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We've been talking about the ongoing militarization of police.<br>
<br>
C-U Citizens for Peace and Justice has composed a <b>statement
opposing police militarization</b> - see below. Eighteen groups
have signed onto it, including AWARE.<br>
<br>
The plan: present the statement to local officials, starting with
the <b>Urbana City Council </b>on <b>Monday, 12/15.</b><br>
<br>
6:30pm - Rally, in hallway, outside the Urbana City Council Chambers
(400 S. Vine St, across Vine from Lincoln Square).<br>
Bring your signs and your voices!<br>
<br>
7:00pm - Urbana City Council meeting begins. Come and pack the
room! Speak if you're willing to. <br>
<br>
A Facebook event is here:<br>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1578599002359635">https://www.facebook.com/events/1578599002359635</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<h2>CUCPJ statement</h2>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in" align="CENTER"><font size="4"><b>Halt
Police
Militarization in CU</b></font></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We are a coalition of concerned
Champaign County residents working to demilitarize our local
police.
Since Ferguson, the public has become aware of the trend toward
police militarization, especially how it impacts the African
American
community. The Federal Government’s 1033 Program, providing
police
with excess military equipment, has been exposed in the media.
Through this program M-16 assault rifles have been given to our
local
police, and, most alarmingly, a Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected
(MRAP) vehicle has been acquired by the Champaign County
Sheriff’s
Office. We have several recommendations: </p>
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<ul>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We urge elected officials to
instruct our law enforcement agencies to withdraw from the
1033 Program. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We call on Sheriff Dan Walsh to
decommission the MRAP. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We are concerned about the lack
of accountability in past acquisitions of military equipment
and weapons. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We ask that in the future, there
be a process of public consultation before local law
enforcement acquires this dangerous equipment. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We ask that police develop clear
policies for how these items will be used before being
acquired. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">We insist that such weapons are
not used against minors (especially in schools), peaceful
protesters, and in serving routine warrants of arrest.</p>
</li>
</ul>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">For more read:</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font color="#0000ff"><u><a
href="http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2014-09-21/asset-area-law-enforcement-military-gear-has-its-critics-too.html">“An
Asset
for Area Law Enforcement, Military Gear Has Its Critics,
Too.”</a></u></font>
<i>News-Gazette</i> (Sept. 21, 2014).</p>
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<p style="margin-right: -0.25in; margin-bottom: 0in"><font
color="#0000ff"><u><a
href="http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/25792-the-banality-of-police-militarization-how-champaign-urbana-acquired-its-mrap">“The
Banality
of Police Militarization: How Champaign-Urbana Acquired
Its
MRAP.”</a></u></font> <i>Truthout </i>(Aug. 26, 2014). </p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The following local organizations,
civic groups, and religious institutions have signed and
endorsed
this statement.</p>
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<ol>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Anti-War Anti-Racism Effort </p>
</li>
</ol>
<ol start="2">
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">North End Men’s Breakfast Club </p>
</li>
</ol>
<ol start="3">
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Channing Murray Foundation </p>
</li>
</ol>
<ol start="4">
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Central Illinois Chapter of
Progressive Democrats </p>
</li>
</ol>
<ol start="5">
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Central Illinois Jobs with
Justice </p>
</li>
</ol>
<ol start="6">
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Champaign County ACLU </p>
</li>
</ol>
<ol start="7">
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Champaign-Urbana Citizens for
Peace and Justice </p>
</li>
</ol>
<ol start="8">
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Champaign-Urbana Immigration
Forum </p>
</li>
</ol>
<ol start="9">
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">GEO Solidarity Committee </p>
</li>
</ol>
<ol start="10">
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">First Mennonite Church of
Champaign/Urbana </p>
</li>
</ol>
<ol start="11">
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Ministerial Alliance of
Champaign and Vicinity </p>
</li>
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<ol start="12">
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">New Covenant Church </p>
</li>
</ol>
<ol start="13">
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">School for Designing a Society </p>
</li>
</ol>
<ol start="14">
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Social Action Committee of the
Unitarian Universalist Church of
Urbana-Champaign </p>
</li>
</ol>
<ol start="15">
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Students for Justice in
Palestine </p>
</li>
</ol>
<ol start="16">
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">UIUC Chapter of Amnesty
International </p>
</li>
</ol>
<ol start="17">
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">University YMCA </p>
</li>
</ol>
<ol start="18">
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> Urbana-Champaign Friends
Meeting</p>
</li>
</ol>
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