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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Cincinnati Agreement Unravels |
Current rating: 0 |
by Oread Daily
(No verified email address) |
23 May 2002
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CBUF says "we do not have an agreement" |
The Cincinnati Black United Front (CBUF) today packed a meeting of the Cincinnati city council saying the city is not living up to its end of the racial profiling agreement singed a few months back. CBUF was one of the parties to the agreement. The agreement settled a lawsuit filed in March 2001, which accused the city of decades of discrimination against blacks. It sought a court order permanently prohibiting racial profiling by police officers. The agreement mandates that the city set up a community oriented policing program and make changes in the way citizens' complaints are handled. The agreement sets specific time frames for implementing many of the changes within the Police Department, but the protesters said the spirit of the collaborative is being violated daily. CBUF Chief of Staff Juleana Frierson said, "Ever since we signed that agreement, the city has done nothing but act in bad faith," adding, "Today, as far as we're concerned, we do not have an agreement."
CBUF leaders said they are becoming increasingly frustrated by what they say is a failure by city officials to address issues of economic, social and police injustice. The Rev. Damon Lynch III, the Front's leader, also is concerned the city's internal investigations into the November 2000 death of Roger Owensby Jr. while in police custody and an April 2001 incident involving officers firing beanbag pellets at protesters aren't yet completed. ''Until those things are accomplished, there is no agreement'' Lynch said. Further, Lynch wants city officials to pressure police Chief Thomas Streicher Jr. into retiring. Streicher has created a culture in the police department that overlooks and subtly encourages the use of excessive force against blacks and others, Lynch said. "He has to go," Lynch said. "He needs to be fired. He needs to resign. At some point, the coach is held responsible for the players." Also at issue is the city's promised payment of $600,000 in legal fees. City officials rejected spending taxpayer money on the fees, but agreed to raise the funds privately. So far, city officials have raised about $300,000 - or $100,000 each for attorneys Alphonse Gerhardstein, Scott Greenwood and Ken Lawson. Frierson said city officials slacked off fund-raising after Lawson sued Vice Mayor Alicia Reece over an unrelated matter.
CBUF protesters said they plan to assemble in front of the police headquarters later today, and in Washington Park at noon Saturday, Sunday and Monday to protest at the "Taste of Cincinnati Festival." Sources: Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati Post, WLWT (Cincinnati)
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