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Police Brutality
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Victory!Minneapolis District AttorneyRAISE THE DEGREEDerek M Chauvin is a Minneapolis police officer who killed George Floyd on Memorial day. May 25, 2020. The chokehold he used isn't even LEGAL in MMA, because it can kill someone in MINUTES. He has done this so many times against Latinos, Native Americans, and Black people. In 2008 he shot an unarmed Black man, he was one of the officers that helped MURDER Wayne Reyes, a Latino man, with SIXTEEN bullets. He is guilty. People of color will not be silenced by this system any longer.
ALLIE M2,999,6535/29/20
Victory!Mayor Jacob FreyJUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYDON THE EVENING OF MAY 25TH, 2020, GEORGE FLOYD WAS SLOWLY AND MERCILESSLY KILLED BY 4 MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICERS WHILE BEING VIDEO TAPED BY CONCERNED CITIZENS BEGGING THEM TO STOP. FLOYD WAS SURROUNDED. HE WAS PLEADING WITH THEM, AS DEREK CHAUVIN’S KNEE PINNED DOWN HIS THROAT. FLOYD SAID, “I CAN’T BREATHE, I CAN’T BREATHE.” HE THEN BECAME UNRESPONSIVE, BUT WAS CONTINUALLY CHOKED UNTIL HIS NOSE BEGAN TO BLEED, AND HIS LIFELESS BODY WAS SHOVED ONTO A STRETCHER, AND INTO THE BACK OF AN AMBULANCE. This is an open to demand to Mayor of Minneapolis Jacob Frey, Hennepin County Attorney Michael O. Freeman, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehensions to ARREST, and INDICT the involved officer’s involved as follows: Derek Chauvin: 2nd Degree Murder Tou Thao, and the other two unidentified officers: Accessory to 2nd Degree Murder The enraged and sickened citizens of this state applaud the Minneapolis Police Department’s swift termination of these officers, but this is so far from enough to be consider justice. The police force are supposed to be people our communities trust to protect us, but as of now, they seem little more than the future murderers of our black brothers and sisters. True justice would have been George Floyd never being killed in the first place. The only compromise we are willing to accept is treating his killers as the senseless criminals they are. We realize you are investigating this matter as we speak, but there is a reason this petition exists, even with that knowledge. We don’t trust you to bring this to justice without our explicit anger expressed to you in overwhelming numbers. We have seen this very injustice go unchecked over and over for years upon years. We believe that all of the evidence needed for indictment is in the video of the incident. No extenuating circumstances could detract from the relevance of that damning footage. We implore you. Show us we are wrong not to trust you. Hold these former officers accountable to the rule of law.
Andrew Bailey3,415,2035/26/20
Victory!Adrian Perkins, John Bel Edwards, Louisiana, Shreveport , Shreveport City Council, Shreveport Police DepartmentRequire Shreveport Police Officers to have Body CamerasIn February of 2019, a Shreveport police officer was placed on leave for their involvement in the shooting of Anthony Childs. This incident has raised the need for body cameras on Shreveport police officers. Since the death of George Floyd, and countless others, it's increasingly important that there is proper documentation should situations escalate. The benefits of police body cameras center around more transparency, civility, and even possible training benefits to future recruits. These body cams can also be used to corroborate evidence in potential future conflicts. [1] Studies have found that the use of body cams lead to less use-of-force incidents and "have [a] strong potential to benefit police agencies and communities alike." [2]Other potential steps Shreveport could take to decrease potential police brutality could be enforcing de-escalation training. We would like the local Shreveport government to begin requiring body cams, or to announce how it plans to make its citizens feel safer. [1] - https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/body-worn-cameras-what-evidence-tells-us[2] - https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/251416.pdf
Hayley Owens32,8385/29/20
Victory!U.S. Senate, Donald J. Trump, U.S. House of Representatives, President of the United StatesStop the use of tear gas on peaceful protesters!The use of tear gas is no longer allowed in war. So why is the use of it allowed by police? Tear gas is extremely harmful to the eyes, nose, mouth, skin, and respiratory system. During this time of COVID-19, using tear gas on huge groups of people is even more dangerous than it was before. Tear gas can also be lethal if inhaled at large amounts, but clearly, the police don't seem to mind. Police are clearly abusing the use of tear gas. These protests are peaceful; no trouble is being started by the protesters, and yet this harmful chemical is STILL being thrown into crowds to get them to disperse. Why is this allowed? How have we not yet found a different option? This needs to change. People are getting hurt. Using tear gas is no way to get your message across.
Elizabeth Salamone33,7866/3/20
United States Supreme Court, Montgomery Superior Court, Alabama Governor, Alabama Superior Court, Alabama State Senate, The Pardons and Parole Board of Alabama, C.J. Robinson, Kay IveyFree LaKeith Smith!At the age of 15, LaKeith Smith was taken into custody for the murder of his friend A'donte Washington who was killed by the police; an undisputed fact. After being sentenced to 65 years in maximum security, a team of advocates came together to save LaKeith's life from a sentence to die in prison. In 2015, LaKeith Smith and five other young boys broke into two residential homes during the day. At the age of 15, LaKeith was the youngest of the group. In response, the police were called to the scene and gunfire erupted. Amidst the conflict and being frightened by the sounds of gunshots, LaKeith ran away and hid. His friend, A’Donte Washington, 16, was tragically shot and killed by the officer during an alleged shoot-out between the two - a shoot-out that was both incorrectly reported and contradicted by ballistic reports. Despite his lack of involvement, LaKeith was charged and tried for the murder of A’Donte Washington. At 15, Lakieth Smith was NOT offered juvenile detention. Instead, the DA transferred LaKeith to an adult court and offered him a plea deal of “only” 25 years. LaKeith, being a child with a life ahead of him, declined the plea deal and exercised his constitutional right to a trial. Ultimately, when LaKeith was given his day in court, he was found guilty of all counts by an all-white jury. When it came to his sentencing, the judge subjected LaKeith to a 65-year sentence in prison (30 years for murder, 15 years for burglary, and 10 years each for two theft convictions to run consecutively). Only recently has his sentence been reduced to 55 years and none of the reduction came from an acquittal of murder. LaKeith Smith remains confined in Saint Clair, one of America's most dangerous maximum-security prisons. LaKeith was non-violent, he did not endanger anyone, and he certainly did not fire the bullet that murdered his friend. It is likely that if LaKeith had been tried as a juvenile and/or tried appropriately for the burglary, he would be free today. He has served 7 years of his 55 year sentence. With a 15% approval rate in 2021, Alabama’s judiciary is setting LaKeith up to remain in prison until he is 70 years old. In a study conducted by the CDC, data shows the average life expectancy for a Black man in America is 72.2 years old. LaKeith Smith has essentially received a life sentence for a crime he never committed. It has been almost two years since the JUSTICE4LAKEITHSMITH campaign started. Since then, a team of advocates have been fighting to save LaKeith from dying in prison. We ask for your help. Please share this petition and support the campaign to help us raise awareness about his story and reach decision-makers that can vacate the murder conviction. Thank you.
Amania Galloway911,3066/8/20
Victory!Marco Rubio, Florida State Senate, Florida State House, Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, City of Miami Beach, Florida Department of Law EnforcementWe've had enough!Our human and civil rights are at stake. For years, Black people have been treated unfairly when visiting Miami Beach. The constant maltreatment of Black visitors on Miami Beach during high impact days such as Spring Break, Memorial Day weekend and others will no longer be tolerated. We've had enough of being racially targeted, assaulted, and shot by the City of Miami Beach police and nothing being done about it! We are demanding changes to take place now. To start, we call for the city manager Jimmy Morales to resign and the police chief Richard Clements to be fired now! Let's make changes happen together. Sign this petition today! For more information, email miamidadecommunications@gmail.
NAACP Miami-Dade Branch Miami-Dade Branch2,9243/15/20
Victory!Birmingham City Commission, Birmingham Police DepartmentRequire Birmingham Police Officers to have Body Worn CamerasIn Birmingham, Michigan the police officers do not have body-worn cameras (BWCs). Despite $7,000,000 spent annually on the police department, they haven't budgeted for the cameras between now and 2023. We are demanding that the city revise the police department funds in the budget meeting in December 2020 to include these cameras by the 2021-2022 fiscal year so that our officers can be held accountable to the city’s residents. Nearby cities such as Royal Oak and Ferndale use BWCs. Both have reported that the cameras are a positive addition to their departments. Former mayor of Ferndale, Dave Coulter, stated that it cost $120,000 to purchase over 40 cameras. This number is a fraction of the seven million dollars of taxpayer money that goes to our police department. Adapting these body cameras should be relatively easy because the department already has body microphones and dash cameras that would be compatible with BWCs. Chief Clemence stated there were various privacy concerns surrounding footage from the cameras. Although privacy concerns are immensely important, they can be addressed by a thorough BWC policy. It's worth noting that back in 2017, state legislature unanimously passed protections for such recordings. I believe this is a matter of public safety. As one resident put it, "[privacy] concerns are definitely outweighed by human rights concerns." Body-worn cameras can be a way to protect cops as well as citizens by providing documentation that creates a transparent environment. To show support for this initiative, sign this petition and please consider voicing your concerns at the virtual city commission meeting on June 22nd at 7:30pm.Kiran Healey1,6276/15/20
Victory!Keith EllisonJustice for George Floyd**UPDATE: on May 29, Derek Chauvin was arrested and charged with second degree murder, third degree murder and manslaughter. The other three officers were charged with aiding and abetting second degree murder, aiding and abetting third degree murder and aiding and abetting manslaughter. But the fight for justice continues, as does the need to keep a spotlight on Minneapolis. Please help me make sure there is a fair judicial process that results in justice and in the conviction of George Floyd's murderers. George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer. George was handcuffed and restrained and being completely cooperative when this all went down. The officer put his knee on George’s neck choking him for minutes on minutes while George screamed that he could not breathe. Bystanders beg for the police officer to take his knee off George’s neck, but the officer didn’t listen and continued to choke him. Not that it would matter at all, but George was not even wanted for a violent crime. A grocery store that he was signing a bad check. We are trying to reach the attention of Mayor Jacob Frey and DA Mike Freeman to beg to have the officers involved in this disgusting situation fired and for charges to be filed immediately. Please help us get justice for George and his family!Kellen S19,685,9495/26/20
Keith Ellison Minnesota Attorney General, DA Mike Freeman Minnesota Governor, Tim Walz Minnesota GovernorJustice for Daunte Wright20 year old man Daunte Wright was murdered by Minneapolis-area police. He was pulled over for having an air freshener obstructing the view of his rear view mirror. The officers refused to tell him why he got pulled over, so he got back in his car to drive away, and they shot him. The car traveled several blocks before crashing into another vehicle. He died at the scene of the crash. His body was left on the street for hours by the police. He was a father to a two year old. Help get Daunte Wright and his family justice.harlow h.331,3384/11/21
Demand Immediate Resignation of YorkU President Rhonda Lenton due to Institutional RacismWe, the undersigned members of the York University community and concerned individuals, hereby petition for the immediate resignation of President Rhonda Lenton due to her failure to address and combat the pervasive environment of institutional racism at York University, particularly concerning anti-Palestinian racism (APR). President Lenton has repeatedly enabled and enforced discrimination against racialized students, faculty, and community members at York University. Under her leadership, the university has censored speakers advocating for Palestinian liberation, created a hostile environment for pro-Palestinian voices, and failed to adequately respond to concerns about campus policing and securitization raised by racialized community members. For example, in February 2024, cops were called to Dr. Muhannad Ayyash's lecture on decolonization in Palestine; York administration failed to transparently address why cops claimed the university had called them to investigate a "major event" and "possible protest" on campus. More recently, on June 6 2024, the university chose to request over 40 police officers to dismantle the student encampment demanding York divest from the oppression of Palestinians. This, too, is anti-Palestinian racism. Students, faculty, staff, and academic workers have repeatedly raised concerns about President Lenton’s leadership and seeming inability to engage with the community since her hiring in 2017. She and the Board of Governors were censured by CAUT for their repeated assaults on academic self-governance during the 2018 strike, leading several faculty and student unions to adopt “non-confidence” votes in YorkU senior administration. Senior administration were also criticized by YUFA when a report revealed that although 7.5% of Toronto’s population is Black, Black faculty comprise only 2.3% of the faculty complement at York—yet York rejected a targeted hires program for Black faculty, another failure by the Lenton-led administration to uphold the university’s stated DEDI principles. And despite deferred maintenance costs amounting to more than $1 billion, President Lenton’s abuse of taxpayer funds is endless: $750 billion in capital expenditures without appropriate oversight, increases in senior administration salaries and compensation totaling 37%, and pooled investments that allow the university to profit from war, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing. As an institution committed to academic freedom, social justice, accessible education, and collegial self-governance, York University must hold its leadership accountable for fostering an environment where all individuals feel safe, respected, and supported. President Lenton's erasure and silencing of marginalized communities have undermined these principles and have contributed to a culture of discrimination, academic unfreedom, and institutional racism. As YorkU students, faculty, and community members, we therefore call on President Rhonda Lenton to resign immediately to allow for new leadership that is dedicated to upholding the values of justice, equity, and decolonization at York University. We believe that her resignation is essential to restoring trust within the York community, beginning the process of undoing the systemic harm and discrimination perpetuated by senior administration, and ensuring that the university fulfills its commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students. We will no longer allow our tuition money and taxpayer funds to pay the salaries of senior administration who each day choose to align themselves with anti-Palestinian racism and enact institutional violence against students and academic workers. Tentanda Via: the way must be tried.Theo Fox1616/20/24
Michelle Wu, Andrea Campbell, Michelle WuSemi-comatose on the ground w/nothing in his hands, police fired 30+ times at point-blankSemi-comatose on the ground with nothing in his hands, police fired 31 bullets at point-blank, killing Juston Root. He posed NO conceivable THREAT. To date ZERO #transparency and ZERO #accountability. No body camera footage of the killing. CAN WE COUNT ON YOU to sign our petition? Help us make a difference by calling on Mr. Joshua Levy Acting U.S. Attorney for the district of Massachusetts and Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell to appoint an independent investigation into Juston's death! Click here to sign our petition. Semi-comatose on the ground with nothing in his hands, police fired 31 bullets at point-blank, killing Juston Root. He posed NO conceivable THREAT. To date ZERO #transparency and ZERO #accountability. No body camera footage of the killing. CAN WE COUNT ON YOU to sign our petition? Together, we can show our elected officials that an independent investigation is imperative! On Feb. 7th, 2020, Juston was just outside the mental health center where he received treatment for 8+ years, located in Boston at the campus of Brigham & Women's Hospital. He had an oversized clear plastic paintball marker in his waist. One of the hospital's security guards had a conversation with Juston and concluded that something was "seriously off' with him. They shook hands and Juston walked away. The Boston Police were called with a report of a person with a gun. When officers arrived, one of them used deadly force immediately, injuring Juston. He limped to his car, one of his legs was bleeding badly, he got in his car and drove away slowly. The Boston Police ensued a car chase, and minutes later Juston's car crashed. He staggered out (leaving close to 2000cc approx. of blood on his car seat), dropped to the ground nearby, covered in blood. A trained EMT passerby rushed over to give him aid, she described his condition as “lights off, no one home”. Moments later, the Police arrived, yelling at her to get away from him (Juston). Seconds after she ran one officer kicked Juston, and then the six officers shot 31 bullets from point blank range, killing him instantly. He posed no conceivable threat to the officers or the public. He was unarmed and had nothing in his hands. The Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey exonerated these officers in just 30 days. Critical evidence and important witness statements were left out of the DA's final report, including the former EMT who was there right before Juston was shot to death. The police have not released any footage of the actual shooting. The report says only one officer had a body camera on and filming, but their arm obstructed the lens just before the officers fired. The report is wholly inadequate and far from transparent. The only way to the truth is through an impartial independent investigation. Thank you for your support! http://www.JustonRoot.com Twitter: @JustonRoot
The Root Family22,2919/6/20
Richard James Giglio, R Anthony SalemPolice broke Brittany's teeth and lied to arrest her on false charges.A JSO Officer was illegally parked on Brittany Chrishawn's property. He admits to reading emails; he was not there on official business. She approached him asking if she could help him and ended up with broken teeth and nerve damage. Officer Alejandro Carmona-Fonseca started to yell at her after she asked if she could help me. Brittany felt threatened because he was so rude and asked him to leave her driveway. He refused, so she called the police to report him; but when the other police arrived, instead of helping her, they stormed in her home, attacking her instead. They broke her teeth and left her battered. They restrained her husband from entering their house while multiple male officers assaulted her. She was arrested and charged for battery on an officer and resisting arrest with violence. Even after her asking repeatedly, not once did they tell her they were there to arrest her or what for. Her constitutional rights were violated. Not only did the cops trespass on her property, they entered her home without a warrant. These cops conjured up false claims of battery and charged her with 3 felonies. Brittany Chrishawn Williams Moore has never been in any trouble with with law. She has 2 Bachelor's degrees from UCF and is a law abiding citizen. Trouble found her at her doorstep and she was punished for executing her rights. She is 5'2" and 98 lbs, not only should she not have been detained, it did not take multiple men to use the force they did. Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has a reputation in the community of employing crooked officers and using excessive force. This is the reason for Brittany's wish for the officer to leave her yard. We ask that Justice be served in this situation to restore the trust between the community of Jacksonville, Florida and their public servants. We want these officers to be held accountable for their actions. The officer that trespassed on her property and refused to leave is Officer. Alejandro-Fonseca Carmona Badge #64386. The officers that came and attacked her are Officer C. Padget Badge #74181, this one can be seen on video approaching her, and Officer T. Landreville Badge #74181 attacked her from behind. Officer M. Highsmith Badge #79736 "detained" (kidnapped) her on false charges. Their supervising officer is listed as D.P. Jadlocki Badge #63949. We need speedy justice on this matter. Something has to change in this department and it can start with this!!!
Kirrian Williams87,5345/19/20
DROP THE BOGUS CHARGES AGAINST LISA DAVIS -- HANDS OFF THE UHURU MOVEMENT!DEMAND THAT THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY DROP THE BOGUS CHARGES AGAINST LISA DAVIS, THE VICE CHAIR OF THE BLACK IS BACK COALITION. On March 31, 2024, Lisa Davis, was the only African woman attending a demonstration in the predominately white suburb Of South Orange, New Jersey , These are weekly vigils, organized by the SOMA (South Orange /Maplewood) Collective for Palestine, which opposes the Israel-US genocide. Lisa attends these vigils regularly in her role as Vice Chair and leader of the Black Is Back Coalition for Social Justice, Peace and Reparations' Political Action Working Group. On the 31st she was violently confronted by a raving zionist, who ran out into the street when the crowd interceded. After police arrived they protected the white man, and chose to instead target Lisa Davis, who subsequently received two summonses in the mail where Officer Naturale maliciously and falsely accused her of organizing a special event without a permit and of engaging in loud, continuous, noise via the use of an amplification device. And the State of New Jersey is now charging her and bringing her to court. These allegations are untrue as she is not the organizer of these protests and nor does she lead the chants. Below are two videos from different angles of what happened. It is clear from these videos that it is the white zionist who was the aggressor, but that the state is protecting him, and is instead deliberately targeting Black activist, Lisa Davis. New Jersey has a long and brutal history of police brutality against Black and Brown people. It is the state that made racial profiling a part of the vernacular when in 1998 four Black and Brown young men were shot by state troopers multiple times while they were driving to a college basketball game. The Force Report, which is the most comprehensive database detailing the the use of force by police in New Jersey, published a study showing that not much had changed since 1998 and that hundreds of police around the state were still using brutal force and engaging in police brutality at alarming rates. And in South Orange, it found that Black people were 844% more likely to encounter police brutality than white people. The Black Is Back Coalition for Social Justice, Peace and Reparations demands the following: That the false charges against Lisa Davis be dropped! That South Orange and the State of NJ pay reparations to Lisa Davis for violating her first amendment free speech rights; for racially profiling her; for harassment, and for bringing false charges against her. And that these entities also pay reparations to the broader Black community in South Orange for fostering a hostile climate of harassment, racial profiling and police brutality against the Black community. That Officer Naturale, the officer who made the false complaint against Lisa Davis, be immediately fired and that a comprehensive criminal investigation be conducted against him for filing false reports. That their be a comprehensive investigation into the South Orange Police Department and the municipal prosecutor's office of Gracia Robert Montilus --------------------------------------------------------------------- OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BLACK IS BACK COALITION THAT THE STATE IS DELIBERATELY TARGETTING. Omali Yeshitela - the Chair of the Black Is Back Coalition and the founder of the Uhuru Movement, is facing 10-15 years in prison for speaking out against US Imperialism and for condemning the US proxy war with Russia. Everyone should be very concerned about this case, because he is being prosecuted for issues pertaining to speech. This prosecution is a clear violation of everyone's first amendment rights. He and two other members of the Uhuru Movement (known as the Uhuru 3)are facing 10-15 years in prison and the trial is scheduled to start on 9/3/24. Please go to Hands Off Uhuru for more information. Amanda Wallace - a social worker who became a whistle blower to speak out against the unfair practices of Child Protective Services. She is the founder of Operation Stop CPS and the state of North Carolina is seeking to prosecute her for using office equipment during her employment with North Carolina CPS. Please go to: bit.ly/AW-drop-all-charges-toolkit Belinda Parker Brown - CEO of Louisiana United International. The State of Louisiana is unjustly coming after her for advocacy on behalf of the rights of incarcerated people, and poor people in her community in Louisiana. Please click here. In addition to signing this petition, we ask you to stay connected to the Black Is Back Coalition to follow these cases as well.Black is Back Coalition856/11/24
Stop Police Officers from Harassing and Attacking Citizens in Bernice, LAAn innocent man was slammed to the ground for speaking up about how Officer Lee was treating citizens. This kind of behavior from law enforcement is unacceptable and must be addressed immediately. Police officers are meant to protect and serve, not harass and attack the very people they are supposed to safeguard. We demand that Officer Lee be reprimanded for his actions and that measures be put in place to prevent such incidents from happening again. Sign this petition to hold our police accountable and ensure justice for all citizens in Bernice, LA.Tamara Andrews146/3/24
Ed Ross, Tammy Bergstorm, Peter Meijer, Gretchen WhitmerJustice for Thurman KingROCKFORD, Mich. — A little over two years ago, Thurman King was on his way home from work when a cop started to follow him. Within a matter of minutes, King would be thrown to the ground by police, handcuffed and eventually taken to jail on charges that a prosecuting attorney would dismiss "in the interest of justice," months later. "All it takes is a falsified police report and you find yourself in essence fighting for your life," King, 55, said. "It affects you financially, emotionally... it shouldn't happen to anybody." King,, was arrested in the driveway of his home in Rockford, a predominately white suburb. Officer Zachary Abbate said he was pulling King over for his license plate light being out and for running a stop sign, but Abbate's dash camera video showed King stop. Attorney Stephen Drew said incidents like this "generally don't happen in a vacuum." Drew filed a federal lawsuit on King's behalf last month against the city, its police department and the two officers who arrested him. "It's very troubling that an officer is willing to put in writing in a police report something that by video evidence is absolutely false," Drew said. "That can be due to a culture, and if it is due to the culture of the Rockford Police Department, then we would expect some accountability, but we'll just have to see."Rockford officers falsely arrested and unlawfully jailed King stemming from an unlawful traffic stop. The city and police department are named for their allowance of "improper stops and stops based on racial profiling," among other things. The city declined an interview The traffic stop It was nearly 11 p.m. on March 20, 2019, as King made the drive home from work. Abbate, who is white, followed him for several blocks, which can be seen in his dash camera video. "As I approached my home, he activated his lights. So, I immediately became concerned because I knew I hadn't done anything wrong," King said. King pulled into his driveway, fearful of the officers intent. "I wanted to get somewhere safe," he said. King said one of the first things Abbate said was that he knew who King was. When Abbate said he was pulling King over for not stopping at the stop sign, King said he became more fearful. "I know I hadn't run the stop sign, and so I'm extra scared now. So, I started calling for my fiancée, in the house, you know, yelling for her," King recalls. "Within seconds, I'm on the ground." Video shows Abbate force King to the ground. A second officer, Jason Bradley, cannot be seen on camera, but according to the lawsuit, both officers detained King. At several points King tells the officers "I can't breathe," to which one replies, "if you're talking, you're breathing, pal." King was unable to speak to his fiancé before he was taken to jail, where he'd spend the next 14 hours. According to the lawsuit, King had multiple injuries from the officers, including to his head and He faced three charges, including a felony for resisting and obstructing an officer. "They built up some charges to justify the lie that [Abbate] told to stop him in the first place," Drew said. "That needs to be addressed." 'Constant reminders' Several months later, a Kent County prosecuting attorney dismissed all the charges against King after reviewing the evidence. "After he had been put in jail for 14 hours. After he had to hire an attorney. After he had to go through all of that and the embarrassment, the mug shots," Drew said. King says what he went through that night continues to impact him. The arrest in some ways took away his dignity, he said. "It has taken its toll on me, but by the grace of God, I'm still standing," King said. King says hearing about the deaths of George Floyd and Daunte Wright at the hands of Minnesota police officers, instantly causes him to relive his arrest. He changed his work hours to avoid driving home at night. The Leadership in Rockford Michigan has made it clear from the statements made to MLive that it supports the actions of 2 officers that violently and unlawfully arrested a innocent man on his way home from work. Not only did the officers arrest Mr. King illegally, they then falsified police reports committing a felonious act. Fortunately the police officers dash camera recorded this unlawful and violent attack against Mr. King and the prosecutor dismissed all charges against Mr. king (for the sake of justice)Dash camera showed the officers had fabricated the reason for the stop and lied on the official police report. A law suit has been filed with western district court on Mr.Kings behalf. We can not allow our community to be terrorized by our elected leaders and the police that are that are supposed to protect us. The recent public comments made by City leaders defending the 2 officers horrible actions are unacceptable by anyone’s standards. We would like to call on City Council members Edward Ross, Tammy Bergstrom, Terry Konkle, Cheryl Scales and Dale Dalman to do what they were elected to do. It’s time for change. It’s time for justice. The leadership and Police in Rockford Michigan Have terrorized our community long enough. We demand our leaders and police be held accountable .We ask that Chief of Police David Robinson and City Manager Thad Beard be terminated and new leadership found Immediately. We Demand Criminal charges be brought against the two officers involved in the King incident. We also ask that the state attorney conducts a full investigation into the Rockford Department Of Public Safety. https://www.woodtv.com/news/target-8/civil-rights-lawsuit-exposes-rockford-dps-traffic-stop-quota/amp/ https://www.wzzm13.com/amp/article/news/rockford-police-sued-for-unlawfully-arresting-jailing-resident-after-traffic-stop/69-e215d4eb-1689-427b-b4ad-98bad06659bf
Brad De Young1,9595/17/21
End the Genocide of Black and Indigenous People of Colorhttps://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/primary-documents-global-african-history/we-charge-genocide-historic-petition-united-nations-relief-crime-united-states-government-against/ The link is to a document called "We Charge Genocide". Black American activist, politicians, and humans signed this petition and presented it to the UN in 1951. This should be taken more seriously since the claims they have against the United States Government in the 1950's, are exactly the same today. This document charges the US Government with Genocide based on the definition of Genocide as outlined by the United Nations Convention; they defined Genocide as any act committed with the "intent to destroy" a group, "in whole or in part". Nothing has changed and this country is still justifying the death of black people in its streets. BIPOC are being murdered and will continue to die unless we realize and exclaim that this is Genocide. "We the people", have the power to right this wrong. Black people were kidnapped, tortured, and reduced to the value of chattel; we as a whole were stolen from Africa our home. When our ancestors migrated here from Africa to become the Indigenous peoples of what we now know to be America, the land was then stolen via Genocide until we could only occupy reservations. And now in the present day we cannot exist, or assemble and protest peacefully without being attacked, murdered, arrested, and condemned. We are ALL responsible for acknowledging this. Give us back our freedom once and for all by giving us justice for ONCE! "We the people", are demanding that all systems of oppression be acknowledged and dismantled immediately. We are asking that the US Government/President acknowledge the government sanctioned murders of BIPOC, and admit to its contribution to systemic oppression and racism/ white supremacy in every facet of the US Government structure. We demand reparations and a commitment to change that promotes balance in equity/equality across all humans residing in the US. Remove Columbus Day and all other days that celebrate people who've contributed to the decimation of whole cultures or groups, in part or in full. Remove from any public or government office anyone who; had knowledge of, contributed to, partook in, or sanctioned, any and all systems of oppression in the US that have resulted in; the murder of, wrongful conviction of, defamation of, slander of, misinformation that led to death of, brutalization of, civil rights violations of, BIPOC identifying humans/ communities and any other act that violates a US citizens inalienable right to the pursuit of happiness, life, and liberty. Revise the US Constitutions' 13th Amendment to not allow for slavery to be allowed despite one's conviction of wrongdoing by a jury of their peers, in a court of law. Policing was only implemented once slaves were freed, before that there were Constables who enforced property taxes and collected municipal taxes. Address the need for reparations immediately for all BIPOC residents of The United States. We will also accept land back and compensation to leave the US for those who so choose. Our ancestors were kidnapped and shipped here like cargo, we should have the option to leave at the expense of those whose ancestors stole us and profited from our labor, our bodies, our deaths, and our lives. Enact a Bill for BIPOC humans that deems the act of murdering unarmed BIPOC humans, a hate crime. Law enforcement and military should be prosecuted to the fullest extent for violation of this Bill in any shape way or form. No taxes of any kind should be required of any BIPOC identifying party in the US indefinitely, for the use of, or occupation of land in the US; or any incidental taxes that may arise from residing in the US. Any BIPOC identifying party who has been incarcerated due to marijuana related charges including but not limited too; distribution of marijuana, possession of marijuana, possession w/ the intent to distribute etc, should be immediately released and said charge should be removed from their record in a timely fashion. Reinstitute share cropping and homesteading. More to be determined...
Tokyo Baldwin1,0657/7/22
Protect People with Disabilities During Police Interactions!**Ver la parte inferior para la traducción al español** PLEASE SIGN the following letter asking CA State Legislators to Approve the Blue Envelope Program Dear Representatives: People with disabilities are disproportionately affected by the criminal justice system and use-of-force encounters with police. They have a 43% chance of arrest and are involved in more than 1/2 of all lethal incidents involving law enforcement in the U.S. A recent report from the Department of Justice’s Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory Board found that law enforcement uses force 5.2 times more often on people with mental health disabilities and 3.3 times more often on people with other disabilities. Communication barriers may exist between an individual with a disability and law enforcement officer. In addition, unexpected actions taken by some individuals with disabilities may be perceived as uncooperative or threatening, or misconstrued as suspicious or illegal activity. AB 2002 (Sanchez) would create the Blue Envelope Program to serve as a communication tool to better facilitate interactions between law enforcement and individuals with disabilities during traffic stops, emergencies, and other routine service calls. This program would allow participants to request a blue envelope from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This envelope can hold one’s license and registration and contain information that would notify law enforcement that the presenting individual may have specialized communication needs and/or require reasonable accommodations. A blue envelope may be requested by any individual, or parent or legal guardian of a passenger, who is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act, self-identifies as having a disability, or has a condition warranting additional accommodations with law enforcement. Participation is voluntary and participating individuals may use the envelope at their sole discretion. There is no registry component associated with this program. The Blue Envelope Program has been successfully piloted in Riverside and San Diego counties. AB 2002 seeks to expand upon these successful programs by making the blue envelope available statewide. Please help enhance safety for people with disabilities during police interactions through the Blue Envelope Program! Petition created by Parents Helping Parents in partnership with the Association of Regional Center Agencies and Family Voices of California. Content adapted from bill sponsor Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez. ---- TRADUCCIÓN ESPAÑOLA ¡Proteja a las personas con discapacidades durante las interacciones con la policía! POR FAVOR FIRME la siguiente carta pidiéndole a los legisladores estatales de California que aprobar la creación del Programa Sobre Azul Estimados Representantes: Las personas con discapacidades se ven afectadas de manera desproporcionada por el sistema de justicia penal y por uso de la fuerza con la policía. Las personas con discapacidades se ven afectadas de manera desproporcionada por el sistema de justicia penal y por el uso de la fuerza en encuentros con la policía. Tienen un 43% de posibilidades de ser arrestados y están involucrados en más de la mitad de todos los incidentes letales que involucran a las fuerzas del orden en los Estados Unidos. Un informe reciente del Gabinete Asesor sobre Perfiles Raciales y de Identidad del Departamento de Justicia encontró que las fuerzas del orden utilizan la fuerza 5,2 veces más a menudo en personas con discapacidades de salud mental y 3,3 veces más a menudo en personas con otras discapacidades. Pueden existir barreras de comunicación entre una persona con discapacidades y un agente de las fuerzas del orden. Además, las acciones inesperadas realizadas por algunas personas con discapacidades pueden malinterpretarse como falta de cooperación o amenaza, o como indicio de una actividad sospechosa o ilegal. AB 2002 (Sanchez) crearía el Programa Sobre Azul (Blue Envelope Program), el cual sería una herramienta comunicacional para facilitar las interacciones entre las fuerzas del orden y las personas con discapacidades durante paradas de tráfico, emergencias y otras intervenciones de rutina. Este programa permitiría a los participantes solicitar un sobre azul al Departamento de Vehículos Motorizados de California (DMV). Este sobre contendría la licencia de conducir y la documentación de una persona, así como información que notifique a las fuerzas del orden que la persona que lo presenta puede tener necesidades de comunicación especiales y/o requerir adaptaciones razonables. Podría solicitar el sobre azul cualquier individuo, padre o tutor legal de un pasajero que esté cubierto por la Ley para Estadounidenses con Discapacidades, que se identifique como persona con discapacidades o que tenga una condición que justifique adaptaciones adicionales con las fuerzas del orden. La participación es voluntaria y las personas participantes pueden utilizar el sobre a su exclusivo criterio. Este programa no implica registro alguno. El Programa Sobre Azul se ha puesto a prueba con éxito en los condados de Riverside y San Diego. AB 2002 busca ampliar estos exitosos programas haciendo que el sobre azul esté disponible en todo el estado. ¡Ayude a mejorar la seguridad de las personas con discapacidades durante las interacciones con la policía con el Programa Sobre Azul! Petición creada por Parents Helping Parents en asociación con la Asociación de Agencias de Centros Regionales y Voces de las Familias de California. Contenido adaptado de la autora del proyecto de ley, la Asambleísta Kate Sánchez.
Parents Helping Parents (PHP)6764/25/24
Justice is still not served- April 2024Brianna's Rights were wrongfully terminated. The state argues that Brianna didn't complete the service plan required, that Brianna did not have a healthy attachment to Journi, and that here mental health needs make her incapable of raising a child. Throughout this case Brianna has maintained full time employment, Stable housing and retained attorneys to assist her in fighting her case. Brianna has the right to become emotional in her fight to regain the custody of her daughter, yet in doing that she is being labeled unstable. Brianna has the right to fight for her daughter and not be harassed, labeled and have criminal charges placed again her. During the time of removal from August 1, 2019- August 27, 2019 Brianna and Journi were harassed, bullied and attacked and no one came to their aid. Not campus police, not State representatives that Brianna reached out to and neither did the campus support Brianna. Brianna and Journi were torn apart and no one has been held accountable. During the trial there were no witnesses to support Brianna's innocence because her court appointed attorney did not fight for Brianna to regain custody of Journi. Brianna lost and Journi has remained in the care of the state where she has had bruising, meltdowns, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and trauma all caused while in the care of OCOK in Tarrant County. Enough is enough! Call to Action: -Brianna needs an experienced Appeal Attorney that specializes in Wrongful terminations and human trafficking. -Brianna needs immediate intervention by a National organization to step in and show that the 67 pages in the memorandum opinion are not based on facts. This would need to be someone equipped to review and analyze files. - Follow this Link: Read the Public appeal, Donate and Stand in solidarity with Brianna Baucum. https://linktr.ee/Justiceforjourniandbrianna -Funds can also be sent to Brianna's cash app $briannabaucum2 Please also show up when there are events in Dallas. Journi will be home in 2022
Bring Journi home 2024 #bringjournihome38,8616/19/20
Victory!Release Virgilio Aguilar Mendez immediately!ESPAÑOL Virgilio Aguilar Mendez, an 18-year-old Indigenous-Maya Mam teen from Guatemala, whose primary language is Mam, is being held without bond in St. John’s County for a crime he DID NOT commit. Virgilio was a victim of police brutality and violation of his 4th amendment right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure on May 19th, 2023 for standing outside the motel he was residing in while on a call with his dad. Sergeant Kunovich said he "looked suspicious" and began yelling at Virgilio. Virgilio expressed he didn't speak English on more than one occasion and that he was residing at that motel. This interaction led to an 8 minute struggle where Virgilio was physically abused and tased multiple times by multiple officers although he made it clear to the officers involved that he did not understand English, and despite Virgilio being 5-foot-4 and weighing 115 pounds. Sergeant Kunovich suffered a heart attack minutes after the struggle and died at the hospital. Medical examiners ruled that Sergeant Kunovich died of natural causes. Despite this ruling, The St. John’s County Sheriff’s Office and the Office of the State Attorney for the 7th Judicial Circuit of Florida have charged Virgilio with aggravated manslaughter of a police officer and are attempting to put Virgilio away for life for alleged crimes he did not commit. Sergeant Kunovich died from a heart attack as a result of an incident he himself started unnecessarily and unconstitutionally that was not caused by Virgilio, but by a pre-existing condition. Virgilio has been held since May 2023 without bond, completely isolated due to his primary language being Mam, for a crime he did not commit. After Kunovich's death, the elected sheriff of St. John County, Robert Hardwick, blatantly lied to the public on live TV by announcing during a press conference surrounded by other elected officials that Virgilio Aguilar was stopped because he was trespassing and that he had a pulled a knife on Sergeant Kunovich, which was the reason they declared Sergeant Kunovich and the other officers began to apprehend and use force to arrest Virgilio. Bodycam videos released after this press conference reveal that there was never a knife pulled on Sergeant Kunovich at all and there was no mention of a trespass in the videos or police reports, thereby undermining the credibility of the office Sheriff Hardwick leads and perpetuating the mistrust of people towards elected officials. Before Sergeant Michael Kunovich stopped Virgilio, there was no possible crime. Virgilio Aguilar Mendez is an Indigenous Maya Mam teen, and we stress that indigenous migrants are disproportionately affected by racism, discrimination, anti-indigeneity, being mislabeled as Latino and Indigenous language barriers. We are demanding the immediate release of Virgilio Aguilar Mendez from custody and for the charges to be dropped immediately as his constitutional and civil rights were violated by the St. John’s County Sheriff’s Office. These rights protect all people within this country, regardless of immigration status. If Virgilio is convicted and sentenced to prison for this incident it will create an extremely dangerous precedent in this country; because if a police officer dies from a heart attack during a police-citizen encounter, anyone in this country can be charged, convicted and sentenced to life in prison for that officer’s death. This precedent would run contrary to the fundamental tenants of freedom and Liberty, which are scared in our country. It is not a crime to stand outside your place of residence at any given time. We are demanding that Governor Ron DeSantis and 7th circuit state attorney, RJ Larizza get involved in the dismissal of this case immediately as Virgilio's right are being violated and neglected by the St. John's County Sheriff's Office. Virgilio has been sitting in jail for 7 months and will be kept there for an indefinite period unless they release him.
Mariana Blanco611,0221/3/24
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