Let’s Make Education
Work for All Children
A good education is essential Children need to be
loved, encouraged, nurtured and taught. Our cur-
rent school system is not meeting the needs of
thousands of students. There should be more per-
sonal attention towards students, instead criminaliz-
ing and devaluing our youth. Instead of teaching to
the test and policing students, we should be provid-
ing comprehensive education that supports their
natural curiosity and development. Hairston Residents
Parents Supporting Parents helps parents advocate Pictured above are some of the courageous
current and former residents of Hairston
for their children to receive the support they need. Homes. They have faced relentless assault
PSP understands the intricacies of the school sys- from Westminster Realty, who manages
tem and can help parents and students work Hairston Homes. Although the city ruled that
they have been discriminated against, condi-
through challenges. If you are interested in getting tions have not improved. Residents who speak
involved or in need of these free services contact out against their mistreatment have been tar-
Lissa Harris and Linda Mozell at or 336.508.1356, geted with fines for petty violations in an at-
tempt to silence them.
or go to www.parents-supporting-parents.org.
Four students initiated the Sit-in Movement, but thousands joined in! —Please become part of the planning and organizing
Join us every other Thursday (July 22; Aug.5 & 19; Sept 2, 16 & 30)
From 6:30 PM - 9 PM at the Beloved Community Center, 417 Arlington Street
What is Grassroots Democracy?
When we combine quality knowledge, an opportunity to have a
real voice in decision-making, and ethical values, we are creating
a democratic culture. The following community events are open
to the entire public and are meant to be forums to engage each
other and the issues with respect and integrity . Don’t settle for
what you read in the newspapers or hear on television. The panel
discussions, the “Night of a Thousand Conversations”, and the
public hearings are an important part of building grassroots de-
mocracy by creating community, understanding, and accountabil-
ity in Greensboro.
Three Panel Discussions
#1
What Does a Subculture of Corruption
and Double Standards in the GPD Mean
for Greensboro?
Tuesday, July 27, 2010. 7– 8:30 p.m. Chavis Branch
Public Library. 900 S. Benbow Rd.
#2
Who are the Almighty Latin King Queen
Nation, and What Do They Do?
Saturday, August 21, 2010. 3:30– 6 p.m. Glenwood
Branch Public Library, 1901 W. Florida St.
#3
The Importance of Voter Education and
Local Politics
Tuesday, August 31,2010. 7– 8:30 p.m. Chavis Branch
Public Library, 900 S. Benbow Rd.
―A Night of Thousand Conversations‖
Tuesday, August 3, 2010 at 6 p.m. Topic: Exploring How
to Increase Neighborhood Safety and Police Accountabil-
ity. Small Group Discussions on ―National Night Out‖
(Sign up now to host a discussion group at your location)
Holding Public
Media Accountable:
Should we support businesses that advertise in a paper
that spreads hatred and division?
The Rhinoceros Times newspaper propagates dis-
tortion, lies, confusion, hatred and calculated divi-
sion. The Rhino Times regularly violates the code
of ethics for the Society of Professional Journalists,
prints editorials in their news section, and purpose-
fully misrepresents information in their stories.
The Rhino Times is a free paper sustained by ad-
vertisements. By supporting the businesses that
advertise in this ―newspaper‖ we are providing the
lifeblood for their continued propaganda. It is one
thing to have different opinions. It is another thing
to distort, manipulate and lie. This must stop.
IF YOU FEEL YOU HAVE BEEN MISTREATED BY THE POLICE, IT IS
VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO THREE THINGS:
1. FILE A COMPLAINT IMMEDIATELY WITH THE CITY (SEE INSTRUC-
TIONS BELOW)
2. REPORT YOUR COMPLAINT TO JUSTICE SUMMER. WE WILL TAKE
YOUR INFORMATION AND SEE HOW WE CAN HELP YOU.
3. PLAN TO ATTEND ONE OR BOTH OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS IN SEP-
TEMBER ( SEE INFORMATION BELOW)
Complaints may be filed with the Complaint Review Committee or
with the Police Department’s Division of Professional Standards.
The importance of filing the complaint with the city is that it gives
you an official record . You may file a report in person, by mail, or
by phone with the CRC at (336) 373-2038, or the Police Depart-
ment at (336) 373-2468 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday. The CRC office is located at 300 W. Wash-
ington Street, Plaza Level Room 118. The Professional Standards
Office is located at 300 Washington Street, Level UG. A complaint
to the CRC must be made within 60 days of the incident.
GREENSBORO JUSTICE SUMMER
POLICE MISCONDUCT
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Tuesday September 7, 2010. 7- 9 p.m.
An application has been submitted and is pending for the Warners-
ville Community Center on Ashe St. If there are any complications,
the site will be changed in early August.
—————————————————————————————————————
Thursday September 9, 2010. 7– 9 p.m.
An application has been submitted and is pending for the Peeler
Community Center on Phillips Ave. If there are any complications,
the site will be changed in early August.
—————————————————————————————————————
If you want to participate in the public hearings on police miscon-
duct, please contact us and plan on attending one or both of the
hearings. This will be an opportunity to increase transparency and
improve the relationship between the police and the community.
We Need Your Participation and Financial Support
The Beloved Community Center is the fiscal agent for Greensboro Justice Summer. This
program will cost $15,000+
Donate online: http:// www.belovedcommunity center.org or mail donation to
Beloved Community Center P.O. Box 875, Greensboro , NC
A project initiated by the Beloved Community Center, the Greensboro chapter of the National Association for the Ad-
vancement of Colored People, the Pulpit Forum of Greensboro, and the Spirit of the Sit-in Movement Initiative
Special Summer Edition
Officer A.J. Blake: And Captain Charles Cherry: Two Cases of Police
Corruption and Double Standards During the seven moth period before his jury trial Officer Blake was slandered and
demonized in unimaginable ways. He was even accused of being the leader of a street
What happens to Cancer when it is not treated? It spreads gang. After this hellish seven month period, a jury of six men and six women, six white and
and poisons the body? Justice Summer is about treating this can- six black, acquitted Officer Blake of all charges. The not guilty verdict led Officer Blake to
cer; it is truly about justice for all, especially for the poor and peo-
ple of color. The struggle for justice also involves issues of health,
appeal to the Chief Bellamy to reinstate him to his job; the Chief refused. The acting City
Manager overruled the chief and reinstated Officer Blake.
education, environment, and economics. Police corruption is a When Officer Blake returned to work he was met with a barrage
starting point rather than an end. of threats and hostility. Some officers said they would not come to his
defense if called for back-up. He was called a sack of ―sh_t‖ by Captain
Officer A.J. Blake (pictured left) is an eight-year police veteran who’s prob-
Wolf in the presence of his daughter and fiancé. A Group of white offi-
lems grew directly from his stand against anti-Latino prejudice and double stan-
cers in uniform attended a city council meeting and denounced the deci-
dards within the Greensboro Police Department (GPD). When Officer Blake com-
sion by the acting City manger to reinstate Officer Blake, which is an open
plained about double standards applied to a Latino Youth group called the Almighty
act of insubordination. Now a group of Greensboro Police Officers are
Latin King Queen Nation he was targeted. Officer Blake was a member of the GPD
―Gang Unit‖ and had many occasions to observe how young Latino men and women
leading the charge to get Officer Blake’s license revoked for five years on
false and frivolous claims. There are so many more details to this story
were treated. He is part of the lawsuit of 39 officers suing the police department for
that space does not allow us to tell. We hope you get the point.
racial discrimination.
Officer Blake also filed charges of anti-Latino slurs and jokes within GPD. In
From this point, the story takes a different turn. Captain Charles Cherry (pictured
above) , Officer Blake’s commanding officer and a 23-year veteran stepped in to defend
January of 2010, he attended a birthday party for another officer at the Police Club,
which included a drinking contest with a score board for officers to keep score of
Officer Blake. He helped Officer Blake receive his full back pay when he was reinstated.
He helped several officers file grievances which charge discrimination, a hostile work envi-
how many drinks they had consumed. The club is also a well known ―swingers‖
ronment, racial discrimination, and retaliation. Now Captain Cherry has been targeted.
club where wives and girlfriends are swapped, i.e. engaging with multiple sex part-
Assistant Chief Crotts, recently appointed interim Police Chief, made the recommendation
ners. Officer Blake attended the party with the understanding that he would teach
that Captain Cherry be placed on ―Fit For Duty Evaluation‖. This is a way of saying that the
Salsa. His fiancé attend with him. Officer Blake’s fiancé found the party troubling
and after a brief argument the couple decided to leave. It was then that the
Captain has ―mental issues.‖ Captain Cherry has been removed of his command,
stripped of his badge and gun, denied use of police computers, and barred from the police
drunken party goers made the charge that Officer Blake assaulted both his fiancé
department. He received an excellent level IV evaluation in April. It is not likely that any
and another woman. Officer Blake’s fiancé strongly denies that any assault ever
competent psychologist will find Captain Cherry unfit for duty. The GPD leadership does
occurred. Officer Blake expressed that the party could have been a set-up to get
not seem capable of acknowledging that it is wrong. Instead, we suspect, that the witch-
him to compromise himself.
hunt which is now fully under way will try to find some other charges to bring against Cap-
Detective Schwochow who led the investigation against Officer Blake testi-
fied in open court that he could find no evidence supporting the assault charges.
Capt. Rogers, Detective Schwochow ’s superior, still ordered charges against Officer
tain Cherry. Captain Cherry poses a grave threat to the culture of corruption and double
standards within the GPD because he is a command level officer. He has standing and
creditability. All this can be traced back to a couple of officers trying to stand against
Blake. After being charged, Officer Blake was suspend without pay. During this pe-
corruption and double standards applied to poor, young people of color. If two police offi-
riod he and his six year old daughter endured extreme hardship including losing
cers are treated this way, imagine how poor and people of color are treated.
their home, despite picking up side work to try to make ends meet.
GREENSBORO JUSTICE SUMMER is a call to every resident of Greensboro to join in a major effort to make Greensboro a bet-
ter city. Rebuilding and empowering the city requires an informed public that is willing to continually seek the truth and stand for
justice for all people. We want to build a grassroots democratic culture where all are respected, all voices are heard, and where
we work together so that the needs of all are met. Is that the Greensboro you want? Let’s join together in Greensboro Justice
Summer and make it happen. This campaign is a continuation of decades of grassroots work and is an important step towards
laying the foundations for a city where the dignity and worth of all are affirmed and upheld.
Rev. Cardes H. Brown, President Greensboro Branch of the NAACP: ―The NAACP is the oldest Beloved Community Center (BCC):
Civil Rights organization in the nation. We have a proud record of fighting for the rights that all
deserve. Fair treatment by law enforcement officials is a must. Greensboro Justice Summer is ―We at the BCC stand
desperately needed. I urge all of our members to become active in this most worthy effort. for the dignity , worth
and potential of every
Jordan Auleb, founding member of the Spirit of the Sit-in Movement Initiative: ―We are excited
person. We work
to build an intergenerational campaign with the BCC, Pulpit Forum, and NAACP to address one
of the most important issues in our city. We will continue to work to empower youth to take ac- mainly with the poor,
tion and create the future city we need, starting with Greensboro Justice Summer.‖ most rejected and
excluded. We try to
Rev. Clarence Shuford, President of Pulpit Forum of Greensboro and Vicinity: ― The Pulpit
Forum’s mission is to be a prophetic voice for our city. We are called by faith to pray for our city
do this work in such a way as to promote the
welfare of all. We fully support and are proud to
and to work with any who are the victims of injustice. Greensboro Justice Summer is our work
and we believe it’s God’s work. We encourage all churches and people of faith to join the effort.‖ be a part of Greensboro Justice Summer”
Who Will Be in The Guilford County Jail ?
♦ How are other cities dealing
Seventy-four million dollars will be spent on the Guilford County jail in downtown
Greensboro. It will be one of the most obtrusive buildings in the downtown area. Is with police misconduct?
this really the best way to spend tax payers money? What if this money were used to
help create jobs and improve education; wouldn’t that help ♦ Special Editorial by Rev. Nelson Johnson
keep people out of jail? There are over 170,000 adult prison-
ers in the North Carolina system. An estimated 80% of people
♦ The Purpose, Plan, and Potential of
currently in the county jail are people of color. Who do you think Greensboro Justice Summer
will be in most of the cells in the New Guilford County jail?
♦ How to File a Complaint with the GPD
 ―Standing for the Greatness of
Greensboro‖
No one should be mistreated or abused or falsely
accused by the Greensboro Police authorities.
It should not matter how poor you are or what color you are or what group
or ―gang‖ you are in or whether you were born in the U.S. or whether you are an
immigrant — all should be treated with respect, all should be treated fairly, and all
should be afforded equal protection of the law. Nothing less is acceptable.
No city or community can be truly great unless it upholds these basic prin-
ciples. It is recognized that any police department or any organization will commit errors and make mistakes.
But police departments in particular should have a sound system of public oversight so that mistakes and
errors are quickly corrected. Unfortunately, Greensboro has never had a truly workable civilian oversight
process. Consequently, over the years the Greensboro Police Department (GPD) has developed a well en-
trenched culture of ―corruption and double standards.‖ By culture of corruption and double standards I do
not mean simply one or two corrupt people. Rather, what has emerged is a deeply entrenched way of life, a
system of corruption and double standards within the GPD. This has been reflected in 39 law suits filed by
officers of color, the firing of a city manager, the abrupt resignation of a police chief, and the ruling by a fed-
eral court that found Greensboro police officers jointly liable for wrongful death along with members of the Ku
Klux Klan and the American Nazi Party. Yet, police officials and City Council members are in denial about the
extent of the culture of corruption and double standards within the GPD.
Let me be very clear. There are many dedicated and committed police officers in the GPD. They come
from all different races and ethnic groups. But culture is a strong force in life that pulls and compels people
into compliance with its own standards and practices. There were thousands of wonderful and committed
southern whites in the 40s, 50s and 60s but the power of the ―segregationist‖ culture made it difficult for
these committed whites to cross the line toward racial equity. Fortunately, a few brave whites during that
period did cross the line and stood up for justice, but they paid a price for it. They became the objects of at-
tacks and ridicule. That is the type of cultural atmosphere present in the GPD now. Only a mass movement,
an organized public push, will be strong enough to change the stubborn culture of corruption and double
standards within the GPD.
As serious as it is, the police corruption issue is not all that Greensboro Justice Summer is about.
The police issue is merely a window into a number of other justice issues. We are faced with the need for
good jobs and economic development, effective education and the nurturing of our children; electing and
holding accountable good public officials, and fair, just, and responsible media. In particular the Rhinoceros
Times, in its ongoing campaign to confuse, inflame and promote hatred and division in our community. In
engaging all of these issues we are standing for the greatness of Greensboro.
But how do we make progress in these areas? What if more and more people of all races and back-
grounds could set aside their preconceived ideas about one another and commit to learn from each other
and from factual information? What if instead of looking at poor young people as mainly troublemakers, we
saw them as gifted human beings and a potentially powerful resource for creating safe communities and for
building up the community? What if we organized this summer to help neighbors use the stimulus money
that will be flowing into Greensboro to train young people to weatherize and retrofit homes and grow commu-
nity gardens in their own neighborhoods, thus building up their communities economically? What if
churches, other religious organizations, neighborhood and community groups worked together for the entire
community’s welfare?
Well that’s exactly what Greensboro Justice Summer is trying to do! Over 20 young people have al-
ready agreed to go door to door for two months working towards this end. However, it will take more than the
four initiating organizations to do this. It will take all who are committed to making Greensboro a better,
more just city. Greensboro Justice Summer will formally end in September. However, if we learn to work to-
gether in new ways, our work will go far beyond the summer.
If you want to work together to make Greensboro a better city, join us every other Thursday evening at
6:30 PM (July 22nd; Aug. 5th & 19th; Sept. 2nd, 16th & 30th) at the Beloved Community Center located at
417 Arlington Street.
•The Greensboro Police Department treated
all of its officers with the same dignity and re-
spect?
•Neighborhood leaders united themselves on
housing issues and zoning questions?
•The City Council truly engaged the citizens
of Greensboro instead of moving the Speak-
ers from the Floor section to the end of their
agenda?
•The local media would report the objective
truth instead inserting their bias opinions?
•Churches and religious institutions helped
to build a movement that lifts up the issues
their congregations face everyday?
•The positive contributions of street organiza-
tions and poor people were recognized and
supported by the full community?
•The schools taught a fuller history regarding
Greensboro’s involvement in struggles for so-
cial justice and human rights?
•The federal stimulus money that is flowing
to Greensboro was used to restructure and
grow small businesses in poor communities?
WHAT DID THIS CAMPAIGN GROW OUT OF?
On May 4, 2010, five African-American members of the Spirit of the Sit-in Movement Initiative, a group made of cur-
rent students and graduates of local colleges and universities, were arrested just after the City Council took its 7:30 p.m.
break. The students took the seats of the council members during the recess and brought the meeting back to order with
the banging of the mayor’s gavel. They began to describe how the current elected officials failed at their jobs and were not
representing the people, particularly highlighting police corruption. Shortly afterwards, a plain clothes officer and members
of a private security group approached the seats and asked them to leave. One member of the group, Cherrell Brown was
arrested at the seats. Also arrested were Wesley Morris, Clarence Bradley Hunt II, Carlyle Phillips, and Jonathan Johnson.
About ten minutes after the members of the group were escorted from the Council Chambers, the students were
asked to leave. Four of them began holding hands and refusing, several armed officers from the Greensboro Police Depart-
ment arrived to arrest them. The students were arrested without incident and taken across the street to the police depart-
ment. Under the conditions of their release, these five students are banned from city property and were required to ob-
serve a 6 p.m. - 6 a.m. curfew until their lawyer succeeded in having the curfew lifted weeks later.
The students had attended the previous four city council meetings to address issues ranging from a settlement offer
to former Police Chief David Wray, the plight of 39 officers of color suing the city, the injustice related to Officer A.J. Blake,
the relentless and unwarranted harassment of the Almighty Latin King Queen Nation, and what they describe as a subcul-
ture of corruption in the Greensboro Police Department.
The following day, dozens gathered in front of the Greensboro Police Department for a rally in resistance to the sub-
culture of corruption in the Greensboro Police Department. Standing with a banner reading "We Demand Police Account-
ability," protesters spoke about incidents of injustice and harassment experienced with Greensboro police.
The rally was organized by the Spirit of the Sit-in Movement Initiative. During the rally, six reverends, most of whom
are in the Greensboro Pulpit Forum, were arrested as they blocked the entrance to the Greensboro Police Department in
another act of civil disobedience, holding a banner reading "Justice Now". Protesters marched from the Melvin Municipal
Building to the jail where the reverends were taken after arrest, and many people stood on the corner until they were re-
leased. They have been charged with disorderly conduct. The Beloved Community Center, Pulpit forum and the NAACP has
been engaging the issue of police corruption and double standard for over three years.
Together, the Spirit of the Sit-in Movement Initiative, the Beloved Community Center, the Greensboro NAACP, and the
Greensboro Pulpit Forum vowed to continue pushing the issue of police misconduct through a summer campaign of direct
grassroots engagement to build a wider movement around the issue.

Jorge ―King Jay‖ Cornell: Examples from Elsewhere

Our city is being led down a dangerous road of division and
hatred that silences opposing voices, stirs up racial tensions, and al-
lows law enforcement to mistreat marginalized people. The City Man-
ager’s Office and City Council are in a state of denial. The Police De-
partment is caught up in an entangled web of corruption, internal di-
vision, double standards, harassment, provocation and civil suits.
Officers who file grievances are becoming targets. The Council has
refused to hear any voices calling for a change. City staff as well as
the City Council have proven incapable of making the decisions to en-
sure a just and healthy community.
Have not adequately engaged allegations of police corruption
Moved the public comment section to the end of the meeting
Criminalizes those who criticize city government
Misled the public about the potential settlement offer to former
Chief David Wray
Refuses to address questions related to the police harassment
of the ALKQN and Officer AJ Blake’s acquittal.
Still entertains the idea of re-opening the White Street Landfill
despite a City promise to keep it closed to household waste
Ignores residents’ concerns about rezoning, as shown in the Col-
lege Hill neighborhood
Still Standing
Two years ago, the Almighty Latin King Queen Nation
(ALKQN) came to the Beloved Community Center expressing
interest in organizing a peace treaty between street organiza-
tions (commonly called gangs). On July 23, 2008 they brought
Voting is Important Jobs and Economics together five organizations and signed a tentative peace
agreement, located on the opposite page.
Millions of stimulus dollars will After a successful meeting with the various street organizations, the state
Let’s Vote. Then let’s hold be flowing into Greensboro to leader for the ALKQN, Jorge Cornell, was shot multiple times. The assailant still re-
mains unknown. Despite this attempt on Cornell’s life he forgave whomever shot him
those we elect accountable. weatherize and retrofit homes.
and expressed his unwavering desire to move forward with the peace treaty.
Make a list and check it twice Poor neighborhoods should get For the last two years, the Gang Squad of the Greensboro Police Department
organized to make use of these has relentlessly harassed the ALKQN. The Gang Squad has brought up false charges
and see if those we elected, and allegations against the ALKQN forcing the group to pay bail bondmen and lawyer
have been naughty or nice. If funds for jobs building up their
fees from their scarce funds. The Gang Unit has been on jobs of the AKLQN and lied,
community. The BCC is playing a causing them to lose their jobs. This harassment and provocation has not only re-
not make them pay the price!
leading role in this work. sulted in young men losing jobs but their dwelling places.
In a Yes! Weekly article written by Jordan Green on May 26, 2010 it states that
the Greensboro Police Department since 2005 have achieved a 19.6 percent convic-
tion rate of the ALKQN. When looking only at felony charges against the ALKQN the
conviction rates drop to 10.8 percent. In comparison, to state felony charges which
Street Groups and Gangs Unite convict at a rate of 65.4 percent in the Guilford County court system. What could pos-
for Peace and Justice sibly account for this great disparity in conviction rates? From the beginning the
ALKQN have been falsely targeted by the Greensboro Police Department and it’s
On July 23, 2008, a peace agreement was reached between the Al- Gang Squad.
mighty Latin King Queen Nation, the Almighty Black Peace Stone Na- The GPD is not reducing ―gang‖ violence; they are actually criminalizing these
tion, the Crips, the Five Percenters, and the Piru Bloods. These organi- young people when they are supposed to protect the community. Incredibly, the GPD
is in deep denial about its behavior. Despite the harassment, Cornell has done
zations and individuals called the community to ―lay down violence and good work to improve the quality of life in the city . He is a member of the Board of
join in working together for peace among the groups and within our Education’s School Safety Committee, ran for City Council at large, and is working to
community.‖ They also agreed to: start a nonprofit that will engage with low income communities, youth homes, and
street organizations to reconfigure and empower Greensboro from below. The sacri-
fice, commitment and vision of the ALKQN is an asset to the Greensboro community
a.) To clean up graffiti in our community.
as they are still standing for justice.
B.) To educate our community, especially the youth, on the history and
original intent of the groups mentioned above and others understood as Is it a Crime to be Homeless?
―gangs.‖
Many who are homeless report being treated as criminals just because
C.) To work together to bring about more unity and understanding be- they look homeless. A homeless brother named Frederick reported that a
tween Black and Brown people. lady gave him a dollar and the police gave him a ticket because he was given
a dollar by a passing lady. The Greensboro panhandling and vagrancy ordi-
The meeting was held at a local church with the help of the Beloved nances should be revisited. There is a teaching which says “in as much as you
Community Center, Greensboro Pulpit Forum and the Nation of Islam. have done it unto the least of these my brothers and sisters you have done it
unto me.” The homeless population in Greensboro is regularly overlooked by
This effort in July in 2008 shows that it is possible for young people to
the city and are treated as second-class citizens who are criminalized be-
join together to make communities safer and better. This is an open cause they are seen as a nuisance to the rest of the population.
call to all young people whether you are in a gang or not to join Greens-
boro Justice Summer and let us all work together.
There are countless examples throughout U.S. history of communities coming to-
gether to challenge abuses of police power and while creating alternatives to pub-
lic oversight. Here are a few examples of what people are doing around the coun-
try today to increase public safety and accountability.
ATLANTA- In May, 2010, the Atlanta City Council voted 13-1 in favor of creating a
powerful Civilian Review Board to investigate claims of police misconduct. The
vote came after an extensive campaign by BLOCS (Building Locally to Organize for
Community Safety) which incorporated many people over a three year span.
BLOCS continues to organize for police accountability to protect their communi-
ties. www.atlantablocs.org
MINNEAPOLIS- Communities United Against Police Brutality has been working
for over 10 years to increase police accountability in their area. One of their pri-
mary approaches is litigation, and through taking the police department to court
they have won numerous victories. Their cases have resulted in settlements and
some of the broadest releases of internal police information in any city.
www.cuapb.org
DETROIT- The Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality is working on this issue in
a number of areas, but one of their more unique approaches is their plan to create
―peace zones for life.‖ The idea is that through building community and increasing
economic opportunity, people can work together to create more healthy communi-
ties so that police become less necessary. Their plan calls for conflict resolution
centers and community policing as well. www.detroitcoalition.org
LOS ANGELES- There are many initiatives around the police in L.A., but one of
the most impressive is the Youth Justice Coalition. The YJC addresses the crimi-
nalization of youth of color from a variety of directions. They work towards restora-
tive justice rather than punitive punishment for young offenders, challenge budget
priorities emphasizing police and ignoring schools, and much more.
www.youth4justice.org
PHOENIX- Like many other cities, Phoenix residents have organized a local Cop-
watch chapter. Phoenix Copwatch is a volunteer organization that believes that
one of the best ways to prevent police abuse is to observe them in action. Most
Copwatch chapters work to inform citizens of their rights. Video footage in particu-
lar can be very helpful for victims of police violence and misconduct later in court.
www.phoenixcopwatch.org
Much more is being done that can be mentioned here, including large campaigns
in New Orleans, New York City, and Oakland. Other organizations with a national
scope are working against police misconduct, such as the National Police Ac-
countability Project. There is a significant amount of work to be done in Greens-
boro, but we can draw from the examples of empowered communities elsewhere
to inform our work locally.