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End Racial Profiling Feeder to the March on Washington

By Liane Scott, on August 23rd, 2013

Join us as we gather & march to draw attention to racial profiling right here in DC.

We will gather and march as a group from Farragut Square down to the Lincoln Memorial where we will join tens of thousands across the country in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington!

End Racial Profiling

 

Fifty years ago, people demanded an end to Jim Crow and equal rights for all people of color. Today, the struggle continues. Though the old Jim Crow policies of the South are gone, we now see a prison industrial complex that feeds off Black men and women and a “justice” system that denies them basic rights before, during, and after their incarceration.

Racial profiling by police remains one of the worst problems of this system. A new study by the Washington Lawyers’ Committee has provided statistical evidence for what Black and Brown residents of D.C. have learned through bitter experience: extreme racial disparities exist in the pattern of arrests by police.

This study, and the systemic racism it uncovers, is igniting a larger fight against racism in the District. Town-hall meetings are happening around the city to publicize the results of the study and the reactions of the community. As the George Zimmermans of this world continue to get away with murder, it’s our job to fight back against the racist justice system.

No to racial profiling!
No to mass incarceration!
No to racism!

Confirmed speakers include:
Etan Thomas, former Washington Wizard and poet
Yusef Salaam, Central Park Five defendant
Shujaa Graham, exonerated death row prisoner
Seema Sadanadann, ACLU
Stuart Anderson, Friends and Families of Incarcerated People
Jazz Hayden, Campaign to End the New Jim Crow (NYC)
Daquanna Harrison, Collective Power
Jonathan Stith, Malcolm X Grassroots
Lawrence Hayes, former death row prisoner
Jamal Muhammad, We Act Radio
…and others.

Comments are closed   Justice System, Racial Profiling   , , , ,  

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   , , ,  

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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