John Lindsay-Poland speaks on Demilitarizing Policing

When police commit violence against community members, it shatters life for families and damages already difficult relationships between law enforcement and communities. The killing of African-American Sacramento resident Stephon Clark this past March, and the subsequent community protests, demonstrate how true this is in California.

There is increased opposition in our state to not just police killings, but also ICE raids and militarized training exercises such as Urban Shield - in which police are trained in the use of military-style weapons and tactics.

U.S. influence and warfare also reach Mexico, where our country contributes to police violence through the drug war and mushrooming gun exports from here to Mexico. In a recent Al-Jazeera article, John Lindsay-Poland, of the Oakland office of the American Friends Service Committee, points out that most gun-related homicides in Mexico were committed with guns from the U.S.

On Sunday, May 6, to shed some light on these issues, PASMC will host a talk by John Lindsay-Poland entitled "Demilitarizing Policing - California and Mexico". John coordinates the Stop U.S. Arms to Mexico Project sponsored by Global Exchange, and also works for the AFSC's Healing Justice Program. He will walk us through the current militarization of law enforcement, and discuss what communities are doing to stop the militarization of police and gun violence both north and south of the border.

The UUSM is wheelchair accessible.

John Lindsay-Poland has written about, researched and advocated for human rights and demilitarization of U.S. policy for more than 30 years. His research has focused on U.S. foreign military assistance and military bases, and respect for human rights. He recently produced the documentary and companion report, Where the Guns Go: U.S. Policy and Human Rights in Mexico.

On May 6 come get an inside at how the gun trade and state violence are undermining civil society - and what can be done about it.

Free, contributions welcome.