[Peace-discuss] Champaign police

[Karen Medina]

A public screening of the recently released video of Champaign police
abuse which occurred in June 2011.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
6pm, before the city council meeting at 7pm
Salem Baptist Church / 500 East Park Street Champaign, IL

> Video of Champaign Police Choking Black Youth while in Handcuffs
>
> http://www.ucimc.org/content/video-champaign-police-choking-black-youth-while-handcuffs
>
> On June 5, 2011 Champaign police choked a 20 year old African-American man
> in the back seat of a squad car while he was in handcuffs. His crime? Asking
> why he had been stopped, roughed up, and pepper sprayed while walking in
> campus town.
>
> Here is the video from the squad car of the entire 53 minute incident:
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP76Oc3-fMw
>
> The choking occurs at 2:31:25 am according to the time stamp, although the
> police begin to profile the man at 2:16:35. At 26:50:00 they pull up to
> several youth, nearly knocking them with their car. They grab the one youth
> who does not resist physically. At 2:27:08 they pepper spray him. 2:30:00
> the youth continues to ask what he was doing and why he is under arrest.  He
> explains that he was helping his sister home. At 2:31:25am you hear him say
> "Do not touch me sir!" after which you can see an officer jump on him, grab
> him by the throat, and choke him.
>
> This video release comes just weeks after 18 year old Calvin Miller showed
> up at City Hall on crutches with a swollen eye and bumps on the back of his
> head. Calvin said police beat him while in handcuffs.
>
> Another Youth, Gary McFarland, showed up at a press conference about police
> abuse a few days later with his jaw wired shut. His statement was that
> police broke his jaw while after they pepper sprayed him, threw him to the
> ground and put him in handcuffs.
>
> Unlike Calvin's case, the City of Champaign has refused to release the squad
> car video in the June 5th incident, but it was been obtained anonymously and
> posted here.
>
> The youth in this video submitted a complaint to the city; it was considered
> unfounded. After escalating pressure about police abuse, the City Manager
> and States Attorney have asked the State Police to review if there was
> misconduct. The State Police do not have a history of providing independent
> investigation that is trusted by the community.
>
> In a recent press conference, the City Manager refused to answer questions.
>
> Related articles:
>
> Over 100 Stand with Calvin Miller
>
> http://ucimc.org/content/stand-calvin-miller-tuesday-night-champaign-city-council
>
> Probe Sought in Troubling Arrest
>
> http://www.news-gazette.com/news/courts-police-and-fire/2011-11-20/probe-sought-troubling-arrest-champaign.html
>
> City Manager Refuses to Answer Questions About Police Abuse:
>
> http://ucimc.org/content/champaign-city-manager-holds-not-very-newsy-press-conference-police-violence