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Community Groups Respond to Police Beating of Homeless Man
18 Community groups held a joint Press Conference today at Fresno City Hall to demand police accountability, following the release on Monday of a video showing a Fresno police officer beating a homeless person. The 3:36 minute video of the press conference is below, as well as the Press Release and statement the group distributed to the media.
To view the original video of the police beating the homeless man, go to: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/02/10/18569420.php
For audio from the Press Conference held on Thursday by the mayor and police chief of Fresno, go to: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/02/12/18569804.php
************************************
PRESS CONFERENCE CONCERNING POLICE DEPARTMENT
Friday, February 13, 2009
10:00 AM
Fresno City Hall, 2600 Fresno St.
Ongoing and recent activity involving the Fresno Police Department, including the arrest of narcotics officers for car theft and culminating in the beating of a homeless man on February 9 appear to disregard the rights of the citizens of Fresno and have caused a loss of confidence by many Fresnans.
In response to this situation, the Central California Criminal Justice Committee, California Prison Moratorium Project, National Network in Action, the Mexican American Political Association, M.E.Ch.A., The Community Alliance Newspaper, The Undercurrent, Brown Berets, the Central Valley Progressive PAC, Hmong Justice USA, C.A.F.E. Infoshop, Californians for Justice, and the Fresno Area Chapter ACLU-NC will hold a joint press conference to discuss what must be done to establish citizen confidence.
The Press Conference will be held in front of Fresno's City Hall on Friday, February 13, at 10:00 AM.
****************************************
STATEMENT
For many years, police activities in Fresno have caused many members of the Fresno community to ask if the City of Fresno and specifically the Fresno Police Department respect the rights and even the lives of the members of the community, culminating on February 9, when two FPD officers were filmed beating a homeless man.
The result is that there is a severe lack of confidence in the Fresno Police Department and in other law agencies.
To establish police accountability and community confidence in the Fresno Police Department, we call for the following actions:
1. An immediate Pattern and Practice Investigation of the Fresno Police Department by the Federal Department of Justice Civil Rights Division
2. The City Council, with the support of the Fresno Police Officers Association, take immediate action to support Mayor Swearengin's direction to the city manager and the Police Chief to establish an IPA
3. The Mayor, City Council Members, Chief of Police, and President of the Fresno Police Officers Association set up and participate in a meeting or series of meetings so that community members can come and voice their concerns
4. Culture and sensitivity training for the Fresno Police Department
5. Full implementation of a Community Based Policing Program
The immediate implementation of all five of these actions is essential both for the protection of the members of the community and for the protection of those police officers who are dedicated to serving the public.
For audio from the Press Conference held on Thursday by the mayor and police chief of Fresno, go to: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/02/12/18569804.php
************************************
PRESS CONFERENCE CONCERNING POLICE DEPARTMENT
Friday, February 13, 2009
10:00 AM
Fresno City Hall, 2600 Fresno St.
Ongoing and recent activity involving the Fresno Police Department, including the arrest of narcotics officers for car theft and culminating in the beating of a homeless man on February 9 appear to disregard the rights of the citizens of Fresno and have caused a loss of confidence by many Fresnans.
In response to this situation, the Central California Criminal Justice Committee, California Prison Moratorium Project, National Network in Action, the Mexican American Political Association, M.E.Ch.A., The Community Alliance Newspaper, The Undercurrent, Brown Berets, the Central Valley Progressive PAC, Hmong Justice USA, C.A.F.E. Infoshop, Californians for Justice, and the Fresno Area Chapter ACLU-NC will hold a joint press conference to discuss what must be done to establish citizen confidence.
The Press Conference will be held in front of Fresno's City Hall on Friday, February 13, at 10:00 AM.
****************************************
STATEMENT
For many years, police activities in Fresno have caused many members of the Fresno community to ask if the City of Fresno and specifically the Fresno Police Department respect the rights and even the lives of the members of the community, culminating on February 9, when two FPD officers were filmed beating a homeless man.
The result is that there is a severe lack of confidence in the Fresno Police Department and in other law agencies.
To establish police accountability and community confidence in the Fresno Police Department, we call for the following actions:
1. An immediate Pattern and Practice Investigation of the Fresno Police Department by the Federal Department of Justice Civil Rights Division
2. The City Council, with the support of the Fresno Police Officers Association, take immediate action to support Mayor Swearengin's direction to the city manager and the Police Chief to establish an IPA
3. The Mayor, City Council Members, Chief of Police, and President of the Fresno Police Officers Association set up and participate in a meeting or series of meetings so that community members can come and voice their concerns
4. Culture and sensitivity training for the Fresno Police Department
5. Full implementation of a Community Based Policing Program
The immediate implementation of all five of these actions is essential both for the protection of the members of the community and for the protection of those police officers who are dedicated to serving the public.
For more information:
http://www.fresnoalliance.com
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also san jose calif. tazing death yesterday
With the epidemic of police murder, torture, and just plain aggressive violence it is time to do major surgery on the problem. Police accountability and other reforms won't work in the plague. It is time to abolish the police departments completely. Could we be any less safe?
I'm organizing Fresno Cop Watch to go on the street this Saturday night to monitor the Fresno Police Dept. If anyone wants to help let me know? If anyone has any cameras or video's recorders let me know ASAP!
Rev. Floyd D. Harris Jr
xyfloyd [at] aol.com
alternative contact info:
National Network in Action
Rev. Floyd D. Harris
http://www.nationalnetworkinaction.org/
http://westfresno.blogspot.com/
Fresno Copwatch
453 N. Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93701
Ph. (559) 498-6033
IWAPGH [at] aol.com
Rev. Floyd D. Harris Jr
xyfloyd [at] aol.com
alternative contact info:
National Network in Action
Rev. Floyd D. Harris
http://www.nationalnetworkinaction.org/
http://westfresno.blogspot.com/
Fresno Copwatch
453 N. Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93701
Ph. (559) 498-6033
IWAPGH [at] aol.com
The following organizations and individuals signed in support of the five requested actions:
Central California Criminal Justice Committee
California Prison Moratorium Project
National Network in Action
Community Alliance Newspaper
The Undercurrent
Brown Berets
Central Valley Progressive PAC
Fresno County Peace and Freedom Party
C.A.F.E. Infoshop
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
p.o.w.e.r.
CopWatch
Madera County Peace and Freedom Party
Fresno Area Chapter ACLU-NC
Fresno Center for Nonviolence
Outreach Ministry of First Congregational Church of Fresno
Venancio Gauna
V. Diane Corbin
Herbert Scott
Reuben Lucero
Donna Hardina
Central California Criminal Justice Committee
California Prison Moratorium Project
National Network in Action
Community Alliance Newspaper
The Undercurrent
Brown Berets
Central Valley Progressive PAC
Fresno County Peace and Freedom Party
C.A.F.E. Infoshop
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
p.o.w.e.r.
CopWatch
Madera County Peace and Freedom Party
Fresno Area Chapter ACLU-NC
Fresno Center for Nonviolence
Outreach Ministry of First Congregational Church of Fresno
Venancio Gauna
V. Diane Corbin
Herbert Scott
Reuben Lucero
Donna Hardina
ANARCHISTS GET READY. NOW IS YOUR TIME TO DO SOMETHING. CALL FOR FRESNO WEEKEND OF MAYHEM AND RAMPAGING ANNOUNCEMENT
HIS NAME IS GLEN BEATY 51 HOMELESS MAN.
WE MUST FIGHT FOR HIM SO THAT WE WILL BE HEARD ALL OVER BY EVERY COP LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES THAT BELIEVE THIS TYPE OF CORRUPT BEHAVIOR IS ACCEPTABLE.
WE CAN DO LOT'S OF DAMAGE IN SMALL INDEPENDENT GROUPS. YOU KNOW THE TARGETS. YOU KNOW THE USUAL SUSPECTS. ORGANIZE YOUR OWN PLANS OF ACTIONS ALL OVER FRESNO IN SMALL GROUPS OF 4 OR 5. IT'S HARDER FOR THEM TO GET US IN SMALL POCKETS; OAKLAND STYLE! THEY CAN'T CATCH ALL OF YOU AND YOU KNOW WE CAN DO IT AGAIN! COVER YOUR FACES BEFORE YOU GO OUT. LET'S SHOW THESE COPS THEY AREN'T IN CONTROL AND THAT WE THE PEOPLE HOLD ALL THE POWER. MAKE SURE THE COAST IS CLEAR BEFORE YOU AND YOUR GROUP DO ANYTHING. I DON'T HAVE TO NAME THE TARGETS SINCE THERE WELL KNOWN ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY BY NOW. IF YOU'RE NEW TO THIS TYPE OF THING LOOK UP THE HISTORY OF ANARCHISM AND ANARSHITS TARGETS. IT IS A WORTHY CAUSE TO DIE FOR, AND THAT IS FREEDOM FROM THE STATE AND CORPORATE TYRANNY! LOOK THESE THINGS UP AND EDUCATE YOUR SELF. THE SPOT LIGHT IS ON POLICE EVERYWHERE NOW AND THEY ARE THE ENEMY AT EVERY PROTEST WE GO TO. THEY PROTECT THE WARS OF AGGRESSION! THEY PROTECT GLOBAL CAPITALISM; BANKING INTERESTS AND CORPORATE GLOBALIZATION! THEY HAVE DECLARED US THE ENEMY AT ALL THESE PROTESTS AND WHEN THE PROTEST IS AGAINST POLICE IN GENERAL OOH, IT NEVER MORE CLEAR WHO IS THE ENEMY. THEY ARE TAUGHT BY THE POLICE ACADEMY THE SAME THING THAT WE ARE THEIR ENEMY; SO BE IT. WE NEED TO STOP LYING TO OUR SELVES ABOUT WHO THESE PIGS WORK FOR. THE ONLY THING THEY ARE TO SERVE AND PROTECT IS THE RICH RULING CLASS AND THE GOVERNMENT SO THEY CAN CARRY OUT THEIR WARS FOR OIL THEIR SO WORRIED ABOUT AMONGST OTHER THINGS. TARGET ONLY TARGETS THAT ARE RELEVANT. ANARCHISTS KNOW WHAT THESE TARGETS ARE ALREADY. HAVE FRIENDS LOOK OUT FOR YOU. USE SIGNALS TO COMMUNICATE. BE FAST BE QUICK. DON'T WAIT AROUND AFTER YOUR ACTION. REMEMBER THAT IN LARGE GROUPS WE ARE NOT READY YET TO DEFEAT THE POLICE. WE WORK BEST IN SMALLER GROUPS OF PEOPLE AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES. THEY HAVE A HARDER TIME FINDING US THIS WAY. PROTESTS ARE GOOD BUT NOW THINGS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO A MUCH BIGGER LEVEL ONCE LIVES HAVE BEEN TAKEN OR BODY'S BEATEN AND ABUSED. THEY HAVE DECLARED WAR ON US. WE MUST CHANGE OUR TACTICS, THAT WAY THEY NEVER KNOW WHAT DAY OR TIME WERE GONNA ACT. BEFORE YOU PUNK OUT JUST REMEMBER THE HOMELESS MAN BEING PUNCHED IN THE FACE REPEATEDLY AND THEN YOU WALKING AWAY. WALKING AWAY IS VIOLENCE. JUST THINK ABOUT HOW UNDEFEATABLE THE SYSTEM IS AND HOW THEY ALWAYS WIN BECAUSE WE NEVER HAVE THE GUTS TO DO ANYTHING ALL THE TIME AND SO THEY ALWAYS WIN IN COURT. THE MEDIA HAS THEIR BACK. THE COURT HAS THEIR BACK. THE GOVERNMENT HAS THEIR BACK. BUT WHO HAS OUR BACK? NONE OF THEM DO. AND SO ALL WE GOT IS OUR SELVES. WHEN THE GOVERNMENT BECOMES THE PROBLEM THE GOVERNMENT WILL DO NOTHING TO CHANGE AND SO THAT IS OUR JOB WHEN THEY DON'T LISTEN. THAT'S ACTUALLY IN THE CONSTITUTION EVEN THOUGH CONSTITUTION WAS WRITEN BY A BUNCH OF SLAVE OWNERS. THIS WHOLE AMERICA SYSTEM IS FLAWED. WE MUST GET RID OF THE OLD WORLD AND BRING ABOUT A NEW WORLD FOR BETTER LIVING FOR ALL. THEY SYSTEM GET'S STRONGER THE MORE WE COWER AND WAIT. IT JUST KEEPS GROWING BIGGER AND BIGGER AT OUR EXPENSE. WE FUND OUR OWN OPPRSSION EVERYTIME THEY TAX OUR PAY CHECKS. ALL THE WARS ALL THE GUNS GOING INTO POLICE HANDS THAT KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE; TAX PAYERS MONEY AT WORK! I SAY FUCK THE SYSTEM AND IT LAWS. THE GOVERNMENT WON'T EVEN FOLLOW IT'S OWN LAWS AND THEY COME DOWN ON US FOR BREAKING THE LAW ALL THE TIME AND THEY NEVER PAY FOR THEIR LAW BREAKING AND WE DO NOTHING. FUCK THAT SHIT. THINGS GOT TO CHANGE. A CALL FOR A RIOT WAS MADE IN OAKLAND WHEN THEY SHOT OSCAR GRANT IN THE BACK AND WE MADE AN EXAMPLE OUT OF THE OAKLAND POLICE FOR ALL THE OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS WHO THINK THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH A REPEAT OFFENSE OR SIMILAR BEHAVIOR SUCH AS WITH 51 YEAR OLD GELD BEATY OF FRESNO. THEY TREAT US LIKE WERE NOT HUMAN AND WE TREAT THEM LIKE POWERFUL KINGS.
THE FRESNO POLICE LOVE TO TEMP FATE IT SEEMS.
"THEY SAY THE PEN'S MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD, WELL I SAY FUCK THE PEN, BECAUSE YOU CAN DIE BY THE SWORD! "
HIS NAME IS GLEN BEATY 51 HOMELESS MAN.
WE MUST FIGHT FOR HIM SO THAT WE WILL BE HEARD ALL OVER BY EVERY COP LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES THAT BELIEVE THIS TYPE OF CORRUPT BEHAVIOR IS ACCEPTABLE.
WE CAN DO LOT'S OF DAMAGE IN SMALL INDEPENDENT GROUPS. YOU KNOW THE TARGETS. YOU KNOW THE USUAL SUSPECTS. ORGANIZE YOUR OWN PLANS OF ACTIONS ALL OVER FRESNO IN SMALL GROUPS OF 4 OR 5. IT'S HARDER FOR THEM TO GET US IN SMALL POCKETS; OAKLAND STYLE! THEY CAN'T CATCH ALL OF YOU AND YOU KNOW WE CAN DO IT AGAIN! COVER YOUR FACES BEFORE YOU GO OUT. LET'S SHOW THESE COPS THEY AREN'T IN CONTROL AND THAT WE THE PEOPLE HOLD ALL THE POWER. MAKE SURE THE COAST IS CLEAR BEFORE YOU AND YOUR GROUP DO ANYTHING. I DON'T HAVE TO NAME THE TARGETS SINCE THERE WELL KNOWN ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY BY NOW. IF YOU'RE NEW TO THIS TYPE OF THING LOOK UP THE HISTORY OF ANARCHISM AND ANARSHITS TARGETS. IT IS A WORTHY CAUSE TO DIE FOR, AND THAT IS FREEDOM FROM THE STATE AND CORPORATE TYRANNY! LOOK THESE THINGS UP AND EDUCATE YOUR SELF. THE SPOT LIGHT IS ON POLICE EVERYWHERE NOW AND THEY ARE THE ENEMY AT EVERY PROTEST WE GO TO. THEY PROTECT THE WARS OF AGGRESSION! THEY PROTECT GLOBAL CAPITALISM; BANKING INTERESTS AND CORPORATE GLOBALIZATION! THEY HAVE DECLARED US THE ENEMY AT ALL THESE PROTESTS AND WHEN THE PROTEST IS AGAINST POLICE IN GENERAL OOH, IT NEVER MORE CLEAR WHO IS THE ENEMY. THEY ARE TAUGHT BY THE POLICE ACADEMY THE SAME THING THAT WE ARE THEIR ENEMY; SO BE IT. WE NEED TO STOP LYING TO OUR SELVES ABOUT WHO THESE PIGS WORK FOR. THE ONLY THING THEY ARE TO SERVE AND PROTECT IS THE RICH RULING CLASS AND THE GOVERNMENT SO THEY CAN CARRY OUT THEIR WARS FOR OIL THEIR SO WORRIED ABOUT AMONGST OTHER THINGS. TARGET ONLY TARGETS THAT ARE RELEVANT. ANARCHISTS KNOW WHAT THESE TARGETS ARE ALREADY. HAVE FRIENDS LOOK OUT FOR YOU. USE SIGNALS TO COMMUNICATE. BE FAST BE QUICK. DON'T WAIT AROUND AFTER YOUR ACTION. REMEMBER THAT IN LARGE GROUPS WE ARE NOT READY YET TO DEFEAT THE POLICE. WE WORK BEST IN SMALLER GROUPS OF PEOPLE AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES. THEY HAVE A HARDER TIME FINDING US THIS WAY. PROTESTS ARE GOOD BUT NOW THINGS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO A MUCH BIGGER LEVEL ONCE LIVES HAVE BEEN TAKEN OR BODY'S BEATEN AND ABUSED. THEY HAVE DECLARED WAR ON US. WE MUST CHANGE OUR TACTICS, THAT WAY THEY NEVER KNOW WHAT DAY OR TIME WERE GONNA ACT. BEFORE YOU PUNK OUT JUST REMEMBER THE HOMELESS MAN BEING PUNCHED IN THE FACE REPEATEDLY AND THEN YOU WALKING AWAY. WALKING AWAY IS VIOLENCE. JUST THINK ABOUT HOW UNDEFEATABLE THE SYSTEM IS AND HOW THEY ALWAYS WIN BECAUSE WE NEVER HAVE THE GUTS TO DO ANYTHING ALL THE TIME AND SO THEY ALWAYS WIN IN COURT. THE MEDIA HAS THEIR BACK. THE COURT HAS THEIR BACK. THE GOVERNMENT HAS THEIR BACK. BUT WHO HAS OUR BACK? NONE OF THEM DO. AND SO ALL WE GOT IS OUR SELVES. WHEN THE GOVERNMENT BECOMES THE PROBLEM THE GOVERNMENT WILL DO NOTHING TO CHANGE AND SO THAT IS OUR JOB WHEN THEY DON'T LISTEN. THAT'S ACTUALLY IN THE CONSTITUTION EVEN THOUGH CONSTITUTION WAS WRITEN BY A BUNCH OF SLAVE OWNERS. THIS WHOLE AMERICA SYSTEM IS FLAWED. WE MUST GET RID OF THE OLD WORLD AND BRING ABOUT A NEW WORLD FOR BETTER LIVING FOR ALL. THEY SYSTEM GET'S STRONGER THE MORE WE COWER AND WAIT. IT JUST KEEPS GROWING BIGGER AND BIGGER AT OUR EXPENSE. WE FUND OUR OWN OPPRSSION EVERYTIME THEY TAX OUR PAY CHECKS. ALL THE WARS ALL THE GUNS GOING INTO POLICE HANDS THAT KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE; TAX PAYERS MONEY AT WORK! I SAY FUCK THE SYSTEM AND IT LAWS. THE GOVERNMENT WON'T EVEN FOLLOW IT'S OWN LAWS AND THEY COME DOWN ON US FOR BREAKING THE LAW ALL THE TIME AND THEY NEVER PAY FOR THEIR LAW BREAKING AND WE DO NOTHING. FUCK THAT SHIT. THINGS GOT TO CHANGE. A CALL FOR A RIOT WAS MADE IN OAKLAND WHEN THEY SHOT OSCAR GRANT IN THE BACK AND WE MADE AN EXAMPLE OUT OF THE OAKLAND POLICE FOR ALL THE OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS WHO THINK THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH A REPEAT OFFENSE OR SIMILAR BEHAVIOR SUCH AS WITH 51 YEAR OLD GELD BEATY OF FRESNO. THEY TREAT US LIKE WERE NOT HUMAN AND WE TREAT THEM LIKE POWERFUL KINGS.
THE FRESNO POLICE LOVE TO TEMP FATE IT SEEMS.
"THEY SAY THE PEN'S MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD, WELL I SAY FUCK THE PEN, BECAUSE YOU CAN DIE BY THE SWORD! "
any individual can do something by themselves.just monitoring police interactions and responding covertly .you dont even need large visible groups.you can educate citizerns and tel people that cops have attacked peoples lives.public doesent know or care,but you can still tell them.or do covert ''education'' of the populace .tell the planets peoples.word can get around.tell foreign visitors to bring back info to their countries about nazi fascism that is being practiced by the policer asnd covert people behind ''government''.im surely spreading info all over the world!
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