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On June 30, 2020, CBS aired a news report at 10pm that confirmed the Mayor of Joliet, Bob O’Dekirk, acknowledged that there were witnesses and a video tape of what transpired while Eric D. Lurry Jr. was in custody. The Joliet Police Department released the video tape after five months passed and it clearly shows misconduct. In addition to the news broadcasting, there have been multiple stories on what happened on January 28, 2020 leading up to his death. While I am fully aware that law enforcement has a job to do, and they often have to make split second judgement calls; the information that has been shared clearly indicate that the judgment calls made during the arrest were very excessive and dehumanizing.The job of law enforcement is to protect and serve all citizens, even those who may have a criminal past. There is no reason for anyone to die in police custody, that is why laws were put into place to determine if a person is innocent or guilty. The untimely death of my cousin has had a profound impact on our entire family and the Joliet community. His family and other members of the community have been left scared, confused, angry, sad, and heartbroken that we are among the unfortunate list of families left looking for answers in a senseless loss. I urge you to lend us your support in getting a full and transparent investigation to try to bring closure to our family. I know many are saying that all lives matter and that is true; however, all lives cannot matter until black lives are included in all lives.‍With many thanks,MeShona Mitchell

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On October 17, 2010, police officer Aaron Hess, murdered Danroy “DJ” Henry while he was in handcuffs. DJ was a football player & junior at Pace University. He was celebrating at a sports bar with his teammates when some others got in a fight. DJ was parked outside the building in a fire lane out front when he was asked to move. DJ complied and moved out of the spot when Aaron Hess shot him, took him out of his car, handcuffed him and laid him on the ground and left him there to die. Aaron Hess was not charged with any crime and was named Officer of the Year later on in the year. Hess deliberately killed DJ. DJ was a bright student with a bright future and he deserved better than this. We are demanding that this case be re-opened and we demand that Aaron Hess be charged with the murder of Danroy Henry.‍

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"Guided by love, we continue to stand together for justice, human dignity and our shared goal of ending all forms of state violence against Black people. We organize, occupy, demonstrate, march and chant for a new future: A future we can be proud of. We stand on the shoulders of our ancestors, who fought for their freedom and ours. Like them, we want a world where our lives matter.We want an end to the war being waged on Black people, in all its forms. Some people fear change, and that's ok. Many will attempt to halt our progress. That is not ok. Some will continue their attempts to undermine us, but we will remain undeterred.For far too long, our unjust deaths have meant business as usual in this country. No more.Our work remains undone until our lives are free of violence. That is the future we imagine."

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Over the past three years, the Georgia State Legislature has failed to pass a hate crime bill. Georgia is one of four states without a hate crime law. House Bill 426 relating to Hate Crimes has passed the Georgia House and is stalled in the State Senate. Specifically, if passed, the bill will enact “the Georgia Enhanced Penalties for Hate Crimes Act.”  On February 23, 2020, Ahmaud Arbery was jogging through a neighborhood near his home in Brunswick, Georgia. At that time, George McMichael and Travis McMichael observed Arbery jogging and they confronted him with guns.  However, when Arbery tried to defend himself from one of the gun wielding white men, he was savagely shot and killed by the man and his son.Please sign the attached petition. We will forward this petition, along with a letter of support to the bill's authors.Furthermore, call Governor Brian Kamp @ 404-656-1776 and Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan @ 404-656-5030 to voice your support for HB 426.

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Over the past week, there have been nationwide protests in the United States for the Black Lives Matter Movement, police brutality, and due to the tragic death of George Floyd in the hands of the Minneapolis police.There have been various occurrences where peaceful protesters have been shot with rubber bullets by the police, despite them doing nothing wrong to begin with. Multiple people have been majorly injured from these rubber bullets!Rubber bullets can be extremely lethal. They may cause bone fractures, injuries to internal organs, or even death. It’s been proven that rubber and plastic bullets are too dangerous for crowd control and have even been banned in various regions including Kosovo and Catalonia.Please sign this petition for the sake and safety of protestors across the nation. Let’s increase people’s safety, so that they can continue to protest peacefully.

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On February 23, 2020, 25 year-old Ahmaud Arbery was chased and gunned down by Travis McMichael, son of retired Brunswick investigator Greg McMichael, under the father’s and son’s pretenses of witnessing a burglary in Satilla Shores of Glynn County.McMichael’s account of the deadly encounter with Arbery was not released until nearly 6 weeks following the shooting. In addition; McMichael’s questionable account of events and the police department’s poor communication efforts following Arbery’s death leads us to believe that Arbery was a victim of racial profiling. No one has the right to pursue, attack and kill an unarmed, non-threatening individual. Ahmaud’s voice will be heard.In an effort to seek justice, please sign the petition expressing your concern. #JusticeforAhmaudArbery #iRunWithMaud

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Breonna Taylor was an award-winning EMT and model citizen. She loved her family and community. She worked at two hospitals as an essential worker during the pandemic.1. Charges must be filed immediately. Arrests of the officers involved, specifically John Mattingly, Brett Hankison, Myles Cosgrove, and any other officer involved in the death and coverup of the death of Breonna Taylor must be made NOW.2. Her family must be paid in damages for wrongful death and the negligence of the LMPD. 3. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear must speak up on behalf of Breonna, and Governor Beshear or Attorney General Daniel Cameron must appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the Louisville Police Department immediately. 4. The "no-knock" warrant that police had used in Breonna's murder completely violates the constitutional rights to reasonable search and seizure. Legislation to federally ban no-knock warrants must be passed in Congress and signed by the President. A special session must be intervened by Congress to discuss the constitutionality of no-knock warrants immediately.

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Sign the petition demanding that: 1. The Mayor and City Council address the use of force by LMPD.2. Fire and revoke the pensions of the officers that murdered Breonna. Arrest, charge, and convict them for this crime.3. Provide all necessary information to a local, independent civilian community police accountability council #CPAC.4. Create policy for transparent investigation process due to law enforcement misconduct. 5. Drop all charges for Kenneth Walker, Breonna’s boyfriend, who attempted to defend them and their home. [DEMAND MET]6. Release the 911 call to the public for accountability. [DEMAND MET]7. Eliminate No Knock warrants(Updated 6-4-2020)

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The Marcus Alert addresses police training and collaboration with behavioral (mental) health professionals. The Marcus Alert would make the presence of mental health experts / professionals mandatory on calls deemed as crisis or for wellness checks.  The Marcus Alert system would also address the CIT training itself, as the training is not aligned with behavioral health practices for de-escalation, nor does it address police accountability. Under the Marcus Alert system, RPD would follow the Department of Behavioral Developmental Disabilities restraint training regulations and be recertified annually with de-escalation and restraint training. The Marcus Alert would shift the decision making authority during a crisis call to trained mental health professionals.

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We demand investments in the education, health, and safety of Black people instead of investments in the criminalizing, caging, and harming of Black people. We want divestment from exploitative forces including prisons, fossil fuels, police, and surveillance. As the city responds to projected COVID-19 shortfalls, it is necessary to cut from DPD’s budget to support our communities. This requires a reduction in the size of the police force and removal of military-grade weapons and tactical gear.

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In order to combat institutionalized violence, we need to mandate that police officers are trained with de-escalation in mind. When it comes to discharging a gun, we need to shift from “reasonable” to “necessary;” Police officers should aim to disable or subdue, not kill. [EDIT: Some supporters of this petition have asked to include evaluations or screenings to reinforce these principles, which is a great idea- please leave a comment if you have suggestions on how to improve this bill.]We must change the way police officers think of using deadly force, and we must do so with the support of our federal government. The price of empathy-driven training is a fraction of the cost of settlement and, most importantly, human life. We must prevent history from repeating itself again.Nationwide riots and protests have captured national attention, but we must use that momentum to create lasting change through legislation. Once this petition gains 2,000 signatures, it will be presented to local members of Congress in hopes of introducing a bill calling for mandated police de-escalation training. Please take time to share this petition and contact your local government for support. Thank you!

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"We are outraged and disturbed by the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis Police Department officers.For seven minutes, George Floyd and bystanders cried out and pleaded for his life as your officers choked him to death in broad daylight. This is an act of police violence committed on an innocent, unarmed Black man. No one deserves what happened to George. And it’s up to you to grant justice.We are calling on you, the Mayor, to 1) block their pensions and 2) ban them from becoming police officers ever again. And County Attorney Freeman must immediately charge all four officers with murder. We’re counting on you to secure justice for his family."

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"We need legislation now that prohibits police officers from shooting unarmed citizens. If there isn’t a weapon found after someone has been shot (therefore, unarmed) by a police officer, then I propose that the officer should receive a mandatory 15-year prison sentence.We have seen over and over police officers get off, even with videotape footage of citizens having been shot by police officers. This is a new form of lynching. I am pleading with you to propose a bill that protects people who have every right to feel threatened by law enforcement. We always say we need more training for those involved in public safety, and there are increasing policies and laws that mandate that police officers have “body cameras” on them. Those measures do not address the whole problem, not when the individual officers who shoot unarmed victims aren’t punished.Senator, we are in a crisis where relationships between people of color and police officers are deteriorating, beyond the critical level. In order to build any sort of positive relationships again, we need laws to keep a balance in the lives of all the public. I might even suggest this as a title for this proposed legislation: the Hands UP ACT.I will be emailing this to the all of your colleagues in the U. S. Senate, members of Congress, State Governors; Democracy Now, the Huffington Post, ThinkProgress; and to other appropriate organizations across the country. Once this petition receives enough attention. My goal to speak before the House of Representatives or United Nations during a committee hearing to bring attention to this policy."

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George Floyd was a Black man, who was murdered in broad daylight after a grocery clerk called the police thinking he was writing a bad check. For seven minutes, George laid on the street while officers Derek Chauvin and Tou Thao held their knee on his neck as he was struggling to breathe. He lost consciousness and yet they continued to strangle him. Numerous bystanders pleaded with the police officer to let him go, while Floyd said the words “I can’t breathe,” several times, but the officer refused to remove his knee from Floyd’s neck.On May 26th, officers Derek Chauvin and Tou Thao, and two other officers who were present, were fired from the Minneapolis Police Department. This is a step in the right direction to hold the officers accountable for murdering George Floyd but more action must be taken. We are calling for further action from Mayor Jacob Frey and County Attorney Freeman.Mayor Frey must 1) block the officers from receiving their pensions and 2) ban them from ever becoming police officers again. And County Attorney Freeman must immediately charge the officers with murder.

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The violent police state is alive and well in Philadelphia, and we believe that the University of Pennsylvania is fully complicit in the structural conditions that have led to the lynchings of Black men, women, and transgender people in our communities. It is time for Penn to demonstrate that it is serious about divesting from this regime of violence.

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Case by case investigations have not remedied the problem! As one case is investigated, countless more mount up! This epidemic, which has reached "national proportions," is being presented to the Attorney General of the United States for immediate investigation, action and remedy.This petition is made before the Attorney General of the United States to not only act on behalf of the people of the United States, but to fulfill the obligations of the office - for which he or she has "sworn an oath" to fulfill upon occupancy!

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In the wake of George Floyd's murder by MPD officer Derek Chauvin, and the Minneapolis Police Department's escalated violence against the city's grieving Black community, Minneapolis is in desperate need of visionary leadership. We have called on the Minneapolis City Council to become these visionary leaders by pledging to defund the Minneapolis Police Department and invest in the resources that really keep us safe and healthy, especially in Black communities, Indigenous communities and communities of color. We have called on them to commit to the following by Saturday, May 30th at 8am:1. To never again vote to increase police funding or to increase the police department's budget. 2. To propose and vote for a $45 million cut from MPD's budget as the City responds to projected COVID-19 shortfalls. 3. To protect and expand current investment in community-led health and safety strategies, instead of investing in police.4. To do everything in my power to compel MPD and all law enforcement agencies to immediately cease enacting violence on community members. (Source: everyaction.com)Our city is on fire, our people are hurting, and Black communities are crying out for health and safety in the midst of pandemic. Now is the time to invest in a safe, liberated future for our city. We can't afford to keep funding MPD's attacks on Black lives.

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On May 27th, 2020, Tony McDade, a black transgender masculine person was shot five times in the back and killed by a Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) officer. TPD, notorious for its racism, white supremacy, and transphobia has consistently misgendered Tony and refused to release the officer’s body camera footage and/or admit their wrongdoing in murdering and misgendering an unarmed black trans person.Many details surrounding this incident are unclear, but eyewitness accounts and video footage contradict the official TPD report which states that Mr. McDade was armed. In fact, video footage of the shooting shows that Tony was shot 5-8 times in the back and that the officer was standing over Tony when the last shot was fired.  Please join us in demanding #JusticeForTony.

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Ahmaud was taking his morning jog in his neighborhood in Georgia and came a cross a white father and son who shot and killed him for taking a jog. There is video footage of this cold blooded murder but, the father and son who murdered an innocent man are walking free because one of them used to be a cop.I want justice for Ahmaud Arbery, it sickens me that the men the killed Ahmaud are still walking free. If two black men pulled up next to a white jogger and shoot him dead they would most likely get the death sentence in Georgia. This is a hate crime. This is clear white prejudice and injustice working in America, and I will not stand for it and I hope you will not either. We don’t live in some third world country where people get killed in broad day light in the middle of a street with video evidence and nothing is done.This is unconstitutional, unjust, and unbelievable, I’m done sitting down, it’s time to make a change, it’s time we start caring about each other. It comes to a point where enough is enough.We can help the Arbery family by getting them the support they need, we need to raise awareness for them.#JusticeForAhmaudArbery

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"We are calling for the disbarment of prosecutor George E. Barnhill. We feel his decision to sit on the case of Ahmaud Arbery's murder for three months was out of prejudice/racism and a personal relationship with the murderers.We need to feel like there is JUSTICE in the justice system and not based on racism, prejudice, or personal feelings. Mr. Barnhill displayed a clear case of not being able to disconnect himself from this case and look at the clear cut facts involved.Also we are very aware that Mr McMichael was a police officer who worked CLOSLEY with the district attorney's office up until last year. How many murders has Mr. Barnhill covered up against minorities using the "self defense and citizens arrest statute"?We the people do not feel justice can be served appropriately with a prosecutor like Mr Barnhill receiving these cases and sweeping them under the rug without even PRESENTING them properly. We feel he is operating based on his own personal agenda. He should not get to decide whether or not our sons, brothers, or fathers even DESERVE justice before their stories get their day in court.Also we ask that all other cases that have crossed his desk be looked over again by a non bias party. How many others have been murdered in silence."

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"We're still demanding Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer fire the officers now! Sign the petition and dial the mayor at 844-298-2731 to demand #JusticeforBre.Breonna Taylor was gunned down and shot more than eight times while in her home after officers barged in with no warrant and illegally took her life. More than two months after cops murdered her, they have faced no consequences and despite being responsible for the tragedy, they are still employed by the LMPD.The LMPD officers, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove took Breonna’s life as she was just resting in her home doing nothing wrong. No warrant, no announcement, and no need to be in her home in the first place. These officers must immediately be fired for illegally entering her home, their egregious misconduct, and taking Breonna’s young life.We are calling on you to fire all the three officers immediately."

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"Monday May 25. 2020 Minneapolis PD murdered an African American man who was unarmed and not dangerous. This whole incident makes me sick. The power that comes with the PD is old news. It's 2020 and we still have racist police officers murdering innocent civilians. This is bull sh*t. I don't care if the officer were to be red, blue, yellow, black, or purple. The man murdered another human being for no reason. He was getting some sick satisfaction of crushing this man's neck. He sat there crushing his neck cutting off his air passages. The man started bleeding from his nose before going unconscious. The Police Department remained completely unphased by it. One officer checked his pulse after the man went unconscious. At this point the man was gone. He was murdered for what reason? This was no medical condition. And even If the man had any medical condition whatsoever he would still be alive today had this officer not spent over 15 minutes crushing his throat. The man was NOT fighting back at this point. Everything was under control. Yet the officer continued using excessive force. I ask the you [we] the people stand up to the Minneapolis Police Department. Both officers are to be charged with murder and to be sentenced to the highest possible amount of time in Federal prison. Enough is enough!!! No more white privileges. No more police privileges. This is beyond old!!!!"My stomach hurts. My neck hurts. Everything hurts. … (I need) water or something. Please. Please. I can't breathe, officer. … I cannot breathe."

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"George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer.George was handcuffed and restrained and being completely cooperative when this all went down. The officer put his knee on George’s neck choking him for minutes on minutes while George screamed that he could not breathe. Bystanders beg for the police officer to take his knee off George’s neck, but the officer didn’t listen and continued to choke him.Not that it would matter at all, but George was not even wanted for a violent crime. A grocery store that he was signing a bad check.We are trying to reach the attention of Mayor Jacob Frey and DA Mike Freeman to beg to have the officers involved in this disgusting situation fired and for charges to be filed immediately.Please help us get justice for George and his family!"

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