MEETING ABOUT SFPD BEATING OF CHILDREN - PBNB - 2/12/02

Dearest PBNB Readers;
Please continue to email and call the Ella Baker Center attn: Samantha - about your willingness to help bring this horrible incident to the attention of the nation - to the attention of the world. This muust not continue.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PeoplesBarkNewsBerkeley/message/223

no peace without justice,

john vance, editor/publisher/coordinator
Peoples Bark News Berkeley
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PeoplesBarkNewsBerkeley/messages

A First Amendment Center
http://www.freezepeach.cjb.net
Berkeley, Ca

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From: Samantha Liapes <sam@. ellabakercenter.org>
Subject: MEETING ABOUT SFPD BEATING OF CHILDREN IN HUNTERS POINT
Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2002 15:00:43 -0800

COMMUNITY FORUM WILL ADDRESS RECENT SFPD BEATING
OF HUNTERS POINT CHILDREN

Link to story that was in the SF Bay View in San Francisco on February 6th, 2002 http://www.sfbayview.com/frontpp.htm#a2

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST 6:00PM 54 MINT ST.
(alley st. between market and mission, 5th and 6th. in downtown SF)

call or email with questions
sam@. ellabakercenter.org
415-951-4844x224

IN A SHOW OF SOLIDARITY, IDRISS' MOTHER HAS MADE THE CALL TO USE THE UPCOMING 'JUSTICE FOR IDRISS' COMMUNITY FORUM TO TALK ABOUT THE RECENT HUNTERS POINT INCIDENT.
THE PARENTS OF THE FOUR CHILDREN (AGES 12 AND 13) BRUTALIZED BY SFPD OFFICERS WILL LEAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW THE COMMUNITY CAN TAKE ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THIS HORRIBLE ABUSE.



POLICEWATCH HAS BEEN GETTING MANY, MANY CALLS AND EMAILS IN RESPONSE TO A STORY IN THE BAYVIEW NEWSPAPER ABOUT FIVE CHILDREN WHO WERE BRUTALIZED IN HUNTERSPOINT BY SFPD OFFICERS DURING THE MLK HOLIDAY. THE PARENTS HAVE SHOWN TREMENDOUS COURAGE AND LEADERSHIP AND ARE READY AND ABLE TO LEAD THE COMMUNITY IN EFFORTS TO GET SOME ATTENTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY AROUND THIS ISSUE. BAY AREA POLICEWATCH HAS BEEN SUPPORTING THE FAMILIES WITH MEDIA ADVOCACY AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE. MESHA MONGE-IRIZARRY, IDRISS STELLEY'S MOTHER, HAS SUGGESTED THAT WE TURN THE COMMUNITY FORUM SCHEDULED FOR AN UPDATE ON IDRISS' CASE INTO A JOINT EVENT: AN UPDATE ON IDRISS' CASE AND A PLANNING MEETING FOR ACTION AROUND THE HUNTERS POINT INCIDENT. IT IS THIS KIND OF SOLIDARITY AND UNITY THAT MAKES US STRONG. THESE CASES ARE INTIMATELY LINKED. BOTH INVOLVE UNWARRANTED EXCESSIVE FORCE AGAINST YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR. AND IN BOTH SITUATIONS, BRAVE FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE STEPPED UP TO LEAD THE COMMUNITY IN JUSTICE CAMPAIGNS. LET'S FOLLOW THEIR LEAD. COME TO THIS IMPORTANT GATHERING AND SUPPORT BOTH OF THESE STRUGGLES FOR JUSTICE.

see below for information on the Justice for Idriss Campaign:



Idriss Stelley was shot more than 20 times and killed by SFPD officers at the Sony Metreon Theater on June 13th, 2001. The officers knew that Idriss was having a psychiatric crisis and needed help. But Idriss is dead, and there is no evidence to suggest that officers needed to use deadly force. Within weeks of the killing, following the leadership of Idriss' mother and fiance, the community mobilized to get Justice for Idriss. Our efforts have included local, national and international education and advocacy. In January, we won a major victory with a unanimous SF Board of Supervisors resolution calling for all SFPD Officers to receive crisis intervention training. But the struggle continues. It has been 8 months since Idriss' murder and we have yet to hear from the four known witnesses to the shooting.
We will not let the SFPD continue their shameless cover-up any longer!

call or email with questions
sam@. ellabakercenter.org
415-951-4844x224