Both the 'outsiders' who 'agitate,' and the Family Dollar remarks are problematic. The former is doublespeak, or an attempt to shuffle the meaning of words to shift the systemic failures of the state onto the community. By spouting the lie of blaming 'outsiders' for the violence, Mayor Warren attempts to invalidate the uprising by claiming that the riot was somehow an outside plot, rather than the oppressed demanding that their voices be heard against the racist and violent police. The latter reeks of ignorance of Family Dollar's role in the destruction of urban communities, given the daily hoarding and looting that Dollar Tree Stores Incorporated exhibits in its business endeavors throughout communities across the nation.
[Please note that the author wrote this piece five years ago. Much has changed. And absolutely nothing has changed. #BLM This report is in no way definitive. Also, observe how the D&C wrote about a 2% sustain rate in October 1995.]
On November 17, 2017, Keyoni Adams was arrested during a domestic dispute. This is her story detailing her experience of being abused and beaten by members of the Rochester Police Department and deputies in the Monroe County Jail. Please be advised that her story is graphic and disturbing.
She was released on November 20, 2017. Ms. Adams pleaded to a conditional discharge. Since then, she has been harassed by the Rochester Police Department.
Submitted by T. Forsyth (feature photo: Democrat & Chronicle) on Sun, 2020-01-19 22:55
A frustrated and angry Supreme Court Justice dismissed a gun-involved assault case when both officers on the scene could not produce body-worn camera footage of the moments preceding the arrest.
On July 24, 2019, around 6:30pm, Rochester Police Department (RPD) officers Michael Mortillaro and Jeremy Lindauer, II were driving down the 200 block of Weyle Street in Rochester, NY, which is a part of their beat, and observed “a group of five to six males sitting in law chairs on the front yard and on the sidewalk area,” according to a suppression hearing transcript from November 21, 2019. Based on their knowledge of the “area,” they believed “some sort of drug sales [were] going on at that time.”
The current budget crisis in the Rochester City School District (RCSD) is somewhat a mystery.
We often hear that the school district overspent its budget by tens of millions of dollars, but
rarely hear how this happened. Just how does the school district go from having a budget that was
balanced on paper at the end of the 2018-2019 school year to being $30 million short at the start
of of the next? One answer is the completely absurd process used to balance last year's 2018-2019
budget.
A decision was rendered regarding motions filed at the conclusion of the Benny Warr civil trial against Rochester Police Department officers who assaulted Mr. Warr. United States Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson issued her decision on July 22 regarding the plaintiff’s motions to set aside the verdict, grant a new trial, and impose sanctions against the defense counsel, City of Rochester attorney Spencer Ash, for misconduct. The judge has not dismissed the motions meaning that they are still on the table. This is the first public communication from the judge since the end of Mr. Warr's civil trial.
In her decision and order, Judge Payson specifies that the “application is premised on two grounds: first, that defendants’ counsel [Spencer Ash, the City of Rochester attorney representing the Rochester Police Department (RPD) and its officers] engaged in deliberate misconduct prejudicial to plaintiffs’ right to a fair trial; and, second that the jury’s verdict awarding no compensatory or punitive damages was inconsistent and against the weight of the evidence.” The seven-page document elucidates the issues raised in court papers pertaining to both points. The judge does acknowledge in her order and decision that such issues did arise during the trial, but without supporting documentation examining the entirety of the trial, she could not properly rule on the motions.
Therefore, she ordered the plaintiff’s attorney, Charles Burkwit, to “supplement their post-trial motion with an amended affidavit and memorandum of law supported by specific citations to the trial record and accompanied by the trial transcript.” Mr. Burkwit has until September 20 to file the appropriate supporting documentation.
This morning, May 28, 2019, Judge Thomas Rainbow Morse found Rochester Police Department officer Michael Sippel "guilty of Assault in the Third Degree."
Below is an email sent out by the Rochester Police Locust Club criticisizing the push for the passage of the Rochester Police Accountability Board. The email was sent on March 15, 2019.
A press release for a press conference from the Police Accountability Board Alliance after being told by Council members that the legislation released in January would be amended.
On May 2, 2019, shortly before a 24 hour vigil was scheduled holding those impacted by police violence in Rochester, NY and calling on City Council to release their amendments to the legislation released in January, the Police Accountability Board Alliance held a press conference to make their demands heard.
On May 6, 2019, Rochester City Council President Loretta Scott sent amendments for review by the Genesee Valley Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union, the United Christian Leadership Ministry, and the Police Accountability Board Alliance.
Here's the full statement from Rochester City Council President Loretta Scott, read at the meeting before the vote was taken, Tuesday, May 21, 2019.
Today is a momentous day, one that I will remember as the highlight of my tenure as President of the Rochester City Council. Tonight the Council has unanimously passed legislation that moves our City toward the establishment of a transparent, independent, and community supported Police Accountability Board.
Below is a press statement from the Police Accountability Board Aliance that was released shortly before the City Council session began where the legislation was passed unanimously into law.
The Rochester Police Accountability Board legislation was passed unanimously on May 21, 2019 by Rochester City Council. The PDF below is the transmission letter for the legislation and the actual legislation.
A small crowd gathered despite rain May 1 2019 in Washington Square park to support the New York Health Act. As we have reported before, the proposed law would establish a universal single payer health system across New York State. The act has passed the Assembly four times and will likely pass the now-Democratic controlled Senate this year. http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/147839
Rochester Indymedia is now requiring editor approval for account creation.
We came to this decision after we had repeated spam posted to our website that caused difficulty with the website's functioning. We will still have open publishing and keep our site as nonrestrictive and accessible as possible.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. As before, we will continue to be Rochester's grassroots news and education site. Thank you for your continued support and remember, "Don't hate the media, be the media!"
Editorial Meeting Times / Locations
The Rochester Independent Media Center (R-IMC) is no longer meeting regularly. We will set up meetings by necessity and appointment. Please contact us at rochesterindymedia@rocus.org. Our home is still the Flying Squirrel Community Space at 285 Clarissa St. Occasionally, we hold meetings at RCTV located at 21 Gorham Street.
