CU Citizens for Peace and Justice Participate in "National Day of Outrage" for Kiwane Carrington
Submitted by Brian Dolinar on November 23, 2009 - 6:14pm
On Monday, November 23, 2009, Urbana-Champaign participated in a “National Day of Outrage” held by Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network to call attention to the national epidemic of violence in urban communities. Champaign-Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice organized a rally to take place on the same time as events in more than 20 other cities across the country.
The rally, which took place at the Champaign County courthouse, was specifically to address the police killing of Kiwane on October 9, 2009. The report by the state police is currently in the hands of State’s Attorney Julia Rietz who is expected to release her decision on whether to prosecute the police involved any day now.
At the rally Monday, a diverse crowd of approximately 50 people gathered to hear several speakers. Members of the religious community, both Christians and Muslims, led the group in prayers. Durl Kruse read a statement from CU Citizens for Peace and Justice. One youth recited a rap he had written for Kiwane. Seon Williams of the Whip barbershop addressed the audience. Lou Turner, from the Department of African American Studies, spoke about the 40th anniversary of Black Studies and the need to reconnect with community activism. He announced the formation of “Ubuntu,” a working group for local scholar-activists which will meet December 10, 2009 at 7pm at 1201 W. Nevada St.
Statement from CUCPJ:
Champaign Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice welcomes you to this very notable community rally.
“Stop the violence and be your brother’s keeper” is the message being spoken by Al Sharpton organizer of the “National Day of Outrage.” Events just like this are occurring across the United States. It is time to end the silence and stop all the senseless violence in our communities. That is why we rally in front of the courthouse this afternoon. To end the violence. To save our children. To save our communities.
Champaign Urbana is no different from any other community in our country. This community has its share of serious problems too. Recent News-Gazette headlines have focused on education, the homeless, increasing hunger, skyrocketing unemployment, police conduct, and local crime. Champaign Urbana is not immune to violence.
As violence in all its forms grow, a community is threatened. Al Sharpton warns: “every stray bullet comes closer to you or the one you love.”
Just last month, 15 year old Kiwane Carrington and his friend were involved in an incident with the Champaign police. Neither was armed or in the act of committing a crime, yet Kiwane was shot dead and the other youth has been charged with aggravated resisting arrest. The community was shocked and many outraged. The community is still waiting for an answer.
On this National Day of Outrage, CUCPJ along with citizens and community groups across the country declare that all forms of violence must end. All forms of violence including police abuse and intimidation. It all must end.
Champaign Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice call upon the community and especially its leaders to acknowledge and respond to the sources that create violence as well as the inequities and injustices within the system that often provoke and sustain violence. These inequities and injustices must be addressed and corrected for real change to occur.
Therefore CUCPJ supports and calls for the following:
-that police abuse and use of deadly force incidents be independently investigated.
-that excessively disproportionate charging of minority youth by the state attorney’s office end.
-that the charges against the second youth involved be dropped.
-that police profiling be confronted and eliminated.
-that our youth be educated about their civil rights and the rules governing interaction with the police.
-that elected officials not just listen but actually respond to the concerns and needs raised by the minority community.
Yes, we have a right to be Outraged! But outrage alone is not enough.
Citizens must also act! They must continue to raise their voices until they are heard.
You can bet our elected officials are Listening.
Together we will End the Violence.
No More Stolen Lives!
TV coverage of National Day of Outrage
Channel 3 coverage here:
http://illinoishomepage.net/content/fulltext/?cid=119031
DI coverage of National Day
http://www.dailyillini.com/news/champaign-urbana/2009/11/23/c-u-citizens-for-peace-and-justice-honors-kiwane-carrington-victims
C-U Citizens for Peace and Justice honors Kiwane Carrington, victims of violence
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About fifty people including University students and faculty, area high school students taken out of school, and community members congregated outside of the Champaign County courthouse Monday afternoon to express anger and honor victims of violence.
Champaign-Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice held the rally to honor not only Kiwane Carrington, the 15-year old who was shot by Champaign police officer Daniel Norbits last month, but all victims of violence nationwide as well as in this community.
The event was part of the National Day of Outrage, which is organized by Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network. The rally at the courthouse was one of about 20 demonstrations across the nation.
Carol Ammons, speaker at the event and volunteer for C-U Citizens for Peace and Justice, said that the community is suffering after the death of Carrington and the group wants people to question how this happened.
Several religious leaders, including Rev. Evelyn Underwood, president of the Ministerial Alliance, offered prayers in honor of Carrington and other casualties of violence.
“Today I am here in sympathy as a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother,” Underwood said.
There were also two speakers from the University. The first was Ray Muhammad, professor of African American studies and member of the Nation of Islam.
“The fact that Kiwane’s life was taken and there is not a larger crowd here, that is an act of violence,” Muhammad said. “These children are continually taught that they are less valuable than they are; that’s the first act of violence.”
Muhammad said he believed they should fault the system and not the community.
“It’s a misplacement of values, we need to regard children as our most valuable resource,” Muhammad said.
Lou Turner, academic advisor in African-American studies, spoke about the need to increase police accountability.
“Members of the black community are often victims of democracy and not recipients of it,” Turner said. “We need to look into a civil rights lawsuit against Champaign.”
Turner said he conducted a study which looked at the Los Angeles police department training manual and found it actually contained counter-insurgency training. He questioned whether the Champaign police training manual might be similar.
“If this is the lens through which the police are looking at the black community there will be more of these shootings,” Turner said.
Ammons said the community is using this day of anger as a way to create social justice.
“There are many actions being argued by various groups,” Ammons said. “We’re starting with recognizing the social issues and create continuous movement for change.”
Ammons offered her condolences to the family of Kiwane Carrington and offered libation to his memory and those of others taken by violence.
“It’s a way to honor those who have been lost,” Ammons said.
Local PBS covered the
Local PBS covered the story:
http://www.weiu.net/news/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1434&Itemid=12
But it should be noted that the News-Gazette had no coverage of the rally.
BD
How many people where at the
How many people where at the "rally"? How many need to be there to have a "rally".
Silly You
Where?
Silly you. At the Chamapign County Courthouse, of course.
Glad People Are Speaking Out
I had to work, but am glad people are speaking out against injustice and brutality, in Champaign County and across the nation.
In a way, this is a little like jury duty in Champaign County. The rally organizers aren't expected to pay people to attend. But Champaign County has consistently rejected paying those called for jury duty a fair amount for their service.
Then they wonder why we end up with mostly white juries sitting in judgment. This is just one aspect of the racial disparities in our local justice system, but the song always remains the same. There's always some excuse why 'nothing can be done' to try to get a fairer system in place that raises fewer questions about the racially disparate outcomes it produces.
A Lawsuit Should Have Been Filed Already
In Galesburg, we have 2 Federal lawsuits pending against our local police.
One of them was filed from prison, pro se, and another is backed by a major law firm in Chicago.
In a town so filled with intelligence as yours how can it be that not one person has been clearheaded enough to stand toe to toe with the criminals in your town that act under the color of law, and have recently murdered a child.
Don't hold your breathe waiting for the Sates Atorney to stand up for you.
David Roknich
Galesburg, Illinois
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