Neighbors, protesters testify about U.S. raid on Elián's home

Florida Sun Sentinel ^ | January 25 2005 | Ann W. O'Neill

[presidio9]

Neighbors caught in clouds of tear gas when armed federal agents seized Elián González from the home of his Miami relatives testified Monday about burning eyes, sore throats and lingering fearfulness and nightmares nearly five years after the predawn raid.

"It felt like you were going to die," said María Riera, who lived across Northwest Second Avenue from the boy's aunt, uncle and cousin. She testified she was standing in her driveway when a federal agent doused her with chemicals from a small gun attached to a cylinder.

Her next-door neighbor, cement worker Antonio Ortega, testified he was putting his lunch in his car when three vanloads of masked agents dressed in dark clothing arrived at the González home in Little Havana. He ducked behind a fence and back onto his property, but an agent sprayed him with gas from the sidewalk without warning, he said.

Eduardo Rodríguez, a watchmaker, said he recently had cataract surgery. He blames the raid for the cataracts and a persistent problem with dry eyes.

Eight people took the witness stand in Miami federal court on the opening day of a trial in which 13 neighbors and protesters accuse the federal government of using excessive force in the April 22, 2000 raid dubbed "Operation Reunion." The boy's Miami family had refused to relinquish custody to his father, who lives in Cuba.

The neighbors said the agents did not identify themselves or issue any warnings. Attorneys for the plaintiffs claim tear gas was not authorized for use during the raid, but had been borrowed from local police departments.

[presidio9]

Ann Coulter summed up this story best when she pointed out that had it not been for Elian Gonzalez, Al Gore would have been President on 9/11/2001.

[Houmatt]

Eight people took the witness stand in Miami federal court on the opening day of a trial in which 13 neighbors and protesters accuse the federal government of using excessive force in the April 22, 2000 raid dubbed "Operation Reunion."

These eight people call their lawsuit, "Operation Lies."

[presidio9]

[cotton]

Yep, good possibility this had an effect on the election in Florida. Sure was a 'over the top' raid for a simple task.

[FroedrickVonFreepenstein]

WHAT are they afraid of getting out?

The Truth

[MizSterious]

Elian ping!

(Never forget!)

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

Six weeks later:

http://www.impeachreno.org/images/donatandaloharonnie.jpg

.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.


ELIAN's -Cold Dead Eyes- in Cuba

http://www.Freerepublic.com/forum/a395a99a7020f.htm


.

[Cicero]

The following is taken from the judge's biography posted as a PDF file at the bottom of his web site. Party affiliation is not given, but he appears to be one of clinton's earliest appointments, going by the date:

K. MICHAEL MOORE
U. S. DISTRICT COURT
James Lawrence King Federal Justice Building
99 NE 4th Street, Suits 1168
Miami, FL 33132
OFFICE TELEPHONE
(305) 530-7704
BORN
July 17, 1951
DATE OF APPOINTMENT
February 10, 1992
ENTERED ON DUTY
March 6, 1992
EDUCATION
Florida State University, B.A., 1972
Fordham University School of Law, J.D., 1975
PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT
Assistant U.S. Attorney (Southern/Dist/FL) 1976-1981
Assistant U.S. Attorney (Northern/Dist/FL) 1981-1987
United States Attorney (Northern/Dist/FL) 1987-1989
Director, United States Marshals Service 1989-1992
FAMILY
Eva Catherine Moore, wife
COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS/PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
The Florida Bar
The Federal Bar

[Cicero]

Oops. A February 1992 appointment would be one of GHW Bush's appointments during his last year in office. Sorry about that.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.


The way it was:

http://www.ImpeachReno.org


.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

Here's our weekend Elian discussion:


Elian (Gonzalez) Assault Trial Set for Monday

http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1326283/posts

.