Welcome to the weekly update from the Campaign to End Qualified Immunity! Here, we give you a wrap-up of the latest developments and notable news as we continue our state-focused fight to abolish the unjust rule.
This week, USA Today explores problematic police unions; data reveals how the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk policy disproportionately impacts people of color; the former cop who killed Atatiana Jefferson is sentenced to prison; and more!
FEATURED STORY
USA Today: How the Push and Pull of Unions Is Hindering Police Reform Around the Country
“Common demands for police reform include chipping away at long-established police protections….Yet, in cities and towns across the country, those demands have met fierce resistance from police unions, which sometimes use their power and political influence to thwart efforts their members oppose.”
Read more here.
NEW YORK
The ACLU of New York has taken a deep dive into two decades’ worth of stop-and-frisk NYPD data. “One of the most dramatic and consistent aspects of stop-and-frisk is its disproportionate impact on New Yorkers of color,” notes the ACLU, “particularly Black New Yorkers.”
Read more here.
Two NYPD officers who were caught on video driving into a crowd during the 2020 George Floyd protests stood trial last Wednesday. “It’s so ironic because we were there to protest against police brutality and then we became victims of police brutality ourselves,” recalled Brooklyn resident Aaron Ross.
Read more here.
Bushwick gallery WorthlessStudios’ 10,000-square-foot exhibition honoring victims of police violence will be on display through January 5, 2023. “We want to remind folks that these celebrants are much more than a headline—they were friends, fathers, brothers, sons and neighbors who had their own dreams and aspirations,” said artist Mohammad Gorjestani.
Read more here.
MARYLAND
Maryland’s Supreme Court has ruled that when chasing a suspect, a cop’s suspicion of criminal activity overrides the suspect’s fear of being brutalized. Tyrie Washington, whose case was rejected by the court, said the reason he was a suspect was that he ran after seeing a police car, which, he argued, was “a reasonable response for a Black man in Baltimore.”
Read more here.
ADDITIONAL NEWS
The Guardian: Former Texas Officer Gets Nearly 12 Years for Fatally Shooting Atatiana Jefferson
“[Aaron] Dean testified that he had no choice when he saw Jefferson pointing a gun at him. But under questioning from prosecutors he acknowledged numerous errors, repeatedly conceding that actions before and after the shooting were ‘more bad police work.’”
Read more here.
The Austin Chronicle: Austin Cop Who Killed Mike Ramos Denied Qualified Immunity
“The Austin police officer who killed Michael Ramos in 2020 will not be protected by qualified immunity in the civil suit filed against him….[now] officer Christopher Taylor has two choices—go to trial, or settle with Brenda Ramos, Michael’s mother and plaintiff in the case.”
Read more here.
The Root: Cop Smiles After Violently Beating Homeless Army Vet
“Attorneys for Dalvin Gadson, a 29-year-old veteran, are calling for an investigation following the release of a photo of Gadson’s bloodied face after he was beaten by police officers. According to a Newsone report, the cops were also photographed smiling with bloody knuckles as Gadson laid on the ground.”
Read more here.
The Journal Times: Racine County May Pay $120,000 to Settle Excessive Force Lawsuit
“[Marcia Bhuler, director of the Racine Women for Racial Justice] concluded…[that] such settlements affect everyone because ‘unfortunately, the taxpayers of Racine County can continue to expect costly settlements and judgments until authorities are willing to deal with excessive use of force by local law enforcement.’”
Read more here.
The Philadelphia Tribune: Congress Takes a Step in the Right Direction on Policing
“The legislation could be critical in reducing police-involved killings. People who are untreated for mental illness are 16 times more likely to be killed during a police encounter than other people approached by law enforcement, according to a 2015 report by the Treatment Advocacy Center, a nonprofit dedicated to getting treatment for the mentally ill.”
Read more here.
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