Cuba, I surmise that the flow will be from the SE US to Cuba, not the other way around.

Once Castro is gone...and Elian is in his 20's, I predict that the young man will come back here again.

[bvw]

Tell them it was peaceful in Berlin in 1934 too.

[Lancey Howard]

Great post!

Regards,
LH

[Ready4Freddy]

Agreed. Should finally put to rest the notion that the INS pointed a gun at Elian.

[international american]

BTTT

[international american]

Double BUMP

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for linking to the DSL! Hugs!!!

[Lancey Howard]

Should finally put to rest the notion that the INS pointed a gun at Elian.

LMAO!

[tallhappy]

Hey Freddy, why don't you go back where you came from?

Make the USA a better country for us all, why doncha?

[gortklattu]

---And I know someone who says he misses how peaceful it was during the Clinton years ....---

Many neighborhoods are quieter after the liberals control the government... Hey, where'd everybody go?