Several demonstrators said they wanted to respond to a pro-cop rally that was held after their first two protests. Television coverage showed only a handful of individuals demonstrating in support of the police in that action. According to the Yakima Herald, the 30-minute-long event was made up mainly of members of the International Footprinters Association, "a national social (group) whose membership is 51 percent former law enforcement workers."

At the time of the cop attack, the Jiménez family was holding a baptism party for their two-year-old son. The cops had come by twice to complain about loud music, although the music had been lowered after the first visit. Gloria Aparicio, who was at the picket line, explained what she witnessed. "Ricardo was handcuffed and the cops were punching him. I tried to talk to the cops but a woman cop pushed me away. That’s when they pepper-sprayed the kids and all of us.... My four-year-old son said, ‘Mom, they’re pointing a gun at my uncle.’"

Anabel Chávez, 20, who is Ricardo Jiménez’s sister-in-law, said, "There was no need for what the police did. There was a woman cop and two other cops punching and kicking Ricardo."

After the picket line some of the protesters went to the Jiménez household and watched a videotape of the cop attack. It shows a cloud of pepper spray engulfing the Jiménez’s yard. At one point a young man from the party is seen trying to calm things down. A cop grabs him and shoves him, almost knocking him to the ground. Many of the cops are in full riot gear and some have their guns drawn. In the video one cop, in an embarrassed manner, puts his gun away after the crowd yells at him to do so.  
 
Snokist unionists join protest
Among the protesters were Petra Núñez and three other workers from Snokist Growers who were recently forced to reapply for their jobs through an employment agency that pays several dollars less an hour than Snokist. Núñez, who has been at Snokist for 16 years, said her pay was cut from $10.12 an hour to $7.50. Also at the protest was Rogelio Montes, an organizer for the Western Council of Industrial Workers, which is involved in the unionization effort at Snokist. He has helped organize all three actions in support of Jiménez. With well over 90 percent of the eligible workers having signed union election cards, the vote at Snokist is set for October 11.

Ernest Mailhot is a meat packer and member of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 81 in Seattle.  
 
 
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