Get Connected
Search Public i
Public i
Get Connected
Archives
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- September 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- September 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- January 2016
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- July 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- November 2008
- October 2008
- August 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- June 2005
- November 2004
- October 2004
- September 2004
- March 2004
- February 2004
- December 2003
- November 2003
- October 2003
- September 2003
- August 2003
- June 2003
- May 2003
- November 2002
- October 2002
- April 2002
- March 2002
- February 2002
- December 2001
- November 2001
- October 2001
- September 2001
- August 2001
- July 2001
Category Archives: Policing
Urbana Police Chief Finally Admits Misconduct in Aleyah Lewis Arrest
It has been more than seven months since the violent arrest of Urbana resident Aleyah Lewis. Tens of thousands of people have watched the videos of Urbana Police Officers throwing Lewis to the ground, pinning her, punching her in the … Continue reading
Posted in Justice, Police, police accountability, Police brutality, Policing
Comments Off on Urbana Police Chief Finally Admits Misconduct in Aleyah Lewis Arrest
What Educational Values and Beliefs Underpin a Decision to have Armed School Resource Officers?
This article was previously published in Smile Politely, On December 17, 2019, the Urbana Board of Education (BOE) signed an intergovernmental agreement to approve funding of two full-time armed police officers (called School Resource Officers, or SROs)—one at the middle … Continue reading
Posted in African American, Education, Education, Police, Policing, Urbana, Voices of Color
Comments Off on What Educational Values and Beliefs Underpin a Decision to have Armed School Resource Officers?
Police Unions: Solidarity and Accountability
The Police and Solidarity There are two major differences between police officers and other workers in both the private and public sector. The first is a truncated sense of solidarity, the second a lack of accountability. Unionized workers in both … Continue reading
Posted in police accountability, Police Brutality, Policing, union solidarity
Comments Off on Police Unions: Solidarity and Accountability
Chalk It Up to Protecting Property Over People
In July Michael Long, owner of the Rogue Barber Co. in downtown Champaign, implemented a discriminatory “membership only” policy. The issue came to public attention on July 23, when a female Champaign resident shared screenshots on social media of a … Continue reading
Posted in Alt-Right, bigotry, Community, police accountability, Policing
Comments Off on Chalk It Up to Protecting Property Over People
How Are Violent Police Held Accountable in Champaign County?
On April 10, Urbana Police officers threw an African American woman, Aleyah Lewis, to the ground and punched her while she was down. She had protested the arrest of a friend. Caught on video, this led many people in the … Continue reading
Posted in police accountability, Police Brutality, States's Attorney
Comments Off on How Are Violent Police Held Accountable in Champaign County?
Public Speaks Out About Use of Force by Urbana Police–Council Reviews Police Investigation
On April 10, Urbana police responded to a call on East Colorado Avenue about an armed man and possible shot fired. Police arrived, frisked an uninvolved youth, and then focused on a man and woman they suspected were involved. … Continue reading
12,393 total views, 1 views today
Posted in Police, Policing, Uncategorized
Comments Off on Public Speaks Out About Use of Force by Urbana Police–Council Reviews Police Investigation
Comment from ACLU to Urbana City Council Regarding Aleyah Lewis’ Arrest
Champaign County ACLU appreciates the city of Urbana’s commitment to community-centered policing and to maintaining a well-trained professional police force that is held to the highest standards. We are concerned about the lack of professionalism during the April 10 arrest … Continue reading
374 total views
Posted in civil rights, Police, Policing
Tagged ACLU, Police Violence
Comments Off on Comment from ACLU to Urbana City Council Regarding Aleyah Lewis’ Arrest
No Accident: White Cop Shoots Another Black Man in Champaign
The shooting of unarmed Black men by white police in the United States is a story that keeps repeating over and over. The recent case of a local 22-year-old African American man shot in the shoulder by Champaign police officer … Continue reading
Posted in African Americans, Police, Policing, Uncategorized
Comments Off on No Accident: White Cop Shoots Another Black Man in Champaign
Fighting Mass Incarceration Under Trump: New Strategies, New Alliance
By James Kilgore Yusef Shakur is a Detroit community organizer who spent several years in Michigan state prisons. “The prison-industrial complex has found the right person to feed it,” he said in response to the election results. “Trump is of … Continue reading
Posted in African American, Justice, Policing, Prisoners, Trump
Comments Off on Fighting Mass Incarceration Under Trump: New Strategies, New Alliance
Myths of Unity
An increasingly polarized climate has resulted in this beautiful revolution we call Black Lives Matter we are experiencing today. As both an observer and victim of this increasingly militarized society I’m proud to see us finally unite. However, I’m afraid. … Continue reading
Posted in Community Forum, Policing, Voices of Color
Comments Off on Myths of Unity
The Myron Scruggs Case and the Champaign Police Department
by Belden Fields An Ugly Image From the Past In the late 1960s, I joined the newly created chapter of the Champaign County ACLU and became the chair of its investigations committee. I received a call from a woman member … Continue reading
Posted in African Americans, Justice, Policing
Comments Off on The Myron Scruggs Case and the Champaign Police Department
Youth Poetry
MY CURLY HAIR by Amina Alamin My curly hair can do anything it can be in big braids and in little braids and curled in to ringlets and many more things. Some people don’t like my hair and some people … Continue reading
Posted in African Americans, Arts, Community Forum, Education, Policing, Youth
Comments Off on Youth Poetry
Courtwatch Victory
By Courtwatchers Courtwatchers is a group of citizens who volunteer to attend criminal proceedings by request of the defendant,a family member or a concerned party. We are there as witnesses to criminal justice in Champaign County, to figure out how … Continue reading
The Racial Justice Task Force Bursts Onto the Scene
The Champaign County Racial Justice Task Force met for the first time on Thursday, February 11 at the Brookens Administrative Center. The task force consists of 21 members, just one person shy of the number of Champaign County Board members. … Continue reading
Posted in Community Forum, Policing
Comments Off on The Racial Justice Task Force Bursts Onto the Scene
Supporting the Voices Inside: The Freedom Archives
“When the prison doors are opened the real dragon will fly out.” -Ho Chi Minh The movements to end mass incarceration were re-invigorated in early September as a settlement in the class action lawsuit Ashker v. Governor of California was … Continue reading
Posted in African Americans, Policing, Prisoners, Uncategorized
Comments Off on Supporting the Voices Inside: The Freedom Archives
Children With Incarcerated Parents Played Key Role in Phone Justice Victory!
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted recently to cap the rates of phone calls from prisons and jails after years of profiteering by telecommunications companies that have made millions off of those incarcerated and their families. In her comments before … Continue reading
Posted in African Americans, Community Forum, Human Rights, IMC, National, News, Policing, Politics, Prisoners, UC-IMC, Voices of Color
Comments Off on Children With Incarcerated Parents Played Key Role in Phone Justice Victory!
This Black Life Matters
Michael Brown was killed a year ago. They used to say, “It’s been a long, hot summer” but it’s been another long, hot, horror-filled year in the US; every single day another Michael Brown. This is someone I know. In … Continue reading
Posted in African Americans, Justice, Policing
Comments Off on This Black Life Matters
Police Lying
Do Police Lie? The answer is that some police officers do indeed lie. The major conditions under which police lie are three: to frame a suspect, to protect themselves or fellow officers from detection or punishment of misdeed, and to … Continue reading
First Class Justice vs. “the Cattle Call”
By a Courtwatcher Courtwatch is a group of citizens who volunteer to attend criminal proceedings by request of the defendant or a family member of a jailed defendant. We are there as witnesses to criminal justice in Champaign County, to … Continue reading
Posted in African Americans, Community Forum, Justice, Policing
Comments Off on First Class Justice vs. “the Cattle Call”
Work Day: Lament for Darius Graves
The below poem was written by Ryan Collins for the project Lament for the Dead (http://www.lamentforthedead.org/), an online community poetry project which marks the death of every person killed by police this summer, and every police officer who loses life … Continue reading
Posted in Community Forum, Policing
Comments Off on Work Day: Lament for Darius Graves