Sunday May 11th, 10:00am-11:30am in Room 323, Smith Memorial Student Union Building, PSU.
A Community Response to Police Violence, by Jo Ann Hardesty.
The Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice & Police Reform came together in the summer of 2001 after Kendra James was killed by a Portland Police officer after attempting to drive away from a traffic stop where she was a passenger. James’ death was a touchstone for many in Portland who saw the shooting of an unarmed African American woman as a symptom of a Police Bureau needing major reforms. In 2010 after a rash of shootings by Portland Police officers of unarmed community members the AMA Coalition sought the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division assistance to investigate the patterns and practices of Portland Police. After a fourteen-month investigation, they released findings that proved Portland Police officers used excessive force against people with and perceived to have mental health issues. While the community was delighted with what was uncovered through the investigation, community voices were excluded from determining the appropriate reforms. The AMA Coalition was granted friend of the court status, the first in the nation. The workshop will talk about that process, where we are now and how other communities can organize to take back control of local police forces.