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Announcement :: Civil & Human Rights : Crime & Police : Elections & Legislation : Government Secrecy : Health : Peace : Protest Activity |
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Tasers and Police: A Good Idea? Come to Community Meeting on March 15 and Have Your Say |
Current rating: 0 |
by via anon
(No verified email address) |
11 Mar 2004
|
Community meeting to examine issues raised by proposed purchase and use of Tasers by Champaign Police
Monday, March 15
6-8pm
Mount Olive Baptist Church
808 East Bradley Avenue
Champaign |
I hope that you will come to Monday's community meeting on the possible
purchase of Taser guns by the Champaign Police. The meeting is Monday, March
15 from 6-8pm at Mount Olive Baptist Church.
Champaign Police Chief Finney will give the police department's take on the
issue and the community will be able to ask him questions and raise
concerns. Every Champaign City Council person is invited to this meeting as
well.
This is an important opportunity to make an impact and express your concerns
and work in solidarity with Black community organizers, who, like those of
us who demonstrate in the streets, are very concerned about the possible
misuse of Tasers on racial minorities and political dissenters.
Champaign City Council will vote on whether or not to purchase Tasers at its
Tuesday, March 23 meeting. Please write or call your council member and all
of the at-large council members BEFORE March 23. They need time to think
about your concerns, so please write them soon. If you live in Urbana, write
anyway, because you are subject to Tasers any time you go to Champaign if
they were to purchase them.
Thanks a lot! Please spread the word. We want 100 people at the meeting on
Monday and dozens of people at the March 23 City Council Meeting.
Here are the Champaign City Council persons phone numbers and snail mail
addresses:
J.W. Pirtle
Deputy Mayor-District 1
1205 Carver Dr.
Champaign, IL 61820
H: 217/356-5500
Michael La Due
Council Member-District 2
1005 S. Sixth St., Apt. #28
Champaign, IL 61820
H: 217/367-5536
Vic McIntosh
Council Member-District 3
501 Clearwater
Champaign, IL 61822 H: 217/352-0194
E: VicMcIntosh (at) ci.champaign.il.us 2005
Jim Green
Council Member-District 4
2206 Plymouth Dr.
Champaign, IL 61821
H: 217/355-1232
O: 217/367-2500
E: JimGreen (at) ci.champaign.il.us 2005
Ken Pirok
Council Member-District 5
2203 Southmoor Drive
Champaign, IL 61821 H: 217/398-4258
O: 217/398-4258
E: KenPirok (at) ci.champaign.il.us 2005
Thomas Bruno
Council Member-At Large
1109 W. Park Ave.
Champaign, IL 61821
H: 217/398-2191
O: 217/328-6000
E: TomBruno (at) ci.champaign.il.us 2007
Kathy Ennen
Council Member-At Large
2711 Sangamon Dr.
Champaign, IL 61821
H: 217/351-6164
Giraldo Rosales
Council Member-At Large
102 N. Neil St.
Champaign, IL 61820
grosales (at) uiuc.edu <grosales (at) uiuc.edu> |
This work is in the public domain |
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by via anon
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
11 Mar 2004
|
BACKGROUND
On March 23rd the Champaign City Council will hold a study session to determine whether or not the Champaign Police Department may purchase Taser guns (at a cost of $30,000+). Taser guns operate by shooting an individual with a dartlike object that discharges 50,000 volts of electricity on contact, thus rendering that individual incapacitated for approximately five seconds. The position of the Police Department and the City Manager is that Tasers provide effective, safe alternatives to lethal weaponry and therefore should be purchased.
It is our responsibility as community members to inform ourselves, our neighbors, and the City Council about the great complexities of this issue.
What are the health risks of being zapped by a Taser? Is the rate of civilian violence towards police officers in Champaign large enough to justify the purchase of Taser guns? Are Tasers, which leave no physical marks on victims, likely to be abused by officers to obtain compliance or to coerce statements from individuals? Are communities of color, lower-income, political dissent likely to be disproportionately affected by Taser use? Are there other alternatives to be explored?
All neighborhoods and communities in and around Champaign are called together on March 15th to engage in this discussion. A summary of the proceedings will be presented at the Champaign City Council study session on March 23rd. Community members are welcome to attend this study session and address Council as well. |
