National Forum on Police Crimes: May 2014

Friday, May 30, 2014

Stopping Police Crimes: A National Epidemic Requires a Coordinated National Effort

by Frank Chapman

National Forum on Police Crimes, International House of the
University of Chicago, May 2014

Thank you to the many people who participated in, and otherwise contributed to, our National Forum on Police Crimes this past weekend of May 16-17, at the International House of the University of Chicago. We are looking forward to this being the harbinger of more forums and united actions against police crimes.

There were several startling outcomes from this effort:

Nationwide Response

When we made the Call, we didn't know if the response would be big. We discovered a big response - nationwide.

Two hundred people registered people coming from Indiana, Kentucky, Florida, St. Louis, New York, New Jersey, Texas and of course Chicago.

For example, Nelson Linder, President, NAACP Austin, Texas, expressed the enthusiasm of people nationwide for the Forum: “Too many communities are isolated and ignored, now is the time to empower local communities. The National Forum is a very important beginning to the mobilization of local and nationally scaled initiatives and actions through the sharing of best practices and strategies. Really, now is the time…see you all there in Chicago” (See Police Crimes in the US - A View from Austin, Texas: An Interview with Nelson Linder)

Walking the Talk

When the day for the Forum came, we didn't know if people would actually come all the way to Chicago. People showed up, alright, from around the country -- and they showed a determination to work.

One hundred sixty-six (166) people participated in the Forum.

We had a diverse group of participants, and in addition to our plenary sessions we held seven highly-productive breakout sessions related to the problems of African-American people or other people of color, people who have lived here for a long time or new immigrants, men or women, straight or LGBT, supporters of the labor movement or international solidarity or other peace and justice movements.

Unity!

When the time came to hear from the Forum participants, through the breakout reports, we didn't know if the makings of a national movement reflecting unity would be apparent. What we discovered was that, across the diversity of topics covered in the breakouts, people perceive a national problem that demands a unified response.

For instance, in the labor breakout, the need was recognized to “rais[e] the bar for social justice through involvement in grass roots organizing and educating the masses on the issue of police crimes.”

The police crimes against women breakout recognized the broad human rights and international dimension of the struggle, “Demand use of human rights mechanisms to address police crimes and use of UN special rapporteurs to report individual cases to appropriate international bodies.”
As to the practical use of national coordination, the prison nation
breakout articulated the need to “[e]nhance networking and
communications of regional/local best practices for solutions.”

Finally, from the institutionalized racism breakout, we heard, “The National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression . . . needs to be revived and re-energized.”

The task ahead

When it came time to end the Forum, we didn't know if there would be commitment to working together on the next steps. But there was strong support for a coordinating committee to organize this effort nationally.

CAARPR made a friendly amendment to the “police crimes in prison nation” report back which stated in effect that this Forum resolve that a national coordinating committee be created for the specific purpose of implementing all the action proposals of all seven working groups.

The leaders of the seven working groups have shared the resolutions developed by their respective groups. They will be communicating with working group participants in the weeks ahead to continue this important work. Click on the links below to learn about the specific work of individual working groups, and to get involved.

Stopping police crimes against the undocumented and other immigrants

Stopping police crimes against the labor movement

Stopping police crimes based on institutionalized racism

Stopping police crimes against women

Stopping police crimes and FBI repression of peace and solidarity movements

Stopping police crimes against the LGBTQ community

Stopping police crimes in a prison nation

Thursday, May 29, 2014

National Forum on Police Crimes: Video, Reporting, and other Resources

The 2-day National Forum on Police Crimes 2014 was held at May 16-17, 2014, in Chicago, as a project of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, and co-sponsored by Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture at the University of Chicago and International House at the University of Chicago.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Stopping Police Crimes in a Prison Nation

The proposed goal of the breakout was “to explore the inextricable link between police crimes and the prison industrial complex, which starts with school to prison pipeline and to find ways in which the movement to stop police crimes can augment the movement against mass incarceration.”

Co‐facilitators: Joseph “Jazz” Hayden and Daryle Brown co‐facilitators

Resolutions of the working group:

1. Modify the way confessions can be obtained and used, eliminating police confessions as evidence.

2. How to raise awareness of mental health issues and the effect on incarceration rates and community surveillance.

3. Improve police accountability to the community, police relations with the community, including community surveillance to document police activity.

4. Education on how to respond to police stops and arrests.

5.Enhance networking and communications of regional/local best practices for solutions.

Solutions/Actions to Address Goals

1. Confessions – 18USC242 (federal statute)

a. Research into other places where police confessions are not allowed
b. Design model legislation or policies to that can be tweaked for regional/local
c. Attack on various fronts with legislation or law suits
d. Develop a fact based media campaign, including competent street level spokespeople
e. Develop street level strategy

2. Mental Health

a. Recruit mental health expertise to quantify the issue and define demographics, particularly children/youth

i. Use public health students to investigate and write papers on this subject

b. Develop economic models focused on life time supports versus incarceration expense
c. Develop policy models to launch in various locations
d. Develop national media campaign and recruit mental health/human interest spokespeople

i. Include investigation of mental health as it impacts post incarceration, families of the incarcerated

e. Develop street level strategy models

3. Improve Police Accountability

a. Police Surveillance

i. Work with Joseph Hayden to document the process of video surveillance of police that was developed to end Stop and Frisk in NY
ii. Build a model that can be shared with communications nationally
iii. Develop a media campaign and tools to support local communities in their efforts to monitor police work

b. Police Accountable

i. Research “non-‐police” review boards and community satisfaction (Austin, TX for example)
ii. Develop models of elected and civilian police review boards to be shared nationally iii. Develop grassroots strategies for implantation

4. Education on Police Stops and Arrests

a. Develop a pocket guide (pdf) for national distribution
b. Use 411 pamphlet, document from (Austin, TX -‐ Nelson Linder) as model

i. Don’t run . . .
ii. Don’t talk . . .
iii. Don’t smart off . . .
iv. Treat officer with respect . . .

5. Enhanced Network and Communications

a. Develop a Google group to allow interested organizations to keep in touch and monitor progress on issues

To become involved in this working group:

Use the working groups sign-up form to select groups to get involved in.

Stopping Police Crimes based on Institutionalized Racism

The proposed goal of the breakout is “to encourage broad coalitions to address police crimes targeted against black and Latino youth under the false premise of ‘securing and protecting the community’.”

Session Leader: Kevin Tyson

Resolutions of the working group:

1. The National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (referred to below as Alliance) needs to be revived and re-energized. This includes making a special and serious effort to reach out to youth and other organizations.

2. We need a method of communication which would include a newsletter and maintaining of a mailing list.

3. The organization needs to hold periodic meetings such as this Forum either quarterly, semi-annually or annually.

4. The organization needs to reach out to others who are not Alliance members. (Stop talking to just ourselves).

5. The organization (i.e., the Alliance) needs to adopt a more comprehensive approach. Not only to the police but the judges, prosecutors, political figures, who control the attack dogs.

We need to look at other forms of institutional racism such a sexist treatment of women of color in various professions.

To become involved in this working group:

Use the working groups sign-up form to select groups to get involved in.

Stopping Police Crimes Against Women

The goal of this breakout session was to discuss Civilian Police Accountability Councils’ legislation and its impact on a strategy to build a strong coalition to eradicate police violence against women including rape, battery, murder and other human rights violations.

Session Leader: Crista Noel

Attendees

Nicole D’Anza, Jackie - DePaul University

Sonja Wallace - Women's All Points Bulletin (WAPB) Board Member

Beverly Wilson Ellison, Sr. - Women's All Points Bulletin (WAPB) Founder

Wanakee

John May - St. Louis

Ken Jones - St. Louis

Vikki Muhammad - Florida

Queen Mother

Jill

Jim McCoy - Bronzeville

Janice

Gwendolyn

Tezeru

Addressing the Four Categories of Victimization in reference to Police Crimes

Physical - Aggravated Battery, murder, tasings/electrical shock, sexual assault

Emotional and Psychological - Intimidation, malicious prosecution

Social - Blaming the victim

Financial - Records, “checking the box”, Job loss

Resolutions of the working group:

1. Supporting demands for body cameras on police and mandatory video cams in cars with 360 degree cameras as well as audios of arrestees in the back seat of squad cars.

2. Support the demand that accused officers pay for their own legal representations in both civil and criminal litigations.

3. That our movement demand better enforcement of orders of protection sought by women during and after divorce custody proceedings and improved liaisons between courts and police in IPV cases.

4. That our movement support the demands for diversity and sensitivity training for officers while they are in the police academy.

5. That our movement support the demands for transparency of all complaint reports.

6. That our movement support demands for attorneys for victims of police crimes and special independent investigators.

7. No guns. Only tasers.

8. Special independent investigators for sexual assault victims.

9. Only female officers in female lock-up.

10. That officers be required to call in and report mileage when transporting female prisoners; and videoed to support reported mileage.

11. Limit the length of interrogation of people held in custody.

12. Make it mandatory that parents be notified immediately if their children are taken into custody.

13. Mandatory reporting of police crimes by emergency room doctors.

14. Training with respect to people with disabilities.

15. Demand use of human rights mechanisms to address police crimes and use of UN special rapporteurs to report individual cases to appropriate international bodies.

To become involved in this working group:

Use the working groups sign-up form to select groups to get involved in.

Stopping Police Crimes and FBI Repression Against Peace and Solidarity Movements

The proposed goal of the breakout was “to build support for the rights of peace and solidarity and anti-capitalist movements and to expose and resist police crimes against them including agents provocateur, frame ups, false arrests, and imprisonment. Also, to build support for all movements to organize and protest peacefully."

Session Leaders: Joe Iosbaker and Muhammad Sankari

Resolutions of the working group:

1. Whereas: Federal repression of political activism continues today against all communities opposed to oppressive government policies.

2. Whereas: The Government continues to target people based on race, religion, or political opposition as a way to instill fear in their communities.

3. Whereas: We understand power concedes nothing except in the face of more power.

4. Whereas: A defense of activists & community leaders weakens law enforcements ability to repress all people.

5. Whereas: Rasmea Odeh, a community icon & activist who has dedicated her life for justice of all people is under attack by the Federal government.

This forum calls on people to mobilize in defense of Rasmea at her trial in the Federal Courthouse in Detroit, MI beginning June 10th, 2014
This forum also demands the government to end preemptive prosecution and free all political prisoners!

To become involved in this working group:

Use the working groups sign-up form to select groups to get involved in.

Stopping Police Crimes Against the LGBTQ Community

A discussion of how the policing of sexual and gender non conformity is and has always been a tool of race based law enforcement in the U.S.. Speakers will discuss how police repression and resistance to it have always been central themes to gay life in the U.S., and how LGBTQ people of color continue to face police repression by the enforcement of quality of life police practices in Chicago and nationwide.

Speakers included: Joey Mogul, Owen Daniel-McCarter, Keyshia LeMorris

Our group spent considerable time discussing systemic barriers of oppression faced by members of the GLBTQ community. From personal and professional experience, we all shared examples of violence, discrimination, and harassment faced at the hands of the Chicago Police Department. We also discussed the ways that the most marginalized, such as Transwomen of color, often assumed to be sex workers, are mistreated, disrespected, and violated due to their gender non-conformity. Additionally, we talked about some of the political, economic, and social concerns faced by the youth and/or homeless among this population. Despite various laws and policies that have been passed, we found that police continue to mistreat LGBTQ community members either due to their lack of education, lack of tolerance, and/or homophobia.

Therefore, our group suggested the following:

1. Strict accountability for those officers who prey on the LGBTQ community by harassing, disrespecting, profiling, over-charging, violating, and disregarding crimes

2. Ensure a GLBTQ liaison at each police department to ensure the rights of individuals are protected when they are brought into the police station

3. Encouraging informal networks within GLBTQ communities to assist with individual concerns, especially if there is fear in contacting the police

4. Propose training to new officers focusing on professionalism on the job, not just tolerance for diversity (We did not all agree that this would work but I felt it needed to be there)

To become involved in this working group:

Use the working groups sign-up form to select groups to get involved in.

Stopping Police Crimes Against the Undocumented and other Immigrants

The proposed goal of the breakout was “to encourage alliances to resist police crimes committed against people on the basis of their (actual or perceived) immigration status and to discuss how denial of legal and human rights of immigrants affects the community as a whole.” 

Session Leaders: Members of Moratorium on Deportations Campaign

Resolutions of the working group:

1. Work to get detainees and deportees to file lawsuits in federal court to get redress for abuse suffered in detention centers, especially short-term detention centers.

2. Resist the building of any new detention centers.

3. Challenge the rhetoric of good immigrant versus bad immigrant.

4. Raise awareness about the vulnerabilities of undocumented persons organizing to stand up for their rights.

5. Create transnational and international networks of resistance to confront free trade agreements, the war on drugs, and militarization.

6. Challenge historical revisionism that accepts the State’s draconian processes as having always existed and as being normal.

7. Push for a moratorium on deportations for all people, including felons and those with a criminal background.

8. Create a space for dialog among different criminalized communities, Latino, Black, Arab, LGBTQ, poor people, etc.

9. Prioritize and understand the struggles of indigenous communities affected by border militarization. Work to tear down any and all walls on both ends of the United States for free movement from the Yucatan to the Yukon.

To become involved in this working group:

Use the working groups sign-up form to select groups to get involved in.

Stopping Police Crimes Against the Labor Movement

The proposed goal of the breakout was “to encourage labor activists and labor unions to work in solidarity with community groups and to encourage a broader coalition to resist police crimes committed against unemployed, undocumented, and working people, particularly those struggling for improved economic conditions and labor rights.”

Session Leader: Mike Siviwe Elliot, Anne Mitchell, Pat Fry

Resolutions of the working group:

1. Supporting the labor movement and raising the bar for social justice through involvement in grass roots organizing and educating the masses on the issue of police crimes.

2. Unite with workers in defending their rights to organize realizing that the labor movement is an essential component in the struggle for social justice.

3. Consider ways in which to work with unions pursuant to the AFL-CIO convention resolution (in 2013) opposing mass incarceration and recognizing its impact on people of color.

4. Building support for CPAC by mobilizing union support through resolutions calling for the Chicago City Council to pass CPAC; by forming alliances with labor in defense of immigrant communities suffering from police repression, ICE raids and so on; and by engaging electoral candidates on the question of CPAC and joining our movement.

5. Develop a list serve with respect to the labor breakout as well as use of social media.

6. Demand that police be required to wear cameras.

To become involved in this working group:

Use the working groups sign-up form to select groups to get involved in.