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Organize Against Racial Profiling in DC

By Liane Scott, on August 17th, 2013

lapd_racial_profilingOn July 12, 2013, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs released the report Racial Disparities in Arrests in the District of Columbia, 2009-2011. On July 31, 2013 a coalition of activists held a press conference and teach-in, drawing the connections between the fight for justice for Trayvon Martin and the need for a movement to address racial profiling in the District of Columbia. Netfa Freeman, reporting for WPFW’s Voices with Vision put together the following audio remix of the day’s events. Enjoy or get angry, but get involved.

[audio:http://www.grassrootsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Netfa_Freeman_WLC_Press_Conference_Mixdown.mp3]

 

Comments are closed   Justice System, Racial Profiling   , , ,  

FFOIP’s 8th Annual Concerned Father’s Public Safety Community Cook-Out!

By Liane Scott, on August 15th, 2013

img005Why should you support Family and Friends of Incarcerated People?  Listen to them on WPFW’s broadcast of Voices with Vision.
[audio:http://www.grassrootsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/FFOIP-on-Voices-with-Vision.mp3]

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MLK 50th Anniversary Events Press Conference: The Mayor, Wal-Mart, Voter ID, and the Zimmerman Verdict

By Guest Contributor, on August 8th, 2013

Cross-posted from DC Independent Media Center
Written by Luke

On the 7th of August, Mayor Gray and city officials joined with the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington Commemorative Committee for a press conference to announce the upcoming events of August 24. The main event is at the Lincoln Memorial in the morning.

One of the organizers gave a speech condemning voter ID laws, other voter suppression and the Zimmerman verdict as examples that the problems King marched against 50 years ago are still alive and well in the US.

One of the organizers gave a speech condemning voter ID laws, other voter suppression, and the Zimmerman verdict as examples that the problems King marched against 50 years ago are still alive and well in the US.

Present in the audience were several members of groups opposing Wal-Mart, who hope that Mayor Gray will not buckle under to Wal-Mart and will sign the Large Retailer Accountability Act or LRAA. They were present so the Mayor could see them, but took no action due to the nature of the event.

The LRAA would force Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot,etc to pay $12.50 an hour in wages and benefits. Wal-Mart is demanding a veto, saying they will pull out of DC otherwise. Given that one of the demands of the original 1963 March on Washington was to raise the minimum wage, it would be highly inappropriate for the Mayor to veto the LRAA after his planned appearance in this 50th anniversary commemoration rally.

Hopefully the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s March on Washington, and the historical reality of his campaign for living wage jobs will be all the reminder the Mayor needs to sign the LRAA when the council sends it to his desk.

Major events planned for 50th anniversary of MLK March on Washington:

50th Anniversary March on Washington

Saturday August 24.

The rally will be held at the Lincoln Memorial from 8 am.-4 p.m. and the festival will be held on the National Mall from 2-6 p.m.

DC Statehood Rally

August 24, 2013

9 a.m. DC War Memorial, Independence Avenue, NW. Washington DC.

March for Jobs and Justice
August 28, 2013. The march will begin at 9:30 a.m. Participants will assemble at 600 New Jersey Avenue, Washington DC at 8 a.m. and proceed to the United States Department of Labor at 200 Constitution Avenue, then to the United States Department of Justice at 950 Pennsylvania Avenue and ending at a rally on the National Mall.

Comments are closed   Justice System, Labor, Trayvon Martin, Walmart   , , , , , ,  

Still Mad About Trayvon, DC Activists Organize Against Racial Profiling

By Liane Scott, on July 29th, 2013

On July 12, 2013, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs released the report Racial Disparities in Arrests in the District of Columbia, 2009-2011.  The following are a few of the reports insights:Cannabis-Arrests-and-Racial-Discrimination-USA-1

  • Nearly seven out of ten traffic arrests were of African Americans
  • Eight out of ten individuals arrested for disorderly conduct were African American or
    Hispanic
  • Although there is little disparity in drug use between DC’s African-American and caucasian residents, nine out of ten individuals arrested for drug offenses are African American.
  • More than eight out of 10 arrests in our city were of African Americans.

In short, we might not have a stand your ground law in the District of Columbia but the same racial profiling that took the life of Trayvon Martin and many, many other African American men and boys is alive and well in the District of Columbia.  In light of these facts, a coalition of activists is having a press conference and teach-in that draws the connections between the fight for justice for Trayvon Martin and the need for a movement to address racial profiling in DC.

Are you still mad about Trayvon Martin?  Do you want to give his death meaning and stop future extra-judicial killings?  Make a start by attending this press conference.

Speak Out and Organize Against Racial Profiling in DC
Wednesday July 31 @ Noon
Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Speakers include:

Rev. Graylan Hagler, Plymouth Congregational

Etan Thomas, activist and former Washington Wizards player

Perry Redd, Ex-prisoner, activist, and former DC Council candidate

A representative from The Washington Lawyers Committee

Seema Sananandan, of the DC American Civil Liberties Union and author of a recent study on marijuana arrests

Andy Shallal, anti-war activist and owner of Busboys & Poets

Jamal Muhammed, host of the Luv Lounge show on WeAct Radio

Plans will be made to add an End Racial Profiling in DC component to the 50th Anniversary March on Washington.  For more information please call (410) 635-0235.

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FFOIP’s 2013 Wayside Summer Retreat

By John Tuzcu, on July 24th, 2013

Family and Friends of Incarcerated People (FFOIP) is an organization that was formed in prison by fathers trying to maintain strong bonds with their children while locked behind bars. Today, FFOIP continues it’s work on the outside. Their primary mission is to foster community support that effectively meets the needs of today’s at-risk children and families of those incarcerated. It operates solely to promote charity, literacy, public safety, and to prevent inter-generational incarceration.

On the weekend of June 21-23, FFOIP took 25 young people from the Washington DC metropolitan area to the Wayside Center for Popular Education in rural Faber, VA. They brought youth from the city to a rural environment to quiet their minds and free them from daily obligations. The weekend consisted of a number of activities including a know-your-rights training, organizing skills and a leadership circle. The kids also had a chance to hike through the woods, swim in the lake and roast s’mores at night by the campfire.

FFOIP strongly believes that it takes a village to raise a child. This retreat is one example of FFOIP’s commitment to empowering young people in their communities. Please support FFOIP: www.gofundme.com/ffoip

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