[Peace] AWARE Meeting Minutes, March 13, 2005
David Green
davegreen48 at yahoo.com
Mon Mar 14 19:39:34 CST 2005
AWARE Minutes: March 13, 2005
Facilitator: Carol Inskeep
Minutes: David Green
Time: Lisa Chason
1. News of the Week: Carl Estabrook reported that Fox
News now has twice as many viewers as CNN. To read
what neither of them learn about the week’s events,
see Carl’s New Notes, e-mailed separately.
2. Introductions: Over 25, including seven U of I
students preparing to attend an alternative spring
break focused on activism, at a communal farm in
Wisconsin.
3. New Ideas:
David Green received support for meeting with the U of
I editorial board regarding their policies, as well as
their concept of press and academic freedom, given
both recent events at the DI and more broadly speaking
on campuses around the country.
Randall Cotton requested suggestions for UPTV videos
for May.
Susan Davis offered to continue to facilitate those
interested in submitting a commentary to WILL’s Public
Square.
4. Working Groups Reports:
March 19th: This Saturday’s event, from 3 to 4 p.m., 3
speakers, music, postcard writing, etc. is on track.
Folks will be encouraged to come at 2 to distribute
literature around downtown Champaign, and continue
from 4:00 to 5:00 during the music. Susan Davis hopes
to have a Public Square Commentary referring to our
event aired on Friday evening and Saturday morning.
Matt Murray has written a Q & A to distribute. A press
release has been sent to the N-G. Carol Inskeep will
coordinate phone calling. While the police have been
cooperative, Robert Finch (lawyer) will be informed.
C-U Citizens for Peace and Justice: Danielle
Schumacher’s minutes will be included at the end of
these minutes.
Obama/Durbin Watch: Postcards are being prepared for
Saturday. The website for United for Peace and Justice
should be helpful at coordinating letter writing,
etc., from other activist groups in Illinois. It was
suggested that we set up a table at Strawberry Fields
and elsewhere to encourage folks to write postcards.
Carl pointed out that so far, the only votes on which
Durbin and Obama differed were for C. Rice for
Secretary of State, and for bouncing lawsuits to the
federal level, with Obama holding the less agreeable
views on both.
Jakobsson Watch: Frank Nardulli reported that Naomi
caved by not voting for medical marijuana. She should
be held accountable at the next election (if not
before then in other ways).
It was also reported by Danielle that there is a move
to collect DNA samples subsequent to felony arrests,
something that should be opposed as more harassment of
the vulnerable.
Eyes Wide Open: Carol Inskeep reported that the
coordinators of the tour are leaning toward the first
week of May, for 2 or 3 days.
Alternative Spring Break: Eric Niang reported that 7 U
of I students will be sponsored by the YMCA in a
program at a communal farm in Wisconsin, where they
will learn about non-violent activism relating to a
number of issues and philosophies.
Rob Scott invited everyone to “Permaculture in
Palestine,” when his visitor Murad from the Marda
Permaculture Project in the West Bank will speak about
Permaculture design and the challenges facing
Permaculture in Palestine. This will be on Saturday,
March 26th, beginning at 4 and includes dinner, 122
Franklin St., Urbana.
5. Events of the Past Week:
On Tuesday, Norman Finkelstein spoke at the Law School
on legitimate and illegitimate debates regarding
Israel and Palestine. For a close approximation of
this talk, you can listen to the Vancouver lecture at
normanfinkelstein.com. For information about The
Holocaust Industry, you can read the current Public I,
which was distributed by Bob Illyes at the meeting.
Also on Tuesday, Richard Clarke, former White House
insider, spoke to an overflow audience because he was
not speaking at Foellinger and planned. There were
both supportive views, regarding his perspectives on
the invasion of Iraq, and also criticisms (beyond the
$30,000 he was paid for an unwritten lecture),
regarding his personal history, self-promotion, and
lack of genuine concern for social justice.
This speech was planned by Rachel Dietkus, an active
local activist lauded by Danielle for her work with
the student ACLU and the YMCA.
Tuesday was also International Women’s Day, and
speakers addressed women’s grass roots movements that
address poverty in less developed countries.
6. Upcoming events:
Wilma Mankiller, a native American activist, will
speak on Thursday at 7 at Leavis.
This Thursday, at 7:30, there will be a follow-up of
last Thursday’s Urbana City Council meeting that
addressed the road project on the borders of
Urbana/Champaign County, related primarily to the
prospective Wal-Mart. An interesting discussion of the
issues related to this road may also be continued at a
future AWARE meeting. There is also a proposal for
development at Orchard Downs.
This Thursday there will also be a Prayer Service
observing the 2nd anniversary of the Iraq War at the
United Community Church of Christ, 6th and Wright, at
7:00.
Before I conclude with Danielle’s minutes, here is her
announcement for the Coalition for Citizen Police
Review:
The next meeting of the Coalition for Citizen Police
Review will be this Tuesday at 8pm at the IDF. We are
a new stage in the campaign: the Review Board will
definitely be instated in Urbana, but we need to act
right now to influence how it will come about. We
need to begin gathering people's ideas and concerns
about the Board, and must choose our nominations for
the task force that will shape the Board, so we need
more help than ever!
Minutes for the Meeting of Champaign-Urbana Citizens
for Peace and Justice on March 12, 2005
The meeting was attended by 12 people and since this
secretary didn't record accurately every name, I won't
attempt to list them. This reporter would like to
apologize in advance if names of participants get
overlooked in the recording of these minutes to
follow:
Sister Carol Ammons facilitated the meeting and
reminded participants that the
list of agenda items did not rank their priority-
that all items listed for discussion are of equal
importance to Champaign-Urbana Citizens for Peace and
Justice.
Aaron Ammons further qualified the discussion by
insisting everyone attending the meetings are
encouraged to voice their opinions, concerns, and
topics whatever they may be. Aaron also wanted
participants to understand that if anyone disagrees
with what they hear at meetings, that disagreement is
acceptable and needs to be heard as well. Aaron then
explained that CUCPJ is a direct action group,
meaning that conversations become actions in this
group. These actions are the goal toward real
change, and everyone is encouraged to "do
something" toward positive change, and that actions
are what this group is about, not just talk. As an
example, Aaron then invited the group to join him
on a canvassing mission after 3:00p.m. today to help
Matt Varble get elected on the Champaign City
Council over Vic McIntosh. Carol Ammons then
raised the issue of the Disparity Study the
Champaign County Board voted to do back in the
summer of 2004. The Disparity Study is a $50,000
expenditure to hire a specialist out of California
to examine in detail the Champaign County's hiring
practices across all departments, committees, and
projects and determine the level of minority hirings
and contracts at all levels of County government
over a number of years. The Study was approved by
the County Board over heated objections and was a
controversial issue that fueled the removal of
Patricia Avery from Chairman of the County Board
last year. Carol Ammons informed the group that
the Study has since been delegated back to a
Facilities Committee of the County Board and thus
has become an inactive initiative as the Study
awaits for "approval" out of this Committee. It is
suspected that Vice-Chairman of the County Board,
Steve Beckett, has used this unusual and unnecessary
procedure to kill the study from ever happening.
Carol Ammons wanted the group's input as to how
CUCPJ can pursuade the County Board to do the
Disparity Study. Many in the group wanted to know
how important the study was and Rob asked for the
group to decide what language the group wanted to
convey about the Disparity Study. Danielle
Chynoweth suggested CUCPJ demand from the County
Board specific numbers and information about
minority hiring and thus, the Board would need to do
the Study to provide that information. Chris
Evans asked the group to clarify why the group felt
the Disparity Study needed to happen. After some
discussion, the group agreed the Disparity Study
definitely needed to happen since
African-American-owned businesses and entrepenuers
deserve and need the opportunity to provide goods
and services to the County of Champaign. Carol
Ammons read a short statement from Democrat County
Board Member, Jennifer Putnam, who encouraged the
group to lobby individual County Board Members who
are opposing the Disparity Study and show up at the
County Board meeting on Thursday, March 24, at
7:00p.m. at the Brookens Administration Center.
The group agreed on two action plans: 1) Attend the
Democratic Caucus meeting on Tuesday, March 22 at
5:30p.m. at the Brookens Administration building 2)
Attend the full County Board Meeting on Thursday,
March 24 at 7:00p.m. at the Brookens
Administration Building The group then discussed
Felony Disenfranchisement, and specifically an
Illinois House of Representatives legislative bill
that would allow police officers to collect DNA
samples from anyone arrested for a felony,
regardless of whether or not that arrest leads to a
conviction. Aaron Ammons expressed concern
that given the Champaign Police's propensity to
overcharge black males with felonies, and that the
slightest infraction of obstruction of justice can
lead to arrests for felonies, this DNA collection
strategy will hit hardest in the black community.
Danielle Schumacher reported that it is NORML's best
guestimate that the State of Illinois will be unable
to afford collecting DNA from every single felony
arrestee, but that the police departments might
become selective then as to who they collect samples
from and thus, concurred with Aaron Ammons' point
above. Chris Evans asked how the collection of
DNA, regardless of conviction, is not considered
an unwarranted search and seizure by police.
(meaning how can one, specific arrest, even if that
arrest is wrongful, the arrestee is exonerated,
and the charges are thrown out of court; could lead
law enforcement to conclude there is a justifiable
assumption that the arresttee will commit future
crimes and therefore they will need a DNA sample on
file for future investigations?) It was
determined that Democrat Representative from the
Illinois House of Representatives in the 103rd
District, Naomi Jakkobsson, plays a pivotal role
in whether this bill for DNA collection passes out
of the committee she serves on. The group
strategized ways to educate Ms. Jakkobsson on the
issue. Rob expressed his concern, based on his
past experience, that whenever politicians say
they don't know about an issue and would need more
information, it is his understanding that kind of
language serves as a tool for politicians to avoid
telling a person no to their face. Rob advised that
"need more information" means "no" in
Politician-speak. Danielle Schumacher recalled
how Ms. Jakkobssen used this "need more
information" reasoning to vote no to a recent medical
cannibus proposal, despite, ironically enough, being
handed bundles of paperwork by representatives of
NORML prior to the vote. The group decided that a
meeting would be established with Ms. Jakkobssen
to discover what her position is on the DNA
collection issue, and to lobby her to vote no on
this proposal. Discussion then was had about the
recently passed legislation that allows anyone who
has been convicted of Class 4 felonies involving
cannibus possession and prostitution to have their
criminal record expunged of those convictions for
employment purposes. Aaron Ammons asked is there
anyone in the group who would be willing to help
members of the public have their records expunged.
Danielle Chynoweth suggested a clearing house, an
agency, an assigned body be given a hotline number
to deal with all community-wide requests to have
this process explained and facilitated for people
seeking to have their records expunged. She
suggested the Urbana Human Relations Commission
might be a place to start and she suggested she
would be willing to approach their members as to
whether they would be the appropriate agency to take
on this responsibility. Danielle Schumacher
reported to the group that a Congressional
legislative bill to repeal drug convictions
prohibiting financial aid to higher education is
going to be soon considered by a House of
Representatives committee. The issue of the
Citizens' Police Review Board, likely to happen in
the City of Urbana first, is of paramount importance
to CUCPJ. Danielle Chynoweth expressed her concern
that the upcoming ordinance creating the Citizens'
Police Review Board, to be drafted in the City of
Urbana; needs to be carefully done so as to avoid
loopholes and unintended consequences that does
not allow for an effective Police Review Board. She
suggested that a task force be established by the
City of Urbana to begin researching review boards,
have public conversations about the establishment of
a Citizen Police Review Board, and create publicity
regarding the conversations and the Review Board.
She invited any members of CUCPJ to volunteer to be
a member of this task force. Danielle Schumacher
reported that at a recent meeting, police officers
expressed their concerns about having Citizens
Review Boards, and their main concerns were that
the money spent on a Review Board ought to go to
hiring more police officers because crime is getting
worse. Danielle wondered why there is more crime,
for which police officers had no answer other than
they need more officers on the streets. Danielle
Chynoweth said there needs to be a timetable on
creating this Citizens Police Review Board and feels
within the next 4 years, while the Prussing
Administration is in place, would be a reasonable
deadline to accomplish implementing this Board.
Chynoweth said the group needs to nominate people
who they would like to have on the Board.
Danielle Schumacher announced the next meeting to
discuss the Citizens Police Review Board is Tuesday,
March 15th at the Illinois Disciples Foundation on
Wright and Springfield. J.C. Mosley, from Jesus is
The Way Prison Ministries, shared his experience
with felony disenfranchisement and the Drug War. Mr.
Mosely recounted a harrowing experience of getting
out of prison in 2003, only to have a Police SWAT
team violently raid his house without a warrant.
Police were looking to solve the murder of Helen
Melchi and believed Mr. Mosely to be somehow
involved based solely on his prior felony
convictions. When Mosely was discovered to have no
knowledge nor involvement in the murder, police left
his residence without incident. Shortly thereafter,
Mr. Mosley then complained on camera to local
CBS-TV affiliate, WCIA News Channel 3, about the
illegal, unjustified raid on his house without a
warrant by police. After this news broadcast, police
later returned to Mosley's residence and arrested
him for possession of a controlled substance-
despite there being no drugs on Mosley's person and
property. Having only a public defender, Mosley was
convicted and re-sentenced to 2 years in the
Department of Corrections. Mosley characterized the
quality of legal services by the Public Defender's
office as "the Public Pretender", not defender.
Mosley believes the Public Defender's lawyers have
too many cases per month to adequately defend
indigent clients, especially in cases involving
complex investigations and aggressive police
tactics. Mr. Mosley also shared his experience of
being a drug dealer in our towns. He testifies
that local police were content to allow the sale of
heroin in the black community as long as it stayed
within the black community. He says he became a
target for law enforcement because he dealt mostly
to local white people, who used enormous amounts of
drugs and had the means to pay for them. He said
it's unrealistic to believe only black people are
involved in the illegal drug trade since the poppy
plant and coca leaf can only grow outside of the
continental United States and few boats and planes
are found among the arrested local drug users and
dealers. Danielle Schumacher reported that the
marijuana ordinance in Urbana is still pending and
should be supported. The ordinance proposes that low
level amounts of marijuana possession could be
treated by police as a petty municipal crime
involving no jail time and penalized only by a
monetary fine, like liquor violations. Police would
have discretion to either charge a person caught in
possession of cannibus with a city fine or the more
serious state charge, currently the only option
police have available. Carol Ammons adjourned the
meeting reminding participants that the next meeting
will be Saturday, March 26 at 1:30p.m.-3:00p.m. at
the Douglass Branch Library Conference Room.
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