Anti-Racist Action
Anti-Racist Action (ARA) COPWATCH is organized by people who don't trust
the police. We believe the police are racist. They beat, harass, and
detain people just on the basis of skin color. This is not acceptable!
Police misconduct must stop now!
We want the cops to feel watched. They think they can get away with just
about anything in the name of the "law." But we don't believe that they
have any sense of justice and we think they abuse their power and
privileges. They don't care about people in the community�
Remember when
they locked two Native American men in the back of their trunk and got
away with it? Remember when they shot Tycel Nelson and got away with it?
Dan May, the cop who mercilessly, shot Tycel is still on the beat.
Remember when they bust into your neighbor�s house without a search
warrant and beat your friend under the guise of a "drug bust" or pulled
over your neighbor because of a broken headlight and your neighbor ended
up spending a night in jail? And remember all the countless other
examples. When will this stop?? ARA COPWATCH is one way to begin to
resist this rotten system.
We have the right to watch the police. In fact, even though the police
harass us when we watch them, what we are doing is not illegal. Of
course police interpret the law however they see fit, but the bottom
line is that we do have the right to watch. They may accuse us of
"obstructing justice." But we recognize that we're not doing anything
wrong, they're the ones that lead us to mistrust them.
What does COPWATCH do?
We use a video camera to record police actions and we will verbally
intervene when we see cops detaining, arresting, or hurting someone. We
record badge numbers and names--cops are obliged to release this
information. We go out at night when people are most vulnerable,
especially youth in light of the new curfew laws.
We believe that
actually being on the street and watching the cops on their beat is more
effective than relying on the court system to determine what justice is.
The courts let racist cops go. And Civilian Review boards, although an
interesting idea in theory, have never actually had an impact in
determining justice.
Because there is no public forum to hold police
accountable we take it right to the street. COPWATCH is there to
encourage people to form a block against police misconduct. We pay their
salary so they should be accountable to us.
We want to work with more
people to get organized to challenge the abuses of the police. ARA
COPWATCH welcomes anyone who wants to come out with us. If you need more
info on COPWATCH or ARA please write to us.
Twin Cities Cops Are Brutal!!!
In 1989 Lloyd Smalley and Lillian Weiss, an elderly couple, were killed
when the police burned down their house in North Minneapolis during a
botched drug raid.
In 1991 Tycel Nelson, 17, was shot in the back and
killed in North Minneapolis by Dan May. -?G!!TEXTE-->
In 1993, Thai Young and Ba Sot
Lot, Two Hmong boys in their teens, were killed by suburban St. Paul
cops, during a police chase.
In 1998, Andre Madison went to prison for 3years, after the cops shot HIM!
Anti-Racist Action
FIGHT FOR REAL JUSTICE!
CHALLENGE THE POLICE!
or call our hotlineat (612) 649-4586 .
(Please speak clearly)
WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET ARRESTED
The police can only ask for your name and address. Don't let the police
harass you into answering other questions. They will twist and distort
information you give then about yourself and other people. If they
demand answers tell them you have a right to see a lawyer. Also, of
course the police are supposed to have a justification for stopping you
but very often they don't, and will make one up. Ask them to tell you
why they're arresting you.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU WITNESS AN ARREST
You don't have to be doing COPWATCH to question what the police are
doing at any given moment. When you see someone getting arrested or
detained, especially if they are African-American, Hispanic, or Native
American, that usually means they are also experiencing some form of
abuse, whether physical or verbal. Stop, listen, watch, and ask the
police questions. Wise up! Don't assume that a police presence means
that justice is being served.