Police Brutality and the new Jim Crow

Ream Kidane of the International Socialist Organization gave a presentation on how the so-called "War on Drugs" has sparked a new legal system much like the old "Jim Crow" laws that followed the Civil War.  Under Jim Crow, black and white people were separated by law.  The laws were repealed in 1965. 

The presentation was followed by a discussion.  Present at the meeting was Benny Warr, a local disabled man who was caught up in a recent violent police action while waiting for a bus.

Corrected higher res video of Benny Warr being attacked: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xifmR0C3Mk

Rochester Indymedia (Rochester.Indymedia.org) has also released a new video by a community member who goes by the handle “Colbert.” The video shows Benny Warr being elbowed in the face and neck by one of the officers at the :25 - :28 mark. See the video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTyO1KDusB4

Please sign the petition to have the charges dropped and the officers fired: https://www.change.org/ petitions/demand-all-charges- against-benny-warr-be-dropped- and-the-officers-involved-be- fired

Related Rochester Indymedia articles: Rochester Indymedia checks in with the Center for Disability Rights on Benny Warr's case | Video Reportback! Enough Is Enough! Community Rally and March! | "Not Guilty!" Benny Warr Arraigned | Disabled Man Assaulted by RPD While Waiting for Bus | Flyer for Benny Warr Rally | The RPD's policies and procedures for ADA compliance: Are they doing a good job? | Have you seen these guys? | Have you seen "Big Face"? | Flyer for Benny Warr Rally on May 30th! | Dredging Up the Past on Police Union President Mike Mazzeo

Related articles: Rochester, NY Police officers Assault Disabled Man in Motorized Wheelchair | Rochester, NY Police officer Cedric Felton Remains Professional, When Asked About Incident With Disabled Man in Wheelchair Being Assaulted by RPD officers, but Female officer Has No Comment | Rochester, NY's So-Called 'Black Leaders' Silent After Disabled African-American Man In Wheelchair Is Beaten By RPD Officers | SocialistWorker.org: "My god, they're beating him" | Minority Reporter: Support Growing for Wheel-Chair-Bound Man Beaten by Police

Ream Kidane's presentation

Discussion part 1 (video starts 3 minutes into audio)

Discussion part 2