Media

We need some people power in court this week! Please come out and support these awesome individuals. Court is at 99 Exchange St.

MONDAY (7/13):
Beaten and arrested by officer Mario Masic:
Quintin Keene: Mon. 7/13, 9:30 am, Judge Morse's court

Please join these home defenders, Ms. Woods, and Ms. Mcgriff in solidarity at their upcoming court dates! Upcoming Take Back the Land Rochester court dates for this week:

TODAY! Shannon Coleman, Jacob Spezio, and Christian Nelson: All three were charged with trespass and resisting arrest. They were arraigned last week. Their next court date before Judge Maija C. Dixon is Monday, June 29, 2015, 2:00pm at the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd.

TOMORROW! Audrey Woods: Audrey was held by police until her father left their home. She was eventually released to him. She was charged with obstruction of governmental administration. Her arraignment before Judge Stephen T. Miller took place on June 25, 2015. Her next hearing is Tuesday, June 30, 10:30am at the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd.

WEDNESDAY! Other pending eviction actions: Liz Mcgriff is facing foreclosure as well. Her next court appearance is before Judge John J. Ark, on Wednesday, July 1, 9:30am at the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd. She has not been evicted yet, but is combating the bank's arguments for her removal. Please come out and support her. Let's stop it before it begins!

The Rochester Coalition for Police reform convened a press conference on Tuesday June 16 at 10:30am on the steps of City Hall.  The purpose was to 1. Proclaim a victory with $2 million alotted to Body Worn Cameras that was passed in the city's budget and 2. To indicate that the coalition wants a role in the shaping of the policies which will be approved by City Council at  a later date. You can read CPR's body worn camera policy recommendations here. Also CPR has put out a guide to help people with the city's survey regarding body cameras. That guide can be found here.

CPR also renewed the call for the Community Safety Agenda which includes an independent and viable Civilian Review Board process with subpoena power and independent investigative authority; a curtailment of Sop and Frisk (racial profiling), improving community understanding of individual rights to consent to be searched, and anti-racism professional development training for police officers.

"10 Vow to Fight Advisory Board," has no author. The article was published in the Democrat & Chronicle on September 17, 1965. Ten candidates for City Council, Conservative and Republican parties, made it clear that they would fight to abolish the Police Advisory Board. Citizens for Abolition of the Police Advisory Board mailed their political statements to some "500 city policemen." The clipping can be found at the Local History Department of the Monroe County Library Downtown Branch.

"'People Should Vote On Advisory Board'," is a letter to the editor written by Russell C. Sciolino of the city. It was published in the Democrat & Chronicle on April 22, 1965. Russell is proud "of our boys" but the Police Advisory Board ties the hands of the officers behind their backs. He wants a referendum on whether to keep the board or not. He reminds us that "Their lives are always in danger trying to protect everybody." The clipping can be found at the Local History Department of the Monroe County Library Downtown Branch.

Below is a scanned image of an editorial from the Times-Union. The editorial, "Strong New View on Police Board," begins by referencing Bishop James E. Kearney's remarks against the Police Advisory Board. He is quoted as saying, "...its continuation hurts the morale of the department and is a reflection on the integrity of our men in uniform." The editorial continues by claiming the board has not promoted "good relations between the Negro community and the police" nor has it solved police brutality.

The year 1965 had by far the most column space with regards to the Police Advisory Board in both the Democrat & Chronicle and the Times-Union newspapers. For 1965, articles critical of the PAB from the Times-Union have been combined into single Rochester Indymedia articles divided by month. This is July 1965. The clippings can be found at the Local History Department of the Monroe County Library Downtown Branch.

The year 1965 had by far the most column space with regards to the Police Advisory Board in both the Democrat & Chronicle and the Times-Union newspapers. For 1965, articles critical of the PAB from the Times-Union have been combined into single Rochester Indymedia articles divided by month. This is June 1965. The clippings can be found at the Local History Department of the Monroe County Library Downtown Branch.

Below is a scanned image of a letter to the editor from the Times-Union. The letter, "Lauds Police Board Criticism," written by Barbara Prattis from the city, talked about how "delighted" she was that the Police Advisory Board "came under fire" by the FBI. She wrote that the board serves no other purpose than to "create difficulty for police and promulgate ill will toward them." The clipping can be found at the Local History Department of the Monroe County Library Downtown Branch. "Lauds Police Board Criticism," a letter to the editor, was written by Barbara Prattis from the city.

Below is a scanned image of a newspaper clipping referencing a New York City councilman who cited a representative of the National Association of Colored People Philadelphia branch and a Rochester "policewoman" in their contempt of the Police Advisory Board and boards like them around the country. Alternatives to the boards (the chief of police, the FBI, and the federal court system) were raised as proof that no boards were needed. The clipping can be found at the Local History Department of the Monroe County Library Downtown Branch. "Police Board Opposed," was written by Cliff Smith.