[Peace] the armored vehicle owned by the county

[Karen Medina via Peace]

The Champaign County Board will be hearing public comments on the
MRAP, the Sheriff's mine-resistant armored vehicle will be given at
6:30 this Thursday September 18, 2014 evening to the County Board
which meets in the Brookens Administration building on Washington (use
the back door on the Satellite jail side). Support will be noted by
the Board and the press.

Resolution on MRAP

WHEREAS, the public is deeply concerned with the militarization of
local police after witnessing law enforcement dressed in military
gear, pointing assault rifles, and using crowd control devices on
non-violent protesters demonstrating against the police killing of
Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.


WHEREAS, the Department of Defense’s 1033 Program has come under
increased scrutiny for distributing military-grade weapons and
equipment to local police departments.


WHEREAS, law enforcement in Champaign County have received in excess
of 100 assault rifles through the 1033 Program, including at Parkland
College where police have been given M-16 assault rifles.


WHEREAS, the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office has acquired a
Mine-Resistant, Armor Protected (MRAP) vehicle through the 1033
Program, a vehicle designed for war in military zones and
inappropriate for civilian use.


WHEREAS, the Sheriff’s office has said publicly that the MRAP will be
used with the Sheriff’s METRO SWAT team.


WHEREAS, African Americans are disproportionately targeted by SWAT
raids in Champaign County, most commonly through warrants for drug
searches.


THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that CUCPJ recommends that the Sheriff
immediately decommission the MRAP.


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that CUCPJ calls on Champaign County to
withdraw from the 1033 Program.