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Date Posted: 01:17:32 10/21/02 Mon
Press Release
>
> The October 22nd National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality,
> Repression, and the Criminalization of a Generation was initiated
> by a diverse coalition of organizations and individuals. We came
> together out of our concern that the peoples' resistance to police
> brutality needs to be taken to a higher level nationwide.
>
> The National Day of Protest aims to bring forward a powerful,
> visible, national protest against police brutality and the
> stance police take towards youth. This protest aims to expose the
> police policy to encourage and over-utilize force. It aims to bring forward those most directly
> under the gun of police brutality AND also to reach into all parts
> of the society--bringing forward others to stand in the fight
> against this official brutality. Additionally, the National Day of Protest
> aims to strengthen the peoples' organized capacity for resistance
> in a variety of ways.
>
> On October 22, a national day of protest is being held to increase
> awareness of police brutality cases. Protesters across the country
> are rallying to voice their concern of the
> actions of police agencies.
> Oklahoma has a particularly bad record of police brutality cases.
> In July of this year, a videotape emerged of two Oklahoma City
> officers, Greg Driskill and E.J. Dyer, beating a local man, Donald
> Reed Pete, at least 27 times with metal batons. Pete was suspected
> of soliciting prostitution and possession of marijuana. When Pete
> allegedly swallowed the marijuana, the officers responded violently, even though no threat of danger was apparant. "Our investigation into the use
> of force is ongoing," said Oklahoma City Police Chief M.T. Berry.
> "But the techniques I saw were those that our officers are taught
> at the academy. I did not observe strikes to areas of the body
> that are prohibited, such as the face or head." Despite this
> comment, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been asked
> to investigate the case further. The fact that Donald Reed Pete is
> black adds suspicion to the case in regards to racial discrimination.
> Years of complaints of mistreatment and death have accumulated in
> regards to the Oklahoma County Jail. The most recent involves
> local man Louis Avery Roberts Jr., who died in police custody on
> August 28, 2002. Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel claimed
> there was "absolutely no beating." The Office of the Chief Medical
> Examiner originally claimed "there was no sign of trauma," however
> the office's current official report is that "The left cheek, ear
> lobes, and behind the ears are free of traumatic injury." Medical
> examiners also originally claimed that the cause of death was
> "sudden fatal cardiac arrhythmia due to cocaine induced agitated
> delirium." It is quite likely that no controversy would exist in relation to
> this case, were it not for photographs released by funeral workers
> of the body they received. These photographs show obvious signs of
> trauma, particularly to the head. The attorneys assigned to
> present the case in court have mysteriously dropped the case, and
> close ties have been found between Sheriff Whetsel and at least
> one of the attorneys. Police are also refusing to release the
> video of Roberts' interrogation, adding further suspicion of a
> cover-up.
> In January of 2001, Amnesty International wrote a letter to the
> Oklahoma City Police Department in regards to the death of Billy
> Bennet Jr. Bennet died after being hogtied and pepper sprayed by
> Oklahoma City officials. In June of 1999, Andrea Smith spoke out
> about the killing of her son, Justin Smith, by Tulsa police
> officers. Justin Smith had been beaten by officers, and was killed
> when he spit in face of one of his assailants.
>
> On Tuesday October 22, 2002, citizens of Oklahoma City will
> assemble at the Oklahoma County Courthouse at 4pm to march down
> Couch Street to the Oklahoma County Jail and Oklahoma City Police
> Headquarters.
>
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