TUSD Mexican American Studies supporter, Roberto “Dr Cintli” Rodriguez called for civility today after weeks of incivility from MAS supporters. He called a press conference to bring attention to an upcoming hearing in the matter of a drunk caller who threatened him last year.
Attorney General Tom Horne, who seeks attention at every opportunitiy, accepted an email invitation (see email below) from the opportunistic “Dr. Cintli” in the civility publicity stunt. The two engaged in what witnesses said was a “sad game of ping pong” hurling accusations and barbs in front of a hungry press.
Telling the police that he made the calls after a few shots, Randall Leon Thompson left a series of bizarre and threatening messages on “Dr. Cintli’s” office voice mail on May 9.
According to the Tucson Weekly, “Randall Leon Thompson, was served on Aug. 8 to face an arraignment hearing on Sept. 28 at 8:30 a.m. The reason Thompson’s case goes to the Justice Court is because he’s being charged with misdemeanors — five counts: Three separate counts of threatening or intimidating; one count of use of telephone of threatening to harass; and a final count of harassment.”
Telling the police that he made the calls after a few shots, Thompson left a series of bizarre and threatening messages on Roberto “Dr. Cintli” Rodriguez’s office voice mail on May 9.
According to the police report, Randall described himself in one call as “….. part white and part Native American,” and threatened to use a .357 magnum gun and claimed to “know how to fight.”
Initially he told the police that he “didn’t threaten his (Rodriguez) life or anything like that.” He claimed that he just told him, “this ain’t Mexico and he needs to stop.” When confronted by police again, with the Randall admitted ‘that he had had a few shots’ (of alcohol). The Flagstaff resident told the police “I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m, I’m not going anywhere.” He then continued to be belligerent to the police officer calling him an a^&*%$ four times and before hanging up said, “…did I make anymore calls? Have I called him since? No, I haven’t now shut the f%$# up. Don’t call me again.”
It is unclear if Flagstaff or any community has adequate anger management classes for Mr. Thompson.
Victims of Ethnic Studies supporters have not come forward with complaints to police in an effort to avoid creating a more heated atmosphere.
Excerpt of Cintli’s email:
July 30, 2011
Dear Members of the TUSD Governing Board:
Hope this finds you well.
I would like to invite you and other Arizona elected and appointed officials to a press conference on Thurs. Aug 2 at 10am in front of TUSD headquarters at 1010 Tenth St. in Tucson regarding the topic of death threats made within the context of TUSD’s dismantled Mexican-American Studies department. I received three death threats in May of 2001, and the perpetrator is now scheduled for trial on August 7.
I am regularly vilified by the opponents of TUSD-MAS in the media, including one nonsensical YouTube video, that alleges that I am the ringleader of the movement to defend MAS. While I am used to such distortions, I believe the use of death threats is at entirely different level.
Death threats have no place in public discourse and I ask you to join me in making that denunciation. I am a professor at the University of Arizona, and I am a strong supporter of the former MAS-TUSD. As part of this invite, I’m not asking you to support me or my views, but simply to step forward in public to let the public know in the most unambiguous terms, that the use of death threats, given Arizona’s and Tucson’s experience with violence, is not permissible in any civil society.
If you are able to attend, please let me know in advance. A brief 1-2 minute statement to the media would be appreciated. Whether you are able to attend the press conference or not, I hope you are able to send a press statement Thto me that expresses your unequivocal opposition to the use of death threats as part of public debate.
Thank you.
Roberto Rodriguez
Asst. Professor, University of Arizona
520-271-6796 XColumn@gmail.com PO BOX 3812 – Tucson AZ 85712
In his email, Cintli makes the unfounded claim that UNIDOS members were threatened in a YouTube video. Police investigated the claim, no charges were ever made against the video maker.
Cintli is the author of The X in La Raza; the manifesto for many MAS supporters. The self-published book used in MAS classes; Cintli preaches decolonization and makes an argument against the Treaty of Hidalgo.
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