Tallahassee, FL – On Jan. 26, Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo announced that two officers involved with using a stun gun on 62-year-old African American woman Viola Young will be suspended without pay, a sharp reversal from the officers being placed on administrative leave with pay.

Officer Mahan tasered Frenchtown resident Viola Young in the back last October. This sparked national outrage when the video of the brutality went viral. Tallahassee Dream Defenders held actions at State Attorney Willie Meggs office, putting pressure on him and Chief DeLeo to file charges against Officer Mahan.

Now Chief DeLeo has succumbed to public pressure and suspended the two officers without pay, a move rarely made by a police chief in Tallahassee or Florida for incidents of police misconduct.

“I am glad that the officers was punished for their excessive use of force against Ms. Young and the police chief admitted they did the wrong thing but it isn't enough,” said Brian Marshall, Lead Organizer for the Tallahassee Dream Defenders. “It is the people of Tallahassee who have to continue to hold police accountable for their actions and to make sure they hear our voices on the streets and we want corrupt cops off of our streets.”

Tallahassee Dream Defenders still are demanding that Chief DeLeo and the city of Tallahassee fire Officer Mahan. For more information on their campaign against police brutality, follow their website at tallyddod.wordpress.com

#TallahasseeFL #PoliceBrutality #TallahasseeDreamDefenders

Tallahassee, FL – Nearly 100 protesters marched on the streets of Tallahassee the night of Nov. 24. The protest was in response to the Ferguson grand jury failure to indict officer Darren Wilson for killing Mike Brown. The protesters’ message was clear as they chanted, “Indict, convict, send that killer cop to jail, the whole damn system is guilty as hell!”

Organizers from the Tallahassee Dream Defenders organized the emergency rally to protest the murder of 18-year-old African American teenager Mike Brown by a white cop.

“What are you willing to do for justice?” Naomi Brown, Tallahassee Dream Defender asked the crowd. “What are you willing to give up for your freedom?”

After marching to the Florida Old Capitol where leaders spoke, the march took to the streets and shut down Appalachee Parkway and Monroe Street, a busy Tallahassee intersection. Protesters stayed in the streets chanting, “I believe that we will win!”

Tallahassee Dream Defenders have promised more actions to end police brutality in the near future.

#TallahasseeFL #Ferguson #MikeBrown #TallahasseeDreamDefenders

Tallahassee, FL – Dozens of African American students joined with community members to protest and then conduct a die-in at the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) on Oct. 22. Protesters held signs reading “Black lives matter,” and “Justice,” while chanting against police brutality.

Angelique Fullwood, with the Tallahassee Dream Defenders led the rally with, “We are ready for change, Police Chief DeLeo. We don't care about your press conferences. We care about the lives of Black people in this country and in this city that are subject to police violence daily.”

Protesters want Police Chief Michael DeLeo to arrest TPD Officer Terry Mahan. Mahan is the corrupt police officer that tasered 61-year-old African American woman Viola Young in the back earlier this month. Tallahassee Dream Defenders rallied two weeks earlier, demanding State Attorney Willie Meggs' file charges against Mahan. Meggs' office dropped charges against Viola Young the next day. Meggs even called the tasing of Young “unnecessary.” Now the matter is in the hands of Police Chief DeLeo. DeLeo came out to see the protest, but refused to discuss the case, claiming the case is under investigation.

“It's like the police have another special privilege in how they are protected even if they break the law,” said Delance Burnsides, a Florida State University Dream Defender. “That's why we came here to the belly of the beast. To demand Chief DeLeo and the police address the people's concerns.”

Protesters read off the names of those killed by law enforcement as they staged a die-in in front of Police Chief DeLeo and other police officers. Many cities held rallies against police brutality on Oct. 22.

#TallahasseeFL #PoliceBrutality #TallahasseeDreamDefenders