[Peace] Justice for Kiwane! City council tonight at 7pm

[Brian Dolinar]

CU Citizens for Peace and Justice calls all those interested in justice for
Kiwane Carrington to come out to Champaign city council tonight, Tuesday, at
7 p.m. for public comment.



Chief Finney is currently seeking accreditation from the Illinois Law
Enforcement Accreditation Program (ILEAP), even while he is currently under
investigation for his involvement in the death of Kiwane. ILEAP is a very
new program, created in 2008 as an accreditation agency of the Illinois
Association of Chiefs of Police. Chief Finney is currently the
Vice-President of ILEAP. This is yet another example of the police policing
themselves. As Reverend Meeks reminded us a few weeks ago, "The worst thing
in the world is to have the police police the police."



ILEAP is so new that Champaign would be the second police force to be
accredited--if it wins accreditation. The only other city in Illinois whose
police have received accreditation by ILEAP is Kankakee, which was already
accredited by the much more established Commission on Accreditation for Law
Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).



This is clearly an attempt by Finney to gain legitimacy at the very moment
he and his department are under intense scrutiny. It is a slap in the face
to the community, to Kiwane's memory, and to the pain his family is
currently experiencing.



The public is invited to call (217) 403-7015 on Thursday, Nov. 5 between
4:00 and 6:00 p.m. to make comments to the ILEAP onsite assessment team.



Champaign city council will hold a study session next week, Tuesday, Nov. 10
on the "use of force" policy. This study session came after more than 50
comments before council two weeks ago.



Kiwane's best friend who was witness to his killing by police will be in
court Nov. 12 at 11 a.m. at the Champaign County courthouse (downtown Urbana
on Main St.). State's Attorney Julia Rietz has dropped the burglary charge
against the juvenile, but has charged him with aggravated resisting a police
officer, a felony which carries a possible three-year sentence. Call Rietz
at (217) 384-3733 and tell her to drop the charges!

BD
-- 
Brian Dolinar, Ph.D.
303 W. Locust St.
Urbana, IL 61801
briandolinar at gmail.com
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