Author Archives: Brian Dolinar

Probable cause, probable cause You don’t have to break no laws They say probable cause —Brand Nubian, hip hop group NEARLY A YEAR AGO, on March 30, 2007, when a 17 year-old black youth was stopped in Douglass Park, pepper … Continue reading →

Some may remember an incident on March 30, 2007 when Champaign police sent 17 year-old Brian Chesley to the hospital after an incident in Douglass Park. The claims of police brutality were dismissed by local officials, and quickly dropped by … Continue reading →

Statistics on racial profiling collected by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) were released this year with no local fanfare. Although covered for the last three years, the 2007 numbers went unreported by the News-Gazette, which has a virtual monopoly … Continue reading →

On Wednesday, September 19, at noon the Students Tranforming Oppression and Priveledge (STOP) Coalition successfully took over the student union and reclaimed it as a public space. Approximately 60-80 people marched throughout the main floor of the union, going in … Continue reading →

On Sunday, June 10, a square block surrounding the Champaign County Courthouse was evacuated and closed off to conduct what Sheriff Dan Walsh called “police training.” Walsh stood at the corner of Main and Elm Street talking to news reporters, … Continue reading →

On Saturday, August 18, 2007, Champaign- Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice pitched in to get Ms. Mildred Davis moved out of her house at 4 Hedge Court, nearly two months after a tragedy struck her home. Champaign police were … Continue reading →

Patrick Thompson’s new attorneys Robert Kirchner and Ruth Wyman recently had a major victory in the campaign to clear his name. They overturned the guilty verdict of a man who was wrongly convicted – they did this without DNA testing … Continue reading →

On April 9, 2007, local Urbana attorney Brian Silverman began a ninemonth suspension handed down by the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) in Springfield. They found credible the allegations made by a girlfriend of one of Silverman’s clients that … Continue reading →

Former Sergeant William Alan Myers pleaded guilty to charges of felony disorderly conduct and misdemeanor aggravated battery on Monday, October 26. Charges of felony obstruction of justice and felony aggravated battery were dropped. He received two years probation, a $500 … Continue reading →

A motion for a retrial filed by attorney Robert Kirchner on behalf of Patrick Thompson was heard Thursday, January 5, 2007. Nearly 50 of Thompson’s supporters were in the courtroom. In July 2006, Thompson was found guilty of home invasion … Continue reading →

Following on the heels of a similar proposition in Urbana, the Champaign police department is currently considering a citizen police review board. Just the mention of such an oversight has provoked reprisals from the Mayor, the News-Gazette, and their local … Continue reading →

Community Court Watch has been following the case against former Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Garrett for several months. Garrett was facing four felony counts for, among other things, approaching Ty Kellums, boyfriend of his estranged wife, while in uniform and threatening … Continue reading →

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon, October 7, 2006, a crowd of nearly 200 participants joined in the Third Annual Unity March. This year, we took the Unity March to the community. We went into the Garden Hills neighborhood, ground zero … Continue reading →

 , July 22 at 8pm a vigil will be held for Quentin Larry, Terrell Layfield, and others who have died while in police custody at the Champaign County jail. Bring a candle and meet us at 204 E. Main, … Continue reading →