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Zuniga, Diana From: Katie Brazer <katiebrazer@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2025 4:08 PM To: eComment Subject: Public Comment for June 17, 2025 Council Meeting Attachments: Public Comment for Santa Ana City Council Meeting.pdf Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana.Use caution when opening attachments or links. Public Comment for Santa Ana City Council Meeting Submitted by: Katelyn Brazer Aceves, Vice President, Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education Date: Tuesday June 17th, 2025 Dear Mayor and Honorable Members of the Santa Ana City Council, My name is Katelyn Brazer Aceves, and I serve as the Vice President of the Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education. I submit this statement as both a public comment and a formal letter to each of you out of deep concern for the safety, dignity, and civil and constitutional rights of our Santa Ana community. This is not how I expected to end Saturday, June 14th—a day that began with peaceful gathering and community solidarity. We came together to say ICE out of Santa Ana and to call for an end to the inhumane detention, deportation, and separation of our students and their families. What followed that evening, however, was deeply alarming: a disturbing escalation of militarized policing that I personally experienced and have since heard reflected in the accounts of numerous community members. At approximately 9:45 p.m., after being dropped off at Ross and 3rd Street, I attempted to walk to my parked car at a metered space just ahead on 3rd. I was stopped by two officers who informed me the street was closed and that no one was being allowed through unless they could prove they lived on that block. Despite pointing directly to my car, which was visible from where we stood, I was told I could not proceed. When I asked how I was supposed to retrieve my car, one officer replied, "Find another way." As I called my friend for help and expressed concern for my safety, the same officer looked at me and said, "Don't blame me for this ma'am. I didn't tell you to come out here tonight." His words felt retaliatory and punitive—implying that my participation in a peaceful protest had stripped me of the right to basic support, movement, and safety. At that moment, I no longer felt like a protected resident of this city. I felt targeted and vulnerable. Shortly after, I witnessed this same officer stop three young people walking along the sidewalk. Even after they showed IDs and stated they lived nearby, they were told, "This is not a shortcut home," and denied access. It is extremely troubling that the police were turning away pedestrians trying to access their homes or vehicles— especially youth—and suggesting they wander around at night in search of another way through. These were not isolated moments. This was a pattern of exclusion and intimidation. Earlier in the evening, a teacher colleague shared with me that she and a small group of community members—engaged in quiet conversation—were aggressively approached by police and ordered to disperse. In my own case, I was forced to walk several blocks—down Ross to First Street, toward Flower, and back to 3rd Street—just to reach my car. Each intersection was blocked by officers and vehicles. I continued cautiously and was eventually able to reach my vehicle. But as I attempted to exit the area, I witnessed another vehicle turn onto 3rd Street from Flower. Within seconds, three officers swarmed it with large weapons drawn. The passengers appeared to be young people. I feared for their lives—and for my own. 1