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Expertise of NYC, Chicago, Austin, and other Groups Combating Police Crimes to be Combined at Unprecedented National Meeting May 16 – 17 in Chicago


CHICAGO—(ENEWSPF)—April 30, 2014. Activists who have for decades been battling torture and shootings carried out by Chicago police officers have decided to get some pointers from their counterparts in New York City and elsewhere.  And, while they’re at it, they decided to “go wide” — creating a forum for presenters and learners from across the country.

“The success of the people in New York City stopping “stop-and-frisk” in its tracks was a daily story in the metro New York area for months, if not years,” said Frank Chapman, field organizer for the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR). “A similar thing has been happening in Austin – where they successfully invoked Title 6 of the Civil Rights Act against the police department, to cut them off from federal funds. And then it occurred to us: Can we find a way to share that success with people in Chicago? And, for that matter, with people from every other community fighting police crimes?”

The result is a forum, to take place May 16-17 in Chicago, that brings together experts from New York City, Chicago, Austin, Louisville, Los Angeles, Maryland,  and the San Francisco Bay Area (and possibly Albuquerque, Charlotte, New Orleans, Seattle, and Pittsburgh) to share expertise on putting a stop to police crimes. This is the first time there has ever been organizing based solely on the work of groups combating police crimes. “On May 17, we’ll be celebrating the 41st anniversary of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR) — the umbrella organization of which the Chicago Alliance is a part,” said Chapman. “While we have a long tradition of national coordination of the struggle against racist and political repression, the practical national focus on stopping police crimes is new,” he said.

The Forum will take place at the University of Chicago International House, 1414 E. 59th Street. The Forum and the associated CAARPR dinner and rally are backed by a long list of luminaries, starting with Angela Davis. Long-time experts on stopping police crimes, including Jazz Hayden, Joe Iosbaker, Ann Mitchell, Joey L. Mogul, Crista Noel, and Kevin Tyson, will lead working sessions at the Forum.

For additional information or to register for the event, visit: http://naarpr.org/save-date-national-forum-police-crimes-angela-davis/

BACKGROUND:

New York City – Mayor de Blasio announces New York’s stop-and-frisk appeal is on hold http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/new-york-stop-fighting-stop-and-frisk-article-1.1596610

Chicago – Special Master Appointed to Identify Prisoners with Valid Claims of Coerced Confessions in Burge-related Torture Interrogations http://www.law.northwestern.edu/legalclinic/macarthur/projects/police/burge/

Austin – Excessive Force Has Increased, NAACP Leader Says; Groups ask DOJ to reopen APD investigation

http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2012-07-06/excessive-force-has-increased-naacp-leader-says/

Louisville – Man fatally shot by Louisville police http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2014/03/28/shooting-kills-one-southwest-jefferson/7042089/

Los Angeles – Stop LAPD Police Spying: Rescind Special Order 1 http://stoplapdspying.org/about-special-order-11/

Maryland – Baltimore Sun – Keyword: Police Shooting http://articles.baltimoresun.com/keyword/police-shooting

San Francisco Bay Area – Police Shooting of Oscar Grant http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BART_Police_shooting_of_Oscar_Grant

Albuquerque – Albuquerque rocked by latest police shooting http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/04/22/albuquerque-police-shooting/8010761/

Charlotte – Charlotte cop indicted in shooting of ex-Florida A&M football player http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-charlotte-police-officer-indicted-famu-killing-20140128,0,3241578.story#ixzz30Djx5Krf

New Orleans – Justice Department, New Orleans Police Department agree on overhaul http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/24/justice/justice-department-new-orleans-police/

Seattle – New Mayor in Seattle to Overhaul Police Dept. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/09/us/new-mayor-in-seattle-to-overhaul-police-dept.html?_r=0

Pittsburgh – Girlfriend of man fatally shot by police talks to Channel 11 http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/police-fatally-shoot-armed-suspect-after-vehicle-f/nfdw8/

 


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