Tuesday, October 22, 2013

State Capitol Police Brutality Rally Features Former Supreme Court Justice, Families of Victims; Part of Nationwide Protests

"Hundreds Take Over Capitol, City Streets Tuesday to Protest Police Brutality; Former CA Supreme Court Justice, Families of Victims of Police Killings Call for Drug Testing, 'Body Cams' for Police"
2013-10-22:
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: POLICE BRUTALITY MARCH TODAY IN SACRAMENTO -
About 200 marchers take over J Street near the Convention Center in Sacramento shortly after Noon on 10-22-13 following rally opposing police brutality. Marchers had no permit, but police did not threaten arrests. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI1h3MTgy4A]
SACRAMENTO--
Hundreds of protesters took the streets of Sacramento here -- literally taking over all lanes during busy noontime traffic -- to participate in a "National Day Against Police Brutality" which was scheduled in more than two dozen cities nationwide.
There were no arrests. CHP and Sacramento Police bike cops, horseback officers and vehicles flanked and monitored the street march -- even though no permit had been granted for it.
Thousands of Californians -- including a former CA Supreme Court Justice here at the State Capitol - joined more than 50 families of those murdered by law enforcement to demand accountability for police terror. It began at 10 a.m. and lasted through 3 p.m.
Other rallies and protests are scheduled in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Albuquerque, Chicago, Cleveland, Fresno, Greensboro, North Carolina, Hayward, Houston, Oakland, Redding, San Diego, Seattle, Minneapolis, Lynn (MA) and cities in Canada.
Keynote speaker was Cruz Reynoso, civil rights lawyer, professor emeritus of law at UC Davis, and the first Chicano Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court. Other notable speakers included Alex Salazar, a former LAPD officer speaking on the code of silence; Elaine Brown, prison activist, writer, singer, & former Black Panther Party chairman; Cephus Johnson "Uncle Bobby" -- Uncle of Oscar Grant murdered by BART police.
Event organizer Christina Arechiga said that innocent lives are being taken at the hands of law enforcement all over U.S. and California is leading that trend. California police in the span of a few years killed more human beings than have ever executed in the history of death row. Arechiga's cousin, Ernest Duenez Jr. was murdered by John Moody in Manteca. A civil trial starts next year.
"We are looking for common sense solutions to curbing the violence we see coming out of our police depts. We want to see police officers drug tested on a random basis and whenever there is an incident, I think most Californians would be surprised that is not happening," said Arechiga. "Accompanying these deaths is a culture of the code of silence and police investigating themselves."
Families are calling for cameras on all police officers/"body cams" civilian oversight committees elected and autonomous of law enforcement, protection for whistleblowers and accountability from the officer committing the crime to the person at the top letting it happen, to the city councils and the district attorney. All of these people must be able to do their job without pressure or influence from law enforcement or they too must be held responsible.
Families & communities across this state are calling for dismantling of the POBOR (police officers bill of rights) which was created for police by police and signed by a Governor Brown, who's track record and campaign finance history as proven works largely for Police & Prison Guards Unions.


"State Capitol and Nationwide Police Brutality Rallies Set Tuesday; Former CA Supreme Court Justice, Families of Victims of Police Killings and Former Police to Speak, Call for Drug Testing, 'Body Cams' for Police"
2013-10-22:
SACRAMENTO-
Thousands of Californians -- including a former CA Supreme Court Justice here at the State Capitol -- will join more than 50 families of those murdered by law enforcement to demand accountability for police terror on the 18th "National Day Against Police Brutality" is scheduled in more than two dozen cities nationwide.
Rally/March at the Capitol (West Steps) begins at 10 a.m. TUESDAY/OCTOBER 22 and is expected to last much of the day.
A vigil Monday night at the Federal Courthouse at 7 p.m. will be in the memory of Michael Nida, shotgunned to death by Downey Police when they "mistook" him for their on October 22, 2011.
Other rallies and protests are scheduled in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Albuquerque, Chicago, Cleveland, Fresno, Greensboro, North Carolina, Hayward, Houston, Oakland, Redding, San Diego, Seattle, Minneapolis, Lynn (MA) and cities in Canada.
CA Attorney General Kamala Harris was invited to speak. Keynote speaker is Cruz Reynoso, civil rights lawyer, professor emeritus of law at UC Davis, and the first Chicano Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court. Other notable Speaker include Alex Salazar, a former LAPD officer speaking on the code of silence; Elaine Brown, prison activist, writer, singer, & former Black Panther Party chairman; Cephus Johnson "Uncle Bobby" -- Uncle of Oscar Grant murdered by BART police; Ron Thomas -- father of Kelly Thomas a Fullerton homeless man beaten to death by police.
Event organizer Christina Arechiga said that innocent lives are being taken at the hands of law enforcement all over U.S. and California is leading that trend. California police in the span of a few years killed more human beings than have ever executed in the history of death row. Arechiga's cousin, Ernest Duenez Jr. was murdered by John Moody in Manteca. A civil trial starts next year.
"We are looking for common sense solutions to curbing the violence we
see coming out of our police depts. We want to see police officers drug tested on a random basis and whenever there is an incident, I think most Californians would be surprised that is not happening," said Arechiga. "Accompanying these deaths is a culture of the code of silence and police investigating themselves."
Families are calling for cameras on all police officers/"body cams" civilian oversight committees elected and autonomous of law enforcement, protection for whistleblowers and accountability from the officer committing the crime to the person at the top letting it happen, to the city councils and the district attorney. All of these people must be able to do their job without pressure or influence from law enforcement or they too must be held responsible. Finally, families & communities across this state are calling for dismantling of the POBOR (police officers bill of rights) which was created for police by police and signed by a Governor Brown, who's track record and campaign finance history as proven works largely for Police & Prison Guards Unions.

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