See related article on police brutality/misconduct and current Justice Department
probes in yesterdays USA Today (4-17-01):
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washdc/2001-04-16-policeproblems.htm
Michael Hohmann
13th Ward
http://www2.visi.com/mahco
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2001 3:31 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: [Mpls] Petition to make Police Brutality and Misconduct a
> Federal Crime
>
>
> The following petition is being circulated by the national Black Radical
> Congress.
snip
> ---------------------
>
> Black Radical Congress Petition to make Police Brutality and Misconduct a
> Federal Crime
>
> http://www.blackradicalcongress.org/organizing/campaigns/index.html
>
>
> Government sanctioned violence, particularly abuse by law enforcement
>
> agencies, has represented a persistent pattern of civil and human rights
>
> abuse against people of color, especially African Americans, and
> the poor,
>
> since the origin of the United States of America. Contemporary police
>
> brutality consists of the use of excessive force: shooting of unarmed
>
> individuals, fatal chokings, and physical assaults. Police misconduct is
>
> inclusive of planting evidence, making or condoning untrue oral
> and written
>
> reports, keeping silent, threatening suspects, arrestees, and witnesses,
>
> and engaging in illegal activities.
>
>
> We believe that because police officers operate under "color of
> law," civil
>
> and human rights violations committed by officers undermine
> respect for law
>
> and government. Furthermore, we believe the logical consequence of police
>
> violence is a society ruled by the force of arms, not law, and represents
>
> another step closer to a police state. We believe that existing local,
>
> county, state, and federal policies and laws have been ineffective in
>
> ending the persistent and pervasive practices of police brutality and
>
> misconduct federal crimes.
>
>
> Police brutality and misconduct are the most serious and recurring
>
> violations of U.S. citizens’ civil rights and permanent residents’ human
>
> rights. Thus, we the undersigned petition Congress to make police
> brutality
>
> and misconduct federal crimes because:
>
> · Police brutality and misconduct are pervasive across the
> nation at
>
> all levels of law enforcement, municipal, county, state, and federal; and
>
> · Race, ethnicity or nationality, class, and age (i.e., youth) have
>
> been demonstrated to be major factors in the occurrence of police
> brutality
>
> and misconduct; and
>
> · Existing remedies have proven ineffective at all levels of
>
> government in curtailing the unwarranted use of excessive force and
>
> misconduct. Police brutality and misconduct are serious offenses that
>
> threaten domestic peace and tranquillity. We call upon the
> Congress of the
>
> United States to pass legislation making brutality by law enforcement
>
> agents a federal crime.
>
>
> Signature________________________________
>
> Printed Name_____________________________
>
> Address_________________________________
>
> Phone______________ Email_______________
>
> (duplicate signature section as needed)
>
>
> Black Radical Congress, National Office
>
> Columbia University Station
>
> P.O. Box 250791
>
> New York, NY 10025-1509
>
> Phone: (212) 969-0348
>
> Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> Web: http://www.blackradicalcongress.org
> _______________________________________________
> Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy
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>
_______________________________________________
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