Retirees added their voices Tuesday to the chorus of people denouncing Miami police for heavy-handed tactics during last week's protests against the creation of a Free Trade Area of the Americas.
According to organizers who tried to get 24 busloads of retirees and union supporters down to a rally at Miami's Bayfront Park on Thursday, half those buses had to turn around because they couldn't get into the downtown area. Some buses that made it couldn't get close enough, requiring some elderly protesters to walk several blocks, organizers said.
At least one retiree was arrested. Another senior citizen was doused with pepper spray, and one woman was shot in the breast with a rubber bullet, said Tony Fransetta, president of the Wellington-based Florida Alliance for Retired Americans.
"I wasn't throwing any rocks. I wasn't yelling or screaming," said retired airline pilot Bentley Killmon, 71, who was arrested while trying to find his bus home to Fort Myers. "I wasn't doing anything but walking to get myself out of there."
Killmon was held overnight on disorderly conduct charges, along with Larry Winawer, 34, an organizer for the alliance who was trying to help him get on the bus. After being directed to walk along some railroad tracks by one set of police officers, Winawer and Killmon said they found themselves walking toward another group of officers who ordered them to get down.
Winawer said he was able to hit the dirt immediately, but Killmon was shoved to the ground. The men were handcuffed, arrested and taken to a holding area and later a holding cell.
About 24 hours after they were arrested, the charges against Killmon, who lives by Lake Okeechobee, were dropped and charges against Winawer were downgraded to disobeying a police officer. Winawer pleaded not guilty, posted a $250 bond and is awaiting trial.
"I will not plead guilty to something I did not do," Winawer said.
Miami police spokesman Lt. Bill Schwartz said the presence of violent protesters the morning of the Thursday rally meant the retirees' buses could not be allowed to get as close to the Bayfront Park amphitheater as organizers had planned.
"Crowds from the morning protests caused traffic congestion and prevented the buses from reaching the amphitheater," Schwartz said. "Every decision was made with the intention safety was our No. 1 concern. If at any time we had information that a crowd of violent demonstrators was forming we had to revise our plans as they went along."
Schwartz said he could not comment on particular incidents, such as the man who was allegedly pepper sprayed or the woman who was allegedly hit by a rubber bullet, because he did not have any specific information about the cases.
However, he said police did not set out to hurt anyone.
"If you're taking part in or you're caught up in a violent demonstration, you're in a risky situation," Schwartz said.
Jail spokeswoman Janelle Hall said no incident report had been filed involving the allegations made by Winawer and Killmon.
"Those persons who have complaints can feel free to contact our internal affairs bureau to express their concerns," she said.
Union leaders have asked for a Congressional investigation into police tactics while protesters, including the retirees, have promised legal action.
Madeline Baró Diaz can be reached at mbaro@sun-sentinel.com or 305-810-5007.
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