News reports on the killer report on how there were no “warning signs” of the rampage, but they ignore the larger epidemic of police violence against civilians in the United States. Police in the U.S. kill about 1000 people per year, according to the Washington Post and the Prison Policy Initiative. African Americans, Chicanos and Native Americans are disproportionately killed by police, and women make up a larger share of deaths every year. John Snowling killed people outside of his role as a police officer, but he was emboldened to kill through his previous experience as an officer.

Snowing’s killing spree is just one of many examples of police violence that occur regularly in Orange County. In 2021, Anaheim PD cornered Brandon Lopez in Santa Ana and murdered him in front of his family. He was unarmed and experiencing a mental health crisis. David Sullivan, only 19, was shot seven times and killed by Buena Park PD in 2019. He was unarmed and officers Kelly Tran and Bobby Colon escalated the situation immediately, creating the pretext to shoot. In 2011, Kelly Thomas was smothered, beaten and killed in the street by six police officers. He was unarmed and collecting cigarette butts outside of a bar.

Legal documents such as the Police Bill of Rights grant police extralegal privileges in 15 states in the U.S., such as early access to investigations into police misconduct and who will interrogate them. Police departments also regularly sabotage internal investigations into police misconduct, such as in Santa Ana, where SAPD recently sabotaged the investigation into an incident where Major Enforcement Team officers harassed and groped a minor.

The problem in cities across the U.S. is that police departments have power and the people largely do not. In Chicago, however, the people are demonstrating that they can organize and fight back against these forces. Through a long campaign of grassroots canvassing, the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression secured a majority of the 22 police district councils in Chicago, providing a measure of democratic control over police in the city, including voting down a “Gang Database” that racially profiled and discriminated against the people of Chicago.

The police know they have power, and they know how to protect their interests. It’s time for us to learn from Chicago’s victories, and fight for community control of the police here in Orange County. Join CSO Orange County to fight back against police crimes and repression!

#TrabucoCanyonCA #PoliceBrutality #antipolicebrutality

Chicago, IL- On July 6, news outlets reported that Chicago police officers allegedly sexually assaulted several asylum seekers who had been sleeping in the lobby of Chicago's 10th District police station. One of the asylum seekers, a teenager, was impregnated. The news prompted outrage from community members.

Thirty people gathered outside the 10th District station at 3315 W Ogden Avenue on the evening of July 7, to demand that any officers engaged in sexual misconduct be fired and prosecuted. Recently-elected District Councilors criticized the lack of transparency by the Chicago Police Department and the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA). They urged civilians to participate in holding the police accountable.

“As representatives of a welcoming city, that advocate for the well-being and safety of our migrant communities, we express our deep disappointment upon learning about these allegations,” said Kiisha Smith, chair of the 10th Police District Council. Smith was delivering a statement co-authored with fellow Councilors Rosemarie Dominguez and Elianne Bahena.

Smith continued, “We categorically condemn the abuse of power, especially when it targets one of our most vulnerable populations.”

People gathered outside the police station chanted “Arrest predatory cops!” and “Silent cops are guilty too!” One protest sign read “CPD keep your filthy hands off migrants!”

Mayor Brandon Johnson's office stated they are “intensely focused on the deeply troubling allegations of sexual misconduct by a Chicago Police Department officer against a minor new arrival, and other allegations of sexual misconduct in the Chicago Police Department's 10th District.”

All 45 immigrants who had been housed in the 10th District were moved to a temporary shelter on Friday. The city plans to move all immigrants out of police stations by making more shelters available. Community members urged that immigrants be given adequate shelter as soon as possible.

“We extend our sincere appreciation to our community for their swift response and proactive efforts in addressing this sensitive and distressing matter,” the 10th District Council statement continued. “Furthermore, we acknowledge the invaluable support from our fellow council members across the 22 districts.”

15 District Councilors were present at the press conference and voiced support for the demand that the officers be fired and prosecuted.

“If these allegations are substantiated, we will pursue appropriate disciplinary and legal action against the officers involved,” the 10th District statement said.

“It is crucial to highlight that the creation of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) and the District Council roles were intended to give a voice to the community and work on their behalf. However, it was disheartening to note that our office was not among the first to be contacted when these allegations came to light. This omission represents a lack of respect for the communities we represent,” the council statement added.

“Consequently, we request the presence of COPA and BIA representatives at our second district council meeting, scheduled for July 18 at 6 p.m. The meeting will take place at Enlace Chicago, located at 2759 S Harding Ave. We extend an invitation to all community members to join us in this important dialogue.”

#ChicagoIL #PoliceBrutality #antipolicebrutality

Oak Lawn, IL – Over 130 protesters shut down the Oak Lawn Police and Fire Commission meeting on July 5 in response to the killing of Murod Kurdi and the beating of Hadi Abuatelah. “We need to clean out the Oak Lawn Police from top to bottom. That's why we're demanding an independent investigation into the Oak Lawn Police Department,” declared Mohamed Sunkari, a leader of the Arab American Action Network (AAAN).

AAAN and the US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN) have been rallying outside and filling the public comments of the Oak Lawn Commission meetings every month for a year. “Last year in July of 2022 we showed up here after a 17-year-old Palestinian American boy, Hadi Abuateleh, was beaten almost to death by three police officers. Those officers' names are Patrick O'Donnell, Brandon Collins, and Mark Hollingsworth,” said Nadiah Alyafai, a AAAN youth organizer.

“We continue to demand that those three officers are held accountable for their crimes by being indicted, convicted and fired,” Alyafai continued.

For the second time in two weeks, protesters also called for justice for Murod Kurdi, who was killed by a driver who had been drinking on June 5. The driver, who was white, was let go with a ticket by Oak Lawn Police. “We are also demanding that the officer who let the woman leave the scene, and any officers who were involved in covering up this crime be fired from the police department,” Alyafai explained.

Speakers emphasized the need for unity between different communities to stop police crimes and racism. “Nobody can do this by themselves. It’s important that we stand together on these issues,” said Mark Kuehner from Southsiders for Peace.

“We need an independent investigation because the police will not investigate themselves. That's why we have to do it. Black people, Arabs, Latinos, immigrants and everyone impacted by police violence needs to come together to hold the police accountable,” said Kobi Guillory, co-chair of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR).

After the rally, protesters filled the meeting to its capacity of 130 people. Several protesters voiced their anger at the Oak Lawn Police in the public comments section of the meeting, including Murod Kurdi’s cousin, Tayseer Abuhamdeh. “Oak Lawn police officer Mark Hollingsworth looked my aunt, Murod’s mother, in the eye and said that he could see from the dash cam video that the woman was not drunk, and they were no longer pursuing this as an accident involving alcohol,” Abuhamdeh said. Hollingsworth was one of the three officers who assaulted Hadi Abuateleh.

“Oak Lawn Police need to answer for what they have done. They need to answer for the abuse of power, the lies and deception, and the continued racism and racial profiling against our community,” Abuhamdeh added.

After Abuhamdeh spoke, community members forced an end to the meeting by chanting “Justice for Murod” and “If we don't get it, shut it down!”

The Oak Lawn Commissioners filed out of the room. Police shoved the chanting protesters, a crowd which included children and elders, out of the building over the next 45 minutes.

Before exiting the building, protesters chanted “We'll be back!”

The next Oak Lawn Police and Fire Commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday August 2. AAAN will rally outside the Commission building at 5 p.m.

“These police officers understand one thing only. They don’t care about begging, pleading, praying, or asking nicely. The only thing they understand is power. The power that we have is standing right here today. It’s the power in our community and the communities standing with us. It’s the number of people who are coming and standing for justice,” Sunkari said after the protest.

#OakLawnIL #Palestine #antipolicebrutality #MiddleEast

New Orleans – On June 24, members of New Orleans for Community Oversight of Police (NOCOP) hosted a community discussion on the New Orleans Police Department federal consent decree. About 20 people were in attendance at the Nora Navra Library. Independent Police Monitor of the New Orleans Police Department, Stella Cziment, shared information about the consent decree in light of the city’s attempts to terminate federal police oversight.

NOCOP member Toni Jones opened the discussion by drawing a connection between the consent decree and to the question of racist repression and democracy in New Orleans. “Do we have an option to say how we are policed? Do we have a say over the means and measures by which we’re treated by the state and the police?” asked Jones. She stated that New Orleans lacks community oversight of the police, which is “a reflection of a city administration that does not take police brutality seriously.

The Independent Police Monitor followed with a presentation on the consent decree, allowing for community members to learn more about what exactly it is, how a history of police crimes led to its implementation in New Orleans, and to what degree the NOPD is in compliance today. Many participants, who ranged from seasoned activists to concerned neighbors, were alarmed by the lack of public education on police oversight and local media’s ineffective coverage of the issue.

The educational discussion came together as consent decree compliance has been under fire from city officials, especially Mayor Latoya Cantrell. Since March of 2023, Cantrell has insisted on a “boycott” of the consent decree, barring the New Orleans Police Department and city employees from attending public meetings and court hearings. This was blatant noncompliance with a federal mandate. Most recently, the mayor has moved to terminate the consent decree in court on June 28, citing NOPD compliance with regulations. Federal consent decree monitors, however, maintain that the city still has yet to meet the required benchmarks for constitutional policing.

The community discussion concluded with a call for the public to rally at the federal building on Wednesday, June 28, before the city presents its opening arguments for termination to the federal judge.

A livestream of the discussion is available for viewing on NOCOP’s social media, @ n.o.cop on Instagram.

#NewOrleansLA #PoliceBrutality #antipolicebrutality