ALERT: Big Rally Monday Against Racism at Sacramento & Yolo DA offices

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, Oct. 19, 2009
Contact: Rev. Ashiya Odeye 916/719-9582 cell

ATTENTION: Assignment Desk

Major rally, march set Monday to protest racism,
abusive practices of District Attorneys in Sacramento,
Yolo counties; Dept. of Justice investigation demanded

SACRAMENTO – A major demonstration and march to oppose growing racism and
other abusive practices in the district attorney offices in Sacramento and Yolo
counties will be held this Monday, Oct. 19 for a coalition of civil rights and
social justice organizations – the coalition is calling for a Dept. of Justice
investigation.

A NEWS CONFERENCE and rally start will be held at 12 Noon MONDAY at the
Sacramento DA office, 901 G St.

The protest will then move to the Superior Court building across the street and
then to the Federal building at 501 I St, where a demand will be delivered to
the U.S. Dept. of Justice to investigate the Sacramento and Yolo District
Attorney Offices.

"We are protesting the abusive and totally out of control justice systems in
Sacramento and Yolo County. The DA's in both counties run their departments as
their personal fiefdoms, subject to their prejudices special interests and
attitudes," said Rev. Ashiya Odeye, of the Justice Reform Coalition.

"Exaggerated charges, and overly long sentencing used to coerce plea taking to
get high conviction rates, vindictive prosecutions, and intimidations especially
against people of color, are part of the usual tactics of these departments run
by these two DA's. Racism and racial profiling abound," added Odeye.

-30-