Remembering every victim of Police Brutality and Racism
by Loretta Renford (Dec.28.2003)

Happy New Year,

    I sincerely hope the ending of 2003 and OUR entering into 2004 will bring, love, peace and Joy to all. This special Season brings such glorious thoughts and reflections on the year passing. I am reminded of how Blessed we are to have faith and hope to know that the struggles we share today holds freedom and hope for the souls and hearts of all mankind.

    As we witness the trying times that all four corners of this Earth are experiencing, it has somehow caught our attention...it is evidence that our wise Creator has all of us under His control and loving order.

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In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. protest NFTA police brutality against bus driver Elizabeth Taylor Oliver and a young, female DaVinci High School student.

March and Rally for Justice

Saturday - January 17, 2004
12 Noon
March from NFTA Station at Main and Utica to MLK Park
Regardless of Weather

3 PM
Speak-out against police brutality

No. We Will Not Go Quietly
by green.earth.al (Dec.20.2003)

I was born on the east side of Buffalo, and I was much too young to understand what it meant that the police were harrassing my father and grandfather. There were a parade of activists and community organizers coming through my house when I was a toddler but I was too young to know or care what that meant. When I was in kindergarten and people asked me what I wanted to be I said I wanted to be a policeman or a fireman. When I was about six or seven years old my mother's co-worker, Kenny Johnson, was targeted by the system, falsely accused of rape, mistreated by the authorities, and sent to prison for a very long time. Despite the best efforts of my mother, my community, and the preponderance of evidence, they would not free mr. Johnson. I learned what I needed to know about justice in the inner city and I never felt like growing up to be a policeman or a fireman again.

I wasn't overly interested in activism in my adult life. Like most people I just wanted to live my life, pursue my happiness and never come into contact with the authorities unless I had something stolen or needed emergency assistance. Oh sure, I listened to a lot of political music and could talk a good game about the inequalities of our society like a good little Democrat, but I didn't think that I needed to actually DO anything myself to change anything.

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In Rememberance
by Loretta Renford (Dec.20.2003)

The Holiday Seasons are before us and the bustle and hustle of the Season speaks to love, peace and joy of families coming together in preparation. But, my heart is saddened as I am constantly reminded of the families that have been disrupted forever due to the unexpected violence that Police Brutality has impacted. A life lost...never to return to the home fires again.

In memory, Darlene Brantly, Donald Fleming, Paul Mills, Germaine Vayton, Mark Virginia, Stanley Washington, Jonas Drydon, Jonny Gammage, this list is incomplete but let's think on all victims that have suffered these cruelties.

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MORE THREATS MADE TO ACTIVISTS
Step Up Organized Resistance to Police Impunity
by Transit Workers Discussion Group (Dec.17.2003)

At this time the trial for Elizabeth Taylor Oliver set for December 17 has been postponed. At the same time, threats to those mobilizing to pack the courtroom and oppose impunity are increasing. The same NFTA police officer that told drivers Taylor Oliver would get no police assistance on her bus if she requested it, is now attempting to intimidate activists, harassing them on the job. And what is their concern? The TWDG leaflets with the facts about police brutality and impunity, with the stand to defend rights, with the call to pack the courtroom!

In addition, while leafleting at Cold Springs, Taylor Oliver’s garage, the company ordered a TWDG activist to stop distributing materials. The garage is public property and the person distributing was not working, yet NFTA thinks they can order people around. How dare they demand that the workers not be allowed to have their own views and make them known! Who do they think they are?!

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Click to download the flyer.

December 19th Protest
by Loretta Renford (Dec.16.2003)

Hi Everyone;

Well, we're wondering what's going on here..the court..NFTA .but, let's take this delay for a blessing. Thank you for a good meeting and the work shared by all was wonderful. Thank you.

Bev has suggested that we do a protest this Friday and I agree. I hope all of you will agree and participate in this protest that has a definite message that says: We are not going away nor are we going to allow NFTA to set the people's agenda.

NFTA has done a gross injustice to Mrs. Oliver and the young girl. I often think what if this had happened at night, where no witnesses were? While it did not happen...their death...It could have happened. We must not forget that.

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Welcome to the Coalition Against Police Abuse
by green.earth.al

    With the attacks by police this year on the Critical Mass Ride, a teenaged girl, a bus driver, and persons just trying to observe the police carrying out their duties, something needs to be done. Please support this effort. Bookmark the website, get involved, show up to the Elizabeth Oliver court case on Wednesday December 17th, make yourself heard.

Download the latest flyer for the Elizabeth Oliver trial support here.

The Buffalo News Spins the Bicycle Trial
by Michael I. Niman (Dec.13.2003)

We must continue the fight for all...
by Loretta L. Renford, Community Voice, Coalition Against Police Abuse

Heron, one of the cyclists that was arrested in the Elmwood Police Brutality incident, hauled into a trial and finally exonerated, (while two of the other cyclists were not) sent this letter to me and we need to understand what our mission is entailing and the work that remains always undone. This is due in part to political and those vested interest groups that refuse to recognize and understand that many refuse to admit that there is a problem and to accept the blame for many years of wrongdoing of law enforcement and erroneous training in many instances.

Laws were and are formulated to further encode these heinous behaviors as well as to confuse the real issues that corrupt and maintain stringent control over the crimes committed under the color of law. The Judiciary and its representatives (many) are convinced through varying methods of compensation to continue to corrupt and maintain power within this circle of protectors.

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Communication and Coordinated Efforts
by Heron Simmonds (Dec.08.2003)

This message is an attempt to communicate my own efforts, seek assistance and advice, and encourage greater coordination of our collective efforts to seek justice in regards to the specific problem of Buffalo Police Misconduct (I mean to include the NFTA police when I say Buffalo Police--I know they are separate entities, but their unjust behavior calls for the same remedies).

What am I doing? I meet today with Sister Pat Brady at Canisius College. I meet her at a talk on the Jesuits and learned there that the Jesuits have a spiritual and practical commitment to education and social justice. I spoke with her about getting assistance from Canisius Ministry in a broad based effort to call for reform of police behavior and training. She is in agreement and will give my contact information to another sister who works with 'Buffalo Voice' an interfaith community organization who got the Blue Garbage bins that now are used in place.

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