Police

Prominent San Leandro Citizen Speaks Out Against BEARCAT

Prominent San Leandro Citizen Speaks Out Against BEARCAT City Hall, Civil Liberties, Community, Police No Responses »

Jan 212015

This is the letter that Tim Holmes, a prominent San Leandro citizen and community activist, sent the San Leandro City Council. You can also read my own message to the SLPD on this matter. To the members of the San Leandro City Council: I attended the recent community meeting regarding the plans to obtain a Bearcat, I wasn’t able to complete my comments in the time allotted, so I’m including them in full here. I am asking you vote no and to NOT accept this vehicle. Tools only seem neutral. You pick one up, you use it and put it [Continue Reading]

Community Meeting on Police Militarization and Terror in San Leandro

Community Meeting on Police Militarization and Terror in San Leandro Event, Police No Responses »

Jan 122015

If you live in San Leandro or a nearby, Students and Families For Education (SAFE) invites you to a: Community Meeting on Police Militarization and Terror in San Leandro Thursday, January 15th 7 PM Zocalo Coffeehouse 645 Bancroft Avenue Please come to share your story, discuss and organize around: San Leandro Police Department (SLPD) profiling/harassment of people of color SLPD shooting and killing people of color fleeing from police: 3 shootings in 3 months SLPD slandering & devaluing the life of Latino SLHS/SLAM graduate homicide victim SLPD militarization, including BearCat & military-grade weapons Increasing use of surveillance on residents and [Continue Reading]

My Message to the SLPD: The Bearcat is Not a Good Idea

My Message to the SLPD: The Bearcat is Not a Good Idea City Hall, Civil Liberties, Community, Police 2 Responses »

Jan 102015

This was my speech at the “community meeting” on the SLPD‘s planned acquisition of a Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Truck (Bearcat). I addressed my comments to the SLPD, as the City Council has made it clear that their role is simply to rubber stamp any proposal brought by the Police. In other words, we officially have a police state in San Leandro. You can find Tim Holmes remarks here. While it may seem hard to believe, I appreciate our police officers. Every single SLPD officer I have met, has treated me with politeness, courtesy and professionalism. I think [Continue Reading]

Jan 8, 5 PM: Thanks but No Tanks! Rally in San Leandro

Jan 8, 5 PM: Thanks but No Tanks! Rally in San Leandro Event, Police No Responses »

Jan 062015

The San Leandro Police Department wants to acquire a “Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Truck” like the one above – pretending that it’s some sort of glorified ambulance. The City Council is set to let them do it. In reality, BearCat vehicles are used for regular law-enforcement purposes, such as serving warrants for minor crimes and collecting fines, and as intimidation tools against peaceful protesters. They are part of a broader project to militarize the police and use it as a potent repression tool against all sorts of political dissent. This particular model is outfitted with medical equipment inside, [Continue Reading]

ACLU to Look at SLPD’s Use of Social Media to Spy on San Leandro Students

ACLU to Look at SLPD’s Use of Social Media to Spy on San Leandro Students Civil Liberties, Legal, Police, Schools No Responses »

Jan 052015

A lawyer from the ACLU has contacted a member of SAFE and explained that they are starting a review process on the tracking of kids’ online activities and the keeping of records on kids through graduation. At their last City Council meeting, the Council approved a grant that will provide the San Leandro Police Department with resources to spy on students using social media and to maintain a database of any student behavior that could label a child as being “at risk,” this starting in elementary school. The ACLU is working to determine if the SLPD’s proposed tracking and [Continue Reading]

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