[Peace] AWARE Minutes for 8 October 2006

[Randall Cotton]

Thanks David, for taking and posting the minutes for this meeting.
One or two corrections below...

: ----- Original Message ----- 
: From: "David Harley" <harleyrd at sbcglobal.net>
: To: <Peace at lists.chambana.net>
: Sent: Monday, October 16, 2006 11:59 PM
: Subject: [Peace] AWARE Minutes for 8 October 2006
:
:
: AWARE Minutes for 8 October 2006
:
: The first order of business was Karl's summary of the weeks news.  The
: Foley is a diversion from the serious facing the nation.  The Dow-Jones
: Average reached a new high this week, but this is an illusion when
: inflation is factored in.  Carl concluded with a lengthy discussion of how
: the situation in Afghanistan is degenerating into a major crises.
:
: Old business: There was a discussion of what to do if the administration
: moves to attack Iran.  Such a move was described as madness, but a distinct
: possibility given the probable result of the coming election.  It was
: decided to give the matter further consideration.
:
: Financial Report: The treasurer's report was read, $75.00 were recived at
: the Farmer's Market.  We still have 55 impeachment signs.  It was decided
: to put up any left over signs at the poling places.  It was also suggested
: that members who have signs put these up at poling place on election
: day.  It was pointed out that at some sites election signs will not be
: permitted.
:
: The Unity March was well attended with an estimated 250 marchers.  There
: was also a good show at the News Gazette on what turned out to be a busy
: day.  At One Main there seemed to be normal traffic even with the football
: game.  About 200 flyers were distributed at the events.
:
: There was discussion of plans for the Karen Yarborough events which have
: now been cancelled.
:
: Randy Met with the Ammons-it was suggested that a role we could play would
: be to communicate with the local white community.

The meeting was with Imani Bazzell with 5 members of AWARE's Anti-Racism Working
Group to explore ways in which the ARWG could contribute to the cause of
fighting racism/discrimination. We discussed many things, but one thing Imani
said that struck me was that as mainly white middle-class folks, we know best
how our parents and grandparents think. We know best how to craft a message that
would reach our siblings or cousins. Another point of discussion was Imani's
work with equity in the schools (and the consent decree), which leads to Ricky's
announcement below...

:
: Ricky Baldwin reported that community activist Imani Bazell will hold a
: small teach-in on the subject of Champaign Schools' "consent decree" for
: local activists.  Please get in touch with Ricky if you are interested.

: William A. Meyers will speak on "Felony Reform-The Smart Act," on October
: 22, in the Urbana City chambers from 4:30 to 7:00.  This is a plan modeled
: on the Cook County program.

William Alan Myers is not a speaker at this event. He is a cop accused of
tasering inmates, also hooding and beating at least one inmate. He has been
formally charged and Community Courtwatch is following his case (that was the
context under which his name was mentioned - he had a court date on 10/3). The
latest on this is that the next court date is apparently set for entering a plea
11/20/2006 at  3:00 PM in Courtroom A before Judge Clem.

Also, the public hearing on the SMART Act will be on the 27th, not the 22nd. The
time is correct (4:30PM to 7PM). Here is more info from last Sunday's minutes:

SMART Act - Public hearing is approaching on October 27th, sponsored by C-U
Citizens for Peace and Justice (details in calendar above). SMART Act state
legislation will establish infrastructure that encourages Illinois counties to
put in place programs that integrate education, treatment and mental health
screening instead of felony convictions and prison for low-level non-violent
drug offenders. The SMART Act is based on the successful "drug school" model
being used in Cook County, where the recidivism for those completing the school
is only 11% vs. the state-wide overall average of 55% (recidivism is the rate -
typically over a 3 year period - at which criminal offenders return to prison
for a new criminal offense).

: Jan and Durl met with the Urbana High School administrators.  There was
: some apprehension on the part of the administrators.  There seems to be
: some question on the meaning of access, but we will be able to supply flyers.
:
: Please send corrections.
: Sorry for the tardiness I have had a few problems.
:
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