Santa Rosa October 22nd Coalition March and Rally to Stop Police Brutality, Repression, & the Criminalization of a Generation Santa Rosa has called for a protest to represent the North Bay in this year's 12th National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, "to give collective voice to People's grave concerns about law enforcement, both locally and globally."

On Monday, Oct. 22nd, the People of Sonoma County will wear black and march through Santa Rosa neighborhoods to protest the 9 deaths of people killed in the past year by local law enforcement. The march begins at 4pm in Southwest Community Park (Hearn & Burbank Aves; with a 5pm feeder march from Sebastopol Rd and West Ave), followed by a 6pm rally in Old Courthouse Square (4th St and Mendocino Ave). There will be an open microphone at the rally. Speakers expected include surviving loved ones of victims, people who suffer from past and present police abuses.

The Santa Rosa coalition says that this "epidemic of deadly force is long established: From Apr. 1, 1995 to March 10, 1998, at least 15 people were killed by local police or died in-custody. From Jan. 7, 2000 to Sept. 24, 2007, at least 35 people were killed by local police or died in-custody. In a recent 9 week period, local police shot and killed 5." Deaths have resulted from situations such as 911 calls for help in mental health crises; from the lack of health care in the County Jail for health conditions such as sickle cell anemia and withdrawal. The coalition continues, "We believe that resisting these abuses of power is both necessary and possible."

Opposition to these deaths in Sonoma County has come from the US Commission on Civil Rights, Committee for Civil Rights, Committee for Immigrant Rights, NAACP, ACLU, County of Refuge, AIM, MEChA, Copwatch, Peace and Justice Center of Sonoma County, & NAMI-- as well as a cross-section of the community, which is calling for systemic change. People of color, especially youth, are racially profiled by police through schemes such as anti-gang violence efforts. The Sheriff has requested that ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) collaborate with MAGNET to deport people not proven guilty of crimes.

DUI checkpoints sweep working class neighborhoods for minor infractions, impounding cars of those who can least afford it. Local police agencies benefit financially from impounds and tickets while also benefiting through increased social control and decreased community empowerment. Read more

Press Release | Announcement with Leaflets | 7/9/07 Report from Santa Rosa Copwatch | Santa Rosa Copwatch | October 22nd Coalition