Successful Community Meeting Addresses Racism And Police Brutality

On December 7, 2004, Rochester City Councilman Adam McFadden and the 21st Century African American Leadership Council convened a well attended community meeting to address racism and brutality by members of the Rochester Police Department. <!--break--> <P align=justify><B>On December 7, Rochester City Councilman Adam McFadden and the 21<SUP>st</SUP> Century African American Leadership Council sponsored a community meeting, at which Councilman McFadden discussed two cases of blatant abuse of citizens by members of the Rochester Police Department, which he witnessed first hand in October of this year. Mr. Joe Brown, who was recently appointed President of the Rochester Chapter of the NAACP, was also in attendance. Mr. McFadden told the diverse audience of between 70 and 80 people, which included numerous well known, local activists --- that when he arrived at the scene where an African American and a Latino man were beaten by police --- he had asked 7 times to speak with the officer in charge, and was bluntly told by police that "we don't give a f_ _ _ who you are." </P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>This was not an isolated situation. Councilman McFadden had made a public statement regarding improper behavior by law enforcement officials prior to the October incident. In fact, after witnessing another incident in which a police officer used his service vehicle to 'herd' a group of Black residents onto a sidewalk, the Councilman had stated publicly that some officers operate in a fashion reminiscent of Apartheid South Africa. This comment prompted the President of Rochester City Council, Lois Giess and Chairperson of the Council's Public Safety Committee, Benjamin Douglas to write an OP-ED in the </B><I>Democrat and Chronicle</I><B>, in which they accused Mr. McFadden of attempting to "inflame racial animosity." In fact, many within the local African American Community in particular, are convinced that, because Councilman McFadden dared to rock the political-status-quo-boat, the likes of Giess, Douglas, and others had set out on a calculated campaign to destroy his reputation and career as a public official.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>The theme of the December community meeting was "why are we reliving issues of 1964 in 2004?" The event was organized to provide an opportunity for Mr. McFadden to share his observations with the community relative to blatant police brutality, and to send a clear message to the likes of Giess, Douglas and others. The message is that we will not sit idly by and watch them destroy authentic Black leadership.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>One member of the 21<SUP>st</SUP> Century African American Leadership Council noted that "it's been a long time since we have had someone on the City Council who is bold enough and righteous enough to speak out consistently on behalf of the African American Community, and in the interest of freedom, justice and equality for all people. Adam McFadden is ours, and you will not destroy him." It was also mentioned that when Malcolm X spoke out against racism and police brutality in Rochester (40 years ago), he too was accused of attempting to "inflame racial animosity," but Malcolm reminded his critics that problems and issues such as racism and police brutality were so old and pervasive that it wasn't necessary to "inflame" them. He declared that such issues have a fuse of their own, and are potentially self-igniting. </P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>The 21<SUP>st</SUP> Century African American Leadership Council has vowed that (with help from the community) it intends to (once and for all) put an end to blatant racism and abuse of citizens by members of the Rochester Police Department. One organizer said "we must produce a solution to this problem --- so that 40 years from now, our children and grandchildren won't have to ask: why are we reliving issues of 2004 in 2044?" </P> <P align=justify></P> <P>A follow-up meeting has been planned for December 26 (first day of Kwanzaa, on which the Principle of unity --- UMOJA is celebrated) at Saint Luke Tabernacle Community Church, 1261 Dewey Avenue at 6:30 PM</P></b> <P>(edited 12/16/2004 at the author's request)</p>

<p>On December 7, 2004, Rochester City Councilman Adam McFadden and the 21st Century African American Leadership Council convened a well attended community meeting to address racism and brutality by members of the Rochester Police Department.</p> <!--break--><p></p><p align="justify"><b>On December 7, Rochester City Councilman Adam McFadden and the<br /> 21^st Century African American Leadership Council sponsored a<br /> community meeting, at which Councilman McFadden discussed two cases of blatant<br /> abuse of citizens by members of the Rochester Police Department, which he<br /> witnessed first hand in October of this year. Mr. Joe Brown, who was recently<br /> appointed President of the Rochester Chapter of the NAACP, was also in<br /> attendance. Mr. McFadden told the diverse audience of between 70 and 80 people,<br /> which included numerous well known, local activists --- that when he arrived at<br /> the scene where an African American and a Latino man were beaten by police ---<br /> he had asked 7 times to speak with the officer in charge, and was bluntly told<br /> by police that "we don't give a f_ _ _ who you are." </b></p><br /> <p align="justify"></p><br /> <p align="justify">This was not an isolated situation. Councilman McFadden had<br /> made a public statement regarding improper behavior by law enforcement officials<br /> prior to the October incident. In fact, after witnessing another incident in<br /> which a police officer used his service vehicle to 'herd' a group of Black<br /> residents onto a sidewalk, the Councilman had stated publicly that some officers<br /> operate in a fashion reminiscent of Apartheid South Africa. This comment<br /> prompted the President of Rochester City Council, Lois Giess and Chairperson of<br /> the Council's Public Safety Committee, Benjamin Douglas to write an OP-ED in the<br /> <i>Democrat and Chronicle</i><b>, in which they accused Mr. McFadden of<br /> attempting to "inflame racial animosity." In fact, many within the local African<br /> American Community in particular, are convinced that, because Councilman<br /> McFadden dared to rock the political-status-quo-boat, the likes of Giess,<br /> Douglas, and others had set out on a calculated campaign to destroy his<br /> reputation and career as a public official.</b></p><br /> <p align="justify"></p><br /> <p align="justify">The theme of the December community meeting was "why are we<br /> reliving issues of 1964 in 2004?" The event was organized to provide an<br /> opportunity for Mr. McFadden to share his observations with the community<br /> relative to blatant police brutality, and to send a clear message to the likes<br /> of Giess, Douglas and others. The message is that we will not sit idly by and<br /> watch them destroy authentic Black leadership.</p><br /> <p align="justify"></p><br /> <p align="justify">One member of the 21^st Century African American<br /> Leadership Council noted that "it's been a long time since we have had someone<br /> on the City Council who is bold enough and righteous enough to speak out<br /> consistently on behalf of the African American Community, and in the interest of<br /> freedom, justice and equality for all people. Adam McFadden is ours, and you<br /> will not destroy him." It was also mentioned that when Malcolm X spoke out<br /> against racism and police brutality in Rochester (40 years ago), he too was<br /> accused of attempting to "inflame racial animosity," but Malcolm reminded his<br /> critics that problems and issues such as racism and police brutality were so old<br /> and pervasive that it wasn't necessary to "inflame" them. He declared that such<br /> issues have a fuse of their own, and are potentially self-igniting. </p><br /> <p align="justify"></p><br /> <p align="justify">The 21^st Century African American Leadership Council<br /> has vowed that (with help from the community) it intends to (once and for all)<br /> put an end to blatant racism and abuse of citizens by members of the Rochester<br /> Police Department. One organizer said "we must produce a solution to this<br /> problem --- so that 40 years from now, our children and grandchildren won't have<br /> to ask: why are we reliving issues of 2004 in 2044?" </p><br /> <p align="justify"></p><br /> <p>A follow-up meeting has been planned for December 26 (first day of Kwanzaa,<br /> on which the Principle of unity --- UMOJA is celebrated) at Saint Luke<br /> Tabernacle Community Church, 1261 Dewey Avenue at 6:30<br /> PM</p><br /> <p>(edited 12/16/2004 at the author's request)</p>