<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Hi –</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">There are some
themes I would like to focus in on:</span></p>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol;"><span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">People don’t trust police</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol;"><span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">People don’t see police as valuable assets to the
community, or even as part of the community<br></span></li><li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol;"><span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">People losing faith in the police</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol;"><span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">People thinking that running to the police is a feminine
thing to do or some kind of skirmish thing.</span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Here is why all
of the above bother me. I grew up in Champaign, actually just south of Hessel,
all the way through high school. Was I in some way ingrained with the above?
Because in the last year, after being inflicted with very serious violence, I
didn’t go to the police. It was just the <i>last</i> thing I would have done in
any circumstance – why would I <i>ever</i> go to the police?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This decision
not to go to the police has caused a huge range of issues for me and others.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">People who go to the police are brave combined with a sense that
the police are part of their community and they can trust the police to pursue
justice.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">So what does
this have to do with a reckless driver? Well, everything. Some people encounter
violence nearly every day, but (I hope that) some people only encounter
violence once in their lifetime. And those people need to be prepared for that
encounter. What prepares them is society’s attitude towards pursuing justice.
Do we let things go? Do we dole it out on the community level? Do we believe in
“the system”? Do we believe in the system enough to use it and change it for
the better?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I hope the very
latter, because letting things go is only good for perpetuating the status quo.
Doling things out on the community level does not create justice but rather can
often silence targets in an oppressive system. I don’t believe that the system
is perfect, and I believe that racism and other isms within the system has everything to blame for causing
disbelief in the system – but that’s precisely why I think we need to work with
it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Finally, I
would appreciate it if people would avoid using “little girls” terminology for
disempowering youth, women, and men who are seeking justice. The usage of
systems of justice has bigger implications than our gender insecurities. Or our
grudge against the “little girl” that got us in trouble back on the playground.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">-Vanessa</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br></span></p>
<div style="display: inline;">
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<div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Jul 19, 2010 at 1:27 AM, E. Wayne Johnson <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:ewj@pigs.ag" target="_blank">ewj@pigs.ag</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
There would not be much reason to go with a gun.<br>
<br>
Actually it is the lack of a participative social model that precipitated the Kiwane C. thing.<br>
<br>
Simply asking the kids what they were up to could have taken care of the whole matter.<br>
<br>
I think that city-fied folk like the rush of power they get by calling the cops on someone.<br>
<br>
Sort of like the little girls who used to run for the office to tattle every time there was a skirmish on the playground.<br>
<br>
Saying that they are afraid to intervene directly seems pretty flimsy to me.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
On 7/19/2010 1:11 PM, John W. wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div><div></div><div>
<br>
On Sun, Jul 18, 2010 at 11:41 PM, E. Wayne Johnson <<a href="mailto:ewj@pigs.ag" target="_blank">ewj@pigs.ag</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:ewj@pigs.ag" target="_blank">ewj@pigs.ag</a>>> wrote:<br>
<br>
The whole Society-by-Proxy thing rubs me the wrong way.<br>
<br>
Doesn't it occur to anyone that it's pretty damn strange that the<br>
police power<br>
is invoked rather than the people in the society communicating<br>
with each other?<br>
<br>
That there is this knee-jerk response to call the cops rather than<br>
manage the problem<br>
directly and locally is incredibly strange to me.<br>
<br>
But then again...uh... <br>
Right you are, Wayne. If we think our neighbor's house is being broken into, we should all just run over there with our Glocks and start blastin' away!<br>
<br>
On 7/19/2010 12:29 PM, Marti Wilkinson wrote:<br>
<br>
Al Johnston (hubby of Julia Rietz) lost a fully loaded gun<br>
driving out of Cherry Hills, and they still haven't found it<br>
yet. The News-Gazette sat on the story until after Julia got<br>
re-elected. I wouldn't be surprised if that gun is found at<br>
the scene of a crime.<br>
<br>
Champaign cops often run on a 'see no evil; hear no evil' type<br>
of protocol. So I wouldn't be surprised if a bad driver got<br>
away with mischief in Cherry Hills. However, if this became a<br>
daily practice and enough people got pissed off then the<br>
police would act. If what happened in Hessel Park was an<br>
isolated one-time occurrence I wouldn't expect much to be done.<br>
<br>
On Sun, Jul 18, 2010 at 10:48 AM, David Green<br>
<<a href="mailto:davegreen84@yahoo.com" target="_blank">davegreen84@yahoo.com</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:davegreen84@yahoo.com" target="_blank">davegreen84@yahoo.com</a>><br></div></div>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:davegreen84@yahoo.com" target="_blank">davegreen84@yahoo.com</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:davegreen84@yahoo.com" target="_blank">davegreen84@yahoo.com</a>>>><div><br>
wrote:<br>
<br>
I understand what you're saying, of course, about general<br>
differential policing. But people in Cherry Hills would<br>
certainly<br>
expect a quick response from such a report, even if it was a<br>
resident who was the offending party, and would be up in<br>
arms if<br>
they were treated dismissively, especially with license plate<br>
information. It's just not analogous to a kid in CH being<br>
caught<br>
with some weed.<br>
<br>
------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
*From:* Marti Wilkinson <<a href="mailto:martiwilki@gmail.com" target="_blank">martiwilki@gmail.com</a><br>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:martiwilki@gmail.com" target="_blank">martiwilki@gmail.com</a>><br></div>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:martiwilki@gmail.com" target="_blank">martiwilki@gmail.com</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:martiwilki@gmail.com" target="_blank">martiwilki@gmail.com</a>>>><div><br>
<br>
*To:* David Green <<a href="mailto:davegreen84@yahoo.com" target="_blank">davegreen84@yahoo.com</a><br>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:davegreen84@yahoo.com" target="_blank">davegreen84@yahoo.com</a>><br></div>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:davegreen84@yahoo.com" target="_blank">davegreen84@yahoo.com</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:davegreen84@yahoo.com" target="_blank">davegreen84@yahoo.com</a>>>><div><div></div><div>
<br>
<br>
*Cc:* Peace Discuss <<a href="mailto:peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net" target="_blank">peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net</a><br>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net" target="_blank">peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net</a>><br>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net" target="_blank">peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net</a><br>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net" target="_blank">peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net</a>>>>; Discuss Courtwatch<br>
<<a href="mailto:discuss@lists.communitycourtwatch.org" target="_blank">discuss@lists.communitycourtwatch.org</a><br>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:discuss@lists.communitycourtwatch.org" target="_blank">discuss@lists.communitycourtwatch.org</a>><br>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:discuss@lists.communitycourtwatch.org" target="_blank">discuss@lists.communitycourtwatch.org</a><br>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:discuss@lists.communitycourtwatch.org" target="_blank">discuss@lists.communitycourtwatch.org</a>>>><br>
<br>
*Sent:* Sat, July 17, 2010 9:02:38 PM<br>
<br>
*Subject:* Re: [Discuss] Non-interaction with Champaign police<br>
<br>
I'm saying that "better" neighborhoods are not as policed as<br>
aggressively. I grew up in Holiday Park (same neighborhood<br>
as the<br>
mayor) and now live in Garden Hills, and there is a real<br>
difference between how the areas are policed. You brought<br>
up the<br>
situation with Kiwane Carrington - if this had been a couple of<br>
white kids in Cherry Hills - I doubt that the cops would<br>
have run<br>
in with their guns out. Look at the difference in how a Cherry<br>
Hills doctor, who stabbed her two sons killing one, and a black<br>
janitor in Garden Hills was handled. In the latter case the guy<br>
was suicidal and the city sent the SWAT team after him.<br>
<br>
If a white kid attending the University of Illinois is<br>
caught with<br>
a bag of weed, he will probably face a misdemeanor charge. If a<br>
black kid north of University Avenue gets caught with the same<br>
amount, it may well turn into a felony. Hence, if you want<br>
to be a<br>
'lunatic driver" you are more likely to get away with it around<br>
Hessel Park than Douglass Park. An officer is more likely<br>
going to<br>
be a witness in areas north of University Ave to lunatic<br>
drivers,<br>
which increases the likelihood of being apprehended.<br>
<br>
As both Laurie and John pointed out there may be some<br>
procedural<br>
aspects to this as well. What I suggest is contacting the<br>
members<br>
of the city council and sharing your story and concerns<br>
with them.<br>
Then see what they have to say about this.<br>
<br>
Marti<br>
<br>
On Sat, Jul 17, 2010 at 8:56 AM, David Green<br>
<<a href="mailto:davegreen84@yahoo.com" target="_blank">davegreen84@yahoo.com</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:davegreen84@yahoo.com" target="_blank">davegreen84@yahoo.com</a>><br></div></div>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:davegreen84@yahoo.com" target="_blank">davegreen84@yahoo.com</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:davegreen84@yahoo.com" target="_blank">davegreen84@yahoo.com</a>>>><div><br>
wrote:<br>
<br>
Are you saying that people in "better" neighborhoods don't<br>
want to be protected from lunatic drivers?<br>
<br>
------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
*From:* Marti Wilkinson <<a href="mailto:martiwilki@gmail.com" target="_blank">martiwilki@gmail.com</a><br>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:martiwilki@gmail.com" target="_blank">martiwilki@gmail.com</a>><br></div>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:martiwilki@gmail.com" target="_blank">martiwilki@gmail.com</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:martiwilki@gmail.com" target="_blank">martiwilki@gmail.com</a>>>><div><br>
<br>
*To:* David Green <<a href="mailto:davegreen84@yahoo.com" target="_blank">davegreen84@yahoo.com</a><br>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:davegreen84@yahoo.com" target="_blank">davegreen84@yahoo.com</a>><br></div>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:davegreen84@yahoo.com" target="_blank">davegreen84@yahoo.com</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:davegreen84@yahoo.com" target="_blank">davegreen84@yahoo.com</a>>>><div><br>
<br>
*Cc:* Discuss Courtwatch<br>
<<a href="mailto:discuss@lists.communitycourtwatch.org" target="_blank">discuss@lists.communitycourtwatch.org</a><br>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:discuss@lists.communitycourtwatch.org" target="_blank">discuss@lists.communitycourtwatch.org</a>><br></div><div>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:discuss@lists.communitycourtwatch.org" target="_blank">discuss@lists.communitycourtwatch.org</a><br></div><div>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:discuss@lists.communitycourtwatch.org" target="_blank">discuss@lists.communitycourtwatch.org</a>>>>; Peace Discuss<br>
<br>
<<a href="mailto:peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net" target="_blank">peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net</a><br>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net" target="_blank">peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net</a>><br></div><div>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net" target="_blank">peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net</a><br></div><div><div></div><div>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net" target="_blank">peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net</a>>>><br>
<br>
*Sent:* Fri, July 16, 2010 10:40:28 PM<br>
*Subject:* Re: [Discuss] Non-interaction with Champaign<br>
police<br>
<br>
"What accounts for this disinterest?"<br>
<br>
In the language of real estate - "Location, Location,<br>
Location". If this had been north of University Ave the<br>
local<br>
cops would have been on this in a heartbeat.<br>
<br>
I suggest you contact the Champaign City Council and<br>
ask them<br>
that question. Since they refused to have a civilian review<br>
board, and have appointed themselves as overseers on the<br>
community, they would be the perfect people to ask. Or<br>
write a<br>
letter to the News-Gazette and share your concerns over<br>
what<br>
happened.<br>
<br>
This reminds me that I once received an anonymous email<br>
from<br>
someone a couple of years ago. This person lived in Cherry<br>
Hills and wanted to file a noise complaint against a loud<br>
party, tried to call the cops and no one responded. It's no<br>
secret that both Julia Rietz and her hubby live in that<br>
area.<br>
Chief Finney lives in another McMansion subdivision<br>
close by.<br>
<br>
Marti<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
On Fri, Jul 16, 2010 at 6:56 PM, David Green<br>
<<a href="mailto:davegreen84@yahoo.com" target="_blank">davegreen84@yahoo.com</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:davegreen84@yahoo.com" target="_blank">davegreen84@yahoo.com</a>><br></div></div>
<mailto:<a href="mailto:davegreen84@yahoo.com" target="_blank">davegreen84@yahoo.com</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:davegreen84@yahoo.com" target="_blank">davegreen84@yahoo.com</a>>>><div><div></div><div>
<br>
wrote:<br>
<br>
This past Sunday, sometime between 6:00 and 6:30 in the<br>
evening, I was walking around the paved track at Hessel<br>
Park. As I approached the entrance to the park (north<br>
side, Elm St.), I witnessed a white Mustang convertible<br>
with a young, white, male driver (along), speeding<br>
along<br>
Grandview, the street the semi-circles the park<br>
from Kirby<br>
to Elm to Kirby. He was travelling east towards Elm<br>
at at<br>
least 60 mph. Again, this was on a nice evening<br>
with much<br>
activity at the park. His car spun out of control<br>
and he<br>
careened off of Grandview into a front yard, coming<br>
to a<br>
halt. He drove back out over the short embankment<br>
(there<br>
are no sidewalks on Grandview), out back onto<br>
Grandview,<br>
and turned left, going North up Elm St. towards Hessel<br>
Ave. He continued surpassing the speed limit. He<br>
did stop<br>
at the stop sign at the corner of Hessel and Elm.<br>
I caught his license plate, easier because it was<br>
personalized: STANGO 1. As I continued walking<br>
around the<br>
park, I noticed a gentlemen on his cell phone. I<br>
assumed<br>
he was calling the police, which was correct. I<br>
told him<br>
the license plate. Shortly after, there was another man<br>
calling police, and I also told him the license plate.<br>
Later in the evening, I called the CPD--the public<br>
number,<br>
not 911. I informed the male answering the phone<br>
about my<br>
experience, assuming he had already heard from the<br>
others.<br>
I offered myself as a witness. He wasn't particularly<br>
interested. He told me that there had been no<br>
officers in<br>
the area at the time of the incident, and gave me the<br>
impression that the case was closed, unless other<br>
officers<br>
came across this driver during the evening.<br>
I am no making moralistic judgments about this<br>
young man<br>
driving the car. I have no idea what circumstances may<br>
have prompted this behavior. Nevertheless, a car<br>
travelling at that speed and going out of control is<br>
clearly life-threatening. If there had been someone in<br>
that front yard, they could have been killed.<br>
I am quite sure that STANGO 1 is a greater threat to<br>
public safety than Kiwane, the young man at Douglas<br>
Park,<br>
and any number of others.<br>
I assume that the CPD can access information on the<br>
basis<br>
of the license plate, at least the residence of the<br>
owner<br>
of the car.<br>
What accounts for this disinterest?<br>
David Green<br>
<br></div></div><div>
------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
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<br>
</div></blockquote><div><div></div><div>
<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
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</div></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>With respect,<br><br>Vanessa<br><br>"Tomorrow...if there is to be one, it will be made with the women, and above all, by them..."<br>From the mountains of the Mexican Southeast<br>
Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos<br><br><br>
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