[Cprb] Re: Urgent: Stun guns being considered by Champaign City Council

[J. Wason]

This was sent to the IMC and Peace lists, but it strikes me as something
that the Greens and the Coalition for Citizen Police Review might be
interested in as well.

John


>Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 19:56:51 -0600
>From: "Kranich, Kimberlie" <Kranich at WILL.uiuc.edu>
>To: "'imc at lists.groogroo.com'" <imc at lists.groogroo.com>
>Cc: "'Peace at lists.groogroo.com'" <Peace at lists.groogroo.com>
>Subject: [Imc] Urgent: Stun guns being considered by Champaign City Council
>
>
>Dear Activists,
>
>According to Friday's edition of the News Gazette, the Champaign City
>Council is considering purchasing Tasers, or stun guns.  Tazors shoot
>electric darts that deliver a charge that immobilzes a "suspect."  They are
>being marketed as a way to prevent injury to officers and suspects.
>
>We know better.  They will be used AGAINST activists, including those of us
>who protest out on N. Prospect. 
>
>Lori Serb's trial, and my own trial from my arrest for civil disobedience in
>2001, are examples of how officers lie on the stand.  The Tazor is just
>another tool to use against us.
>
>The Urban League is strongly against their purchase for fear that they will
>be used disproportionately against African Americans in our community.
>
>This is an opportunity to work with the Urban League to block the purchase
>of Tasers. We need to act fast.
>
>Please call the Mayor, city council members at large and your own city
>council person.  I am going to ask to meet with mine, Mike LaDue, and will
>show him clips from Bill Moyer's program on how Miami officers abused FTAA
>protesters using Tazors as one of their tools.
>
>It is important that you try to have a face-to-face meeting with yoru rep.
>Eamail isn't as effective.
>
>If anyone else has LaDue as their representative and wants to meet with me
>when I speak to him, please email me.
>
>Meanwhile, please read the News GAzette article and contact your city
>council person. Their phone numbers are listed below.
>
>I think that this is something that AWARE should take on as a group. The
>issue of Tasers connects us racially and politically.
>
>Kimberlie
>***********************
>Gerald Schweighart
>Mayor
>Liquor Commissioner
>2906 West Daniel St.
>Champaign, IL 61821
> H: 217/359-9294
>O: 217/403-8720
>E: JerrySchweighart at ci.champaign.il.us 2007 
>
>J.W. Pirtle
>Deputy Mayor
>District 1
>1205 Carver Dr.
>Champaign, IL 61820
> H: 217/356-5500
>E: JWPirtle at ci.champaign.il.us 2005 
>
>Michael La Due
>Council Member
>District 2
>1005 S. Sixth St., Apt. #28
>Champaign, IL 61820 
> H: 217/367-5536
>E: MichaelLaDue at ci.champaign.il.us 2005 
>
>Vic McIntosh
>Council Member
>District 3
>501 Clearwater
>Champaign, IL 61822 H: 217/352-0194
>E: VicMcIntosh at ci.champaign.il.us 2005 
>
>James Green
>Council Member
>District 4
>2206 Plymouth Dr.
>Champaign, IL 61821 
> H: 217/355-1232
>O: 217/367-2500
>E: JimGreen at ci.champaign.il.us 2005 
>
>Ken Pirok
>Council Member
>District 5
>2203 Southmoor Drive
>Champaign, IL 61821
> H: 217/398-4258
>O: 217/398-4258
>E: KenPirok at ci.champaign.il.us 2005
> 
>Thomas Bruno
>Council Member
>At Large
>1109 W. Park Ave.
>Champaign, IL 61821 
> H: 217/398-2191
>O: 217/328-6000
>E: TomBruno at ci.champaign.il.us 2007
> 
>Kathy Ennen
>Council Member
>At Large
>2711 Sangamon Dr.
>Champaign, IL 61821 
> H: 217/351-6164
>E: KathyEnnen at ci.champaign.il.us  2007 
>
>Giraldo Rosales
>Council Member
>At Large
>102 N. Neil St.
>Champaign, IL 61820  
>