Once again the spectre of police terrorism rears its ugly head. Last week it was the police killing un-armed, Pace College football star Denroy DJ Henry in front of scores of friends in Westchester county NY. This week we catch 12 white police officers beating down a skinny 16 year old kid on a college campus. Twice the kids who were filming were told to put their cameras away, as we see more and more police attempted to intimidate those who film. 12 states have passed laws making it illegal to film cops.
Below is footage from two different angles of this 16 year old getting beaten.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP7r43kbfTo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXc2mzVVnMY&feature=related
Here’s a press release for a press conference and demands in the wake of this beating
Boston, MA – Local Community Organizers and Activists join with clergy and members of the NAACP and National Action Network to address the latest incidents of violence and police brutality. In light of recent acts of violence as well as the worldwide release of video depicting the Boston Police in an act of excessive force and police brutality committed against a 16 yr. old African-American male, community groups are joining in a call for the Mayor and Police Commissioner of the City of Boston to listen to and implement the suggestions and recommended strategies of the community.
Jamarhl Crawford, one of the organizers of the group stated, “This press conference has been called after repeated attempts and pleas for the Mayor and Commissioner to open the table to new ideas from fresh voices in order to combat all violence in the city, which includes criminal activity, gun violence as well as police brutality.” Crawford continued, “We have asked publicly at meetings and privately through emails, letters and staff. We have demonstrated our sincerity and commitment through hard work which is documented and cannot be dismissed. We are community members and we have families that live, work, vote and pay taxes in Boston. Each time we are ignored another incident occurs which only highlights the problems and proves the importance and urgency of the message.”
The group calls for Mayor Menino and Commissioner Ed Davis to immediately take the following steps:
A. Reinstate the CO-OP (Community Ombudsman Oversight Panel) as well as create a Community Civilian Review Board and grant both bodies subpoena powers as well as the ability to initiate their own independent investigations.
B. Thoroughly follow through on past public promises in other cases of questionable police actions ie: Police shooting of Manuel DaVeiga (age 19) in which the results of the investigation were promised to be made public and to date have not been released.
C. Commit to a Public Town Hall style Community meeting to discuss the relationship between the Boston Police Department and communities of color in order to promote healing and restore public faith.
D. Implement the recommendations of MAMLEO (Mass. Assoc. of Minority Law Enforcement Officers) which include 1) appointing officers of color to positions of authority within communities of color as well as 2) utilizing officers of color in both the police and public response to high profile crimes in communities of color.
Contact: Jamarhl Crawford cell: 617-297-7721 email: blackstonian@verizon.net
Here’s video of community response to this beating
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150110311798452&ref=mf pt1
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150110347563452&ref=mf pt2