~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Prosecute Officer Brian Encinia!


Last week, in a remarkable display of solidarity, we joined with partners to deliver more than 500,000 signatures to Attorney General Loretta Lynch urging the Department of Justice to investigate Sandra Bland’s tragic death. But we can’t stop here. Over the last 3 weeks, it seems that Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis has done everything in his power to cover up what happened to Sandra. Instead of looking at the illegal stop and violent arrest that unjustly put her in jail in the first place, local officials are trying to blame Sandra for her own death.1

We’ve waited long enough for Officer Encinia to be held accountable for his abusive misconduct. Now, we need a groundswell of public pressure to ensure DA Mathis does his job and brings Officer Encinia to justice.

Demand Waller County DA Mathis prosecute Officer Encinia for the illegal arrest and assault and battery of Sandra Bland.

Justice for Sandy

The truth is, Sandra Bland would still be alive today had it not been for Officer Encinia’s brutal racism and violence. Sandra didn’t make any traffic violations when Officer Encinia made a u-turn and sped up behind her. She was also not armed and yet Encinia threatened to “light” her up with his taser.2 Sandra was not combative nor resisting and yet Encinia slammed her to the ground while she cried out in pain. Sandra was arrested and charged with assault, even though the video clearly shows Encinia as the aggressor.

In the video and later the police report, we see Officer Encinia spin a web of lies as he quickly attempts to justify his violent behavior and criminalize Sandra to his fellow officers.3 His actions are criminal and he should not be a police officer. We need DA Mathis to do everything in his power to prosecute Officer Encinia with a felony offense in order to keep this killer cop off the streets. In order for Officer Encinia to lose his police license he must be convicted of a felony.

Demand justice for Sandra! We will not remain silent as DA Mathis fails to do his job. 

We’ve waited long enough. It’s DA Mathis’ job to protect Black residents in the area and hold racist and violent police who target Black people — such as Encinia — accountable. And we know accountability is possible. Baltimore DA Marilyn Mosby recently indicted the six police officers involved in the killing of Freddie Gray and just last week Collin County DA Joe Deter indicted Officer Ray Tensing for brutally killing Sam Dubose.4,5 Prolonged delays and silence are not the answer. We need Waller County officials to act now.

Waller County officials must come to terms with their violent history of racism and discrimination and stand up for Black lives. This is just as much about Sandra Bland as it is about making sure all Black people in the area don’t have to experience the same unbridled violence and brutality at the hands of the state. And it starts with prosecuting Officer Encinia for the illegal arrest and assault and battery of Sandra Bland. Let’s show Waller County officials that we are not going to stop until the killing stops.

We need widespread public pressure to bring Officer Encinia to justice. Raise your voice today. 

Thanks and peace,

— Rashad, Arisha, Shani, Lyla and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
August 6th, 2015

References,

1. “Marijuana Didn’t Kill Sandra Bland,” Ebony 07-27-2015
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5109?t=6&akid=4645.1174326.0KTstg

2. “In the video of Sandra Bland’s arrest, the tape doesn’t lie,” Boston Globe 07-23-15
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5104?t=8&akid=4645.1174326.0KTstg

3. “Blame the Police,” Slate 07-22-2015
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5105?t=10&akid=4645.1174326.0KTstg

4. “Marilyn Mosby: 6 police officers indicted in Freddie Gray death,” Washington Times 05-21-15
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5106?t=12&akid=4645.1174326.0KTstg

5. “Prosecutor: UC officer ‘purposefully killed’ DuBose,” Cincinnati Enquirer 07-29-15
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5107?t=14&akid=4645.1174326.0KTstg

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

re: Mckinney police violence


McKinney Police Officer Eric Casebolt violently arrested and assaulted Dajerria Becton and other Black teens for attending a pool party.

DejarriaBecton, graphic image.

Urge local officials to immediately fire and charge Officer Casebolt with assault and battery:

Join Us

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

A policeman rips the American flag away from 5-year-old Anthony Quinn, having already confiscated his ‘No More Police Brutality’ sign. Jackson, Mississippi; ca. 1965


Miep's avatarI hope to be remembered for my atrocities!

vac8lFr The guy in the background looks justifiably shocked. And yet is doing nothing.

In the South during the civil rights movement, the American flag was a potent symbol of support for racial integration (and support for federal law). Southerners who believed in racial segregation displayed Confederate flags instead. People were pulled from their cars by policemen and beaten simply for displaying an American flag on their license plates. So the simple act of a small child carrying an American flag represented defiance of Mississippi law and custom.

Anthony and his mother were arrested and hauled off to jail, which was a cattle stockade at the county fairground, since the city jails were already full of protesters. The Quinn protest was organized by COFO (Council of Federated Organizations), an umbrella organization responsible for most civil rights activities in the state. Today Anthony lives in Florida. I believe he is a lawyer…

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Defining Our Future


By

On National Voter Registration Day, A Look At The Importance Of Registering To Vote

Today is National Voter Registration Day, and like all the best holidays it’s easy to celebrate! Today you can visit this website to register to vote or check your state’s Secretary of State or State Board of Elections website, which may allow you to check your status, update your address, or register to vote. Then, spread the word!

The United States has notoriously low levels of voter turnout and things aren’t looking up. In the 2014 midterms, our most recent national election, voter turnout was the lowest ever recorded since the Census Bureau began collecting voting data in 1978. In 43 states, less than half of eligible voters actually turned out.

Even more drastic is the significantly lower turnout rates among low-income Americans and people of color. White, affluent voters continue to be overrepresented in American elections and this can have a big effect on public policy. According to a report from Demos, non-registered people were far more progressive than registered voters on every issue examined, from free community college to raising the minimum wage. By excluding so many eligible voters, our political system tunes out a diversity of viewpoints in our electorate that has a big effect on public policy. For more on the turnout gap, check out this report.

One important step in closing the turnout gap is getting people registered to vote. This is a particularly important National Voter Registration day because 2016 is the first year in United States history that the Rising American Electorate—young people, people of color, and unmarried women—are expected to cast over half of all the ballots in the election. About 57 percent of the eligible-voter population is a part of the Rising American Electorate, but a huge portion of that group is not registered to vote. In fact, in 2014, more than four in ten RAE members were not registered to vote. The chart below gives a more detailed breakdown:

BOTTOM LINE: Registering to vote is an important step in ensuring that our voting population is actually representative of the American population. Representation starts with registration, so celebrate National Voter Registration Day!

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