Feature Archives

A year ago 6/13, the life of Idriss Stelley was taken by untrained, trigger-happy SF cops at the Metreon Theatre. Although his girlfriend had called 911 with a "5150," the police code for someone in psychiatric distress, the SFPD arrived and shot Idriss 20 times. He died instantly. Community outrage erupted immediately, and a year later activists finally persuaded the SFPD to require crisis intervention training for all first response officers. However, the actions of the SFPD have been nothing but obstructionist and evasive, refusing even to release the statements taken from 5 witnesses on the night of the murder. A rally and march was held on 6/13 to commemorate the anniversary of Idriss' death and all the lives that have taken by police. Photos I Details

One month after a so-called "Memorandum of Understanding" attempted to smooth over long-standing grievances between the black community and SFPD, the Richmond Police stand accused of a repressive crackdown in a Latino neighborhood on Cinco de Mayo. Local activist Andres Soto, who spent the evening in jail, described the weekend police action as a premeditated "paramilitary" operation targeting even women and children, involving at least 4 different law enforcement agencies. Concerned members of the public are requested to attend the Richmond Police Commission meeting on Saturday 6/5. Police News

The trial of some members of the violent police gang who call themselves the "Oakland Riders" begins 5/28 at the Alameda County Courthouse. Turned in by a rookie cop, three Oakland cops will face criminal charges on 44 felony and misdemeanor counts, including charges of planting drug evidence, kidnapping and severely beating innocent people. A fourth cop who was to stand trial, Francisco Vazquez, is still a fugitive after fleeing the Bay Area. A report by A.C. Thompson suggests that the Oakland District Attorney is intentionally sabotaging the prosecution of these officers, while ignoring complaints that at least 25 other active Oakland officers are still involved in Riders-related activities. Protests and community events will probably be planned around the trial. Oakland has historically been and continues to be a battleground in the fight against police brutality.

5/9: "I was wheeled in here in an ambulance-- will I be wheeled out in a hearse?"Women in the Central California Women's Facility prison in Chowchilla say that their medical needs are routinely neglected. Activists say, "People have been left to die because they?re not getting the medical care they need." The California Department of Corrections refuses to speak to the media. Full story On 5/13, protest the continued abuse of women at the CCWF nursing facility and Governor Davis' failure to address this issue.

4/10: Police brutality activists returned to the Police Commission's public meeting in an effort to call attention to evidence of systemic racism in the SFPD--including the assault of five black children in Hunter's Point, and the deaths of, Idriss Stelley, Gregory Hooper, and Richard Tims. The Police Commission agreed to attempt to improve relations between blacks and police by signing a "Memorandum of Understanding" with the African-American Community Relations Board , but families of victims say their grievances have not yet been addressed. | Report

Contact the police commission with your concerns | 2/27 Protest: Photo, Report | Bay Area Police Watch | Photo 1 | 2 | Editorial from Bay View | Community Info | SF Bay View Newspaper

4/15: More than 100 day laborers and supporters held a press conference on the steps of SF police headquarters to protest recent harrassment by police, as well as the looming threat of collaboration between INS and local law enforcement. Speakers outlined the group\\\'s demands (including a request to meet with the Police Chief, who has so far failed to return calls from the SF Day Labor Program) and local musicians led songs of resistance. The crowd then marched to the INS offices, where chanting, banners, and additional speakers alerted mainstream media and onlookers to the plight of local immigrants. Video, Audio In recent weeks, the INS has arrested and deported local airport workers and raided immigrants\\\' homes. The SFPD has been moving day laborers off the street and giving them citations for minor infractions, and Department of Justice is now pushing for local police to have the same authority as the INS to arrest and deport immigrants. The Mission, in particular, has seen a growing crack-down, coinciding with the appearance of a new police captain. A community meeting on 4/30 will present Mission residents with an opportunity to speak-out against this injustice.

South Berkeley: On 3/14, a crowd of outraged citizens gathered as Berkeley Police attacked a young black man. Report | Photo
East Palo Alto: On 3/29, family and friends of Pedro Calderon marched from East Palo Alto to City Hall in Palo Alto to protest Calderon\\\'s fatal shooting by police and demand a thorough investigation into the incident. In highly questionable circumstances, Calderon was shot and killed after he was stopped for driving an allegedly stolen vehicle on 3/20.