You know him as the man who went on Comedy Central and told our secret that burritos have a magical super power and that he knows all about Rosa Clarks.

But this morning, local right-wing media want you to know something else about Tucson Unified School District board member Michael Hicks — he was assaulted by former Mexican-American studies students, teachers and supporters at the TUSD special board meeting, Monday, July 2.

However, that’s is a complete lie. Loretta Hunnicutt’s Arizona Daily Independent and KNST’s Garret Lewis described an incident between Hicks and MAS supporters that absolutely didn’t happen.

They are right about one thing — Tucson Police Department officers working security during the meeting stood by, escorted him outside and stood right next to Hicks as he took a break to taunt students.

The meeting included a study session for board members to learn more about an administrative plan to close schools and build larger schools for more students in order to close the district’s growing deficit. The proposal will culminate in community meetings and a 2013 Bond to raise money for new school construction. After everything that’s taken place this past two years, it will be an interesting process to see how the board and district use “marketing” to convince voters to support a bond.

Before the special meeting started, MAS supporters were there as part of a Freedom Summer kick-off — a month long project with events and actions led by organizers and Chicano studies professors from Michigan. Organizers and artists from across the country are spending their July in Tucson for actions and other programs in support of MAS. This support also includes canvassing specific neighborhoods to engage voters on TUSD board elections and MAS.

During an executive session, Hicks walked out and stood on the wheelchair ramp that put him above the students and supporters. Some students chanted Rosa Clarks, and Hicks began to taunt students and jeer at them, while TPD officers stood by. As Hicks went inside, he turned back to taunt students one more time.

Inside, former MAS director Sean Arce told Hicks that the people he was making fun of are his constituents and he invited Hicks to sit down for a conversation away from the cameras and crowd. Sean never threatened him or pushed his chest into Hicks — although Hicks wagged his finger and looked like he was about to do more. However, this morning, Arce or others aren’t talking about pressing charges against Hicks for attempted assault or assault.

Take a look at the Three Sonorans video. Toward the end, you see video of what occurred outside the admin building and it ends with a photo that captures what took place. You can see more of what took place that night right here. Thugs? Who are the real thugs here?

I have a call out to School Safety & Security Director Jeff Coleman, as well as TPD Public Information Officer Sgt. Maria Hawke asking why Hicks was allowed and escorted outside to taunt students and supporters? I’m also waiting for Hicks to respond to an e-mail asking why he claims he was assaulted that night.

This article appears in Jul 5-11, 2012.

14 replies on “No, Michael Hicks Wasn’t Assaulted”

  1. And how was Hicks able to re-enter the TUSD building without going through security?

  2. While I’m in favor of restoring MAS to the schools, I have to say that it’s astonishing how inarticulate many of the protesters are, including some of their main spokespeople. It’s actually worrisome how poor they are at public speaking.

  3. Unfortunately, this poorly shot video does not really allow an unbiased observer to see what went down, and serves neither side’s agenda. However, the sound recording of the pro-MAS demonstrator(s) with the bull-horn proves them to be only slightly more articulate than Michael Hicks. Neither the police or TUSD security are obligated to do anything until something happens. Two loudmouths going at it is nothing happening.

  4. “……..Hicks as he took a break to taunt students.” Your words. Says a lot more about your bias than it does about his. You people at The Weekly are pathetic in your blind bias and racism.

  5. Wow Allan, you must have taken MAS classes to come up with these words and thoughts.

  6. Since this info comes from Mari Hererras and Abie Morales, we must be hearing the gospel truth. Now way that Sean Arce and Freedom Summer would show up with bill horns and fists raised to be quiet and unassuming. Thanks Mari for setting things straight.

  7. Check it out: Didn’t the U.S .9th circut of Appeals rule on resurrecting the MAS program @ the T.U.S.D. high schools already? Where does M.A.L.D.E.F.and Richard Martinez and Raul Aguirre weigh in on getting MAS back in place by August 2nd. These people better get some Federal Action going to get these students back into MAS classes pronto.
    Latino leaders like Raul Grijalva, African-American leaders, Native-American, Asian-American leaders all need to rally around this issue in Arizona and call on the Executive Branch to call in the U.S. Marshall’s and the U.S. Army Reserves to force the Governor Jan Brewer to submit to Federal law. Federal Law is Supremacy Law. (that means Fed. Law trumps State law) Insofar, as Michael Hicks; what can I say Michael Hicks is, what it is. He knew what he was doing when he came out of 1010, without the rest of the Board. He had the same attitude when we were in Associated Students (Student Government) together 1990-1992. If he thinks being on the T.U.S.D. board is going to be a stepping stone into a life in Politics, he’s crazy. All these pols are going to crash, This rhetoric and racist legislation is going to come back to haunt these politicans. Now go out and register more humanity in Arizona!
    -Manny Gracia

  10. Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but wasn’t it a lady named Rosa Parks who refused to give up her seat to a white bus passenger more than 60 years ago in the South, sparking a successful civil rights protest?

    Is it possible that’s who the chanters were referring to? If so, I’m surprised none of the protesters, Mr. Gracia or Ms. Herreras caught the error and got Ms. Parks’ name corrected. She’s one of the better know figures from the civil rights movement.

    Once more: that’s Parks, not Clarks. End of lesson for today. Now back to your MAS classes.

  11. Skeptic,
    Google “Michael Hicks & The Daily Show” and get back in the loop. I don’t have time to explain all the news to you.

  12. OK, just did my homework. I see that both Michael Hicks and Al Madrigal both referred to the civil rights icon as “Clarks.” Yeah, that’s embarrassing. What next? Will we hear analogies to the deeds of Marvin Luther King and that Black Panther leader Huey Newsom?

  13. @ Skeptic
    Yeah, everything is a teachable moment.
    Here’s the way it is:
    When Hicks said “Rosa Clark,” he was being unknowingly ironic.
    When Al Madrigal said “Rosa Clark” he was being satirical, and a smart-ass – not that there’s anything wrong with that.
    When the protestors chanted “Rosa Clark” they were continuing the joke.
    The Daily Show – once again, and tragically, America’s best source of truthful reporting, but you have to understand satire.

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