Urbana-Champaign IMC

The following is video footage from a "National Day of Outrage" held by CU Citizens for Peace and Justice in coordination with the National Action Network.

There are clips from Nick Green, Dr. Lou Turner, Durl Kruse, Carol Ammons, Aaron Ammons, and Seon Williams.

On Monday, November 23, 2009, Urbana-Champaign participated in a “National Day of Outrage” held by Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network to call attention to the national epidemic of violence in urban communities. Champaign-Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice organized a rally to take place on the same time as events in more than 20 other cities across the country.

The rally, which took place at the Champaign County courthouse, was specifically to address the police killing of Kiwane on October 9, 2009. The report by the state police is currently in the hands of State’s Attorney Julia Rietz who is expected to release her decision on whether to prosecute the police involved any day now.

Two banners were dropped on the University of Illinois campus by a group of anonymous activists in the early morning of November 20th in solidarity with the UC occupations and the UC strike. This banner drop follows a three day strike in the UC college system, national and international solidarity actions with UC, and the recent local success of the Graduate Employee’s Organization in obtaining a fair contract.

One banner, hung off the English building, reads “Education is NOT for Sale. Support the UC strike.” The International Students Movement's statement “Education is not for sale” speaks to both the UC strike and the continuation of the fight against the privatization of public education in an attempt to make college more accessible. Another banner that briefly hung off the Alma Mater, alluding to cuts in the state budget and the continued pay disparity between administrators and other workers at the university, read “Chop from the Top. Solidarity with UC.”

After two days of picketing in stormy weather, the Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) emerged victorious. The GEO called a strike on Monday, November 16, after contract negotiations broke down over the issue of tuition waivers for out-of-state graduate students. Their strike is an example of how sheer people power can push back against the growing corporatization of public education.

In recent years, the University of Illinois has been racked with several scandals, most notably the “clout-gate” scandal in which well-connected students gained admission while more qualified students were turned away. As a result, the president, chancellor, and almost all of the Boart of Trustees were forced to step down. The so-called “global campus” was shut down, but only after incurring millions of dollars in debt. A proposed Academy of Capitalism and Limited Government Fund was opposed by faculty for its lack of oversight. A decade after it was founded, the research park on south campus has become home to multinational corporations like Caterpillar and the stealth military contractor SAIC with little benefit to the university.

Despite the rain and cold, hundreds showed up on Monday, November 16, 2009 to join picket lines thrown up around several buildings on the quad at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After negotiations broke down over the weekend, the Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) called for a strike. They have been without a contract for more than three months.

In the morning, picket lines were set up at all entrances of Gregory Hall, Foellinger Auditorium, Davenport Hall, the Foreign Languages Building, and the English Building. Hundreds of classes were cancelled across campus and all of the classes in the English Building were called off. GEO members marched in circles and joined in chants that could be heard from inside the buildings. The GEO drum corps travelled to each building to keep the picket lines inspired with live drumming. A trombone player joined them playing to the tune of the 1980s pop song, “I Want Candy,” which GEO members adapted to, “I Want Contract!”

The Graduate Employees' Organization held two actions on Thursday, November 12, 2009.  The first was an early morning rally at the Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting held at the Springfield campus.  Approximately 80 to 100 members and supporters rallied outside the meeting, then were invited inside by Interim President Stanley Ikenberry, Former President, B. Joe White, and BOT Chair Christopher Kennedy (of the Kennedy family).  See forthcoming video for more on this. 

A second GEO rally began at 12:00 pm at the Urbana-Champaign campus.  A very large group of between 150 and 200 GEO members and supporters gathered on the quad and then marched to Swanlund Administration Building.  Video on this will be posted later this evening. 

Be sure to visit the GEO Web site:  http://www.uigeo.org so visit http://www.iresist.org for more video footage - throughout next week.

About 25 people, including several youth and their parents, showed up at the Champaign County courthouse on November 12, 2009 for a juvenile hearing of the other 15 year old involved in the police shooting of Kiwane Carrington. Police had originally responded to a burglary on October 9, but after it was discovered that one of the two youth lived at the house, charges of felony resisting arrest were leveled against the surviving boy. After the hearing, supporters and family members assembled in front of the courthouse for a rally.

Before the hearing, State’s Attorney Julia Rietz was seen outside her office talking with Ed Piraino, known as a local “plea doctor” who had been appointed by the court to handle the case. When inside the courtroom, Rietz appeared personally and Piraino was present for the defense―but not for long. Local attorney Alfred Ivy, who ran against Rietz in the 2008 democratic primary for State’s Attorney office, entered a substitution of counsel and will be taking over the case.

The Graduate Employees Organization (GEO), the largest union in Champaign-Urbana, is gearing up for a strike. In a vote by members, 92% agreed to strike.

A press conference announcing the news was held at the YMCA today. Peter Campbell addressed the local media. Two dozen GEO members stood behind him with signs.

The GEO could not say when the strike may begin. Their planning committee is deciding on the course of action.

Below is the full press release from the GEO.

BD

By Ricky Baldwin & Barbara Bailey

The independent media movement started ten years ago to expose the mainstream media’s thin veil of objectivity. Recent editorials about the police shooting of Kiwane Carrington in the local News-Gazette reveal the newspaper’s role in protecting the police and other powerful interests in Champaign.

On Thursday, October 22, two days after a heavily attended city council meeting and the day of a planned march, the News-Gazette ran an editorial titled, “An Angry Night at City Hall.” The editors assured readers that the police were in the right the day Kiwane, an unarmed 15 year-old African American youth, was shot and killed. “Circumstances point to an accidental shooting,” the editorial confidently states. Officer Daniel Norbits, it continues, “did not intentionally discharge his service weapon during his struggle with Carrington.”

"I have so many thoughts running through my mind, I don't know where to start. Straight up, Kiwane, wasn't just another black boy, whatever that means. He was a friend to me, he was a son brother and cousin. He didn't deserve to be murdered. The police took his life. It's that simple. But what is not so simple is that they act that this is normal and they're in the right."

These were opening words at the March and Speak Out about the shooting of 15 year old Kiwane Carrington by Champaign police. This action was coordinated with dozens of other cities as part of a National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality (www.october22.org).

Kiwane was shot by police after he and his friend attempted to crawl in the window of Kiwane's residence to escape the rain the afternoon of October 9th, 2009. Police say the two teens, who were unarmed, resisted arrest.

"I have so many thoughts running through my mind, I don't know where to start. Straight up, Kiwane, wasn't just another black boy, whatever that means. He was a friend to me, he was a son brother and cousin. He didn't deserve to be murdered. The police took his life. It's that simple. But what is not so simple is that they act that this is normal and they're in the right."

These were opening words at the March and Speak Out about the shooting of 15 year old Kiwane Carrington by Champaign police. This action was coordinated with dozens of other cities as part of a National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality (www.october22.org).

Kiwane was shot by police after he and his friend attempted to crawl in the window of Kiwane's residence to escape the rain the afternoon of October 9th, 2009. Police say the two teens, who were unarmed, resisted arrest.

Tonight, Champaign Council chambers were so packed to capacity, with overflow in the lobby, numbering over 300 attendees.  CU Citizens for Peace and Justice called for the resignation of Chief RT Finney.  Below is their prepared statement. 

Here is the link to the Champaign Police new Use of Force Policy referenced in this talk that allows for the police to shoot to kill someone resisting or fleeing arrest. 

Here is the list of grievances against Finney justifying his resignation or removal.

Council member LaDue said last night that this policy, which went into effect October 1, 2009, was never passed by council.  LaDue said tasers, which are also discussed in the policy, had been rejected by the council and that this discussion was "not pending" despite Finney's statements to the contrary.  Council called for a study session on police Use of Force policies.

On Wednesday night, October 14, a large vigil was held at the house where the police shooting of Kiwane Carrington occurred. Several hundred youth, neighborhood residents, and community members came to pay their respects to Kiwane. After the vigil, the crowd marched up Prospect Ave., many of the youth spilling into the street. Champaign County Sheriff’s deputies were there to direct traffic (Champaign police were nowhere to be seen). The crowd was managed by several members of the Nation of Islam who had come from Chicago and throughout the region to serve as security for the event.
 

Follow this link for the audio file: http://www.ucimc.org/content/kiwane-carrington-press-conference-audio-0.

Community leaders, family members and concerned citizens gathered for a press conference this morning at the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center to address the police killing of unarmed 15 year-old African American youth, Kiwane Carrington.  He was shot dead at a residence in Champaign on October 9, 2009 after police responded to a call of an alleged burglary in the 900 block of W. Vine St. at 1:20pm.

Kiwane Carrington press conference.

Location: UC-IMC

Date: Monday, October 9, 2009. 10:00am.

On Friday afternoon, Oct. 9, 2009, Champaign police fatally shot an unarmed 15 year-old African American named Kiwane Carrington. The name of the Champaign police officer who did the shooting or how many police officers were involved has not been released. The Illinois State Police are currently investigating the death.

Champaign police responded to a call at 1:20 p.m. of an alleged burglary in the 900 block of W. Vine St. According to a statement from Champaign police at 5:30 p.m., they were “confronted” by two 15 year olds when they arrived. Both refused to obey the officers and get on the ground. A physical struggle ensued during which a weapon “was discharged resulting in the fatal wounding of one of the subjects.” Although the names of the officers involved in the struggle have not been released, Champaign Police Chief R. T. Finney’s shoulder was sprained in the incident.

The second youth was arrested, charged with residential burglary, and taken to the Youth Detention Center. Because he is a juvenile, his name is not being released.

Our condolences to the family of young Kiwane Carrington.

Only one day after the anti-"Chief" rally at Assembly Hall protesting the Students for Chief Illiniwek's "Next Dance," the News Gazette had a major story buried on A8 of the Sunday newspaper.

In the middle of the page is a headline "Regalia returned."  There is a picture of former "Chief" portrayers and representatives of the Ogalala Lakota College.  The caption reads: "Former Chief Illiniwek portrayers and representatives of the Ogalala Lakota College gather outside the Varsity Room at Memorial Stadium on Saturday before the Illinois-Penn State football game in preparation for a transfer of the University of Illinois' chief regalia to Ogalala Lakota College.  A News-Gazette photographer was refused admittance to the ceremony by UI Associate Director of Athletics Dana Brenner, who told the photographer it was a 'private function.'"

This return comes after past statements from Frank Fools Crow disapproving of how the University used the regalia it purchased from him, the Executive Committee of the Ogalala Tribal Council passing a resolution asking the regalia be returned and the subsequent retirement of the "Chief" by the University in 2007.

Despite the dreary day, about 75 people came out for the sixth annual Unity March on October 3, 2009. The event is a unique coming together of black, brown, and white people from both the campus and the community. This year’s march addressed the growing economic crisis, the need for health care and housing for all, and the criminalization of the poor.

The march kicked off from the Champaign city building. The Champaign city council has repeatedly been negligent in protecting its most vulnerable citizens, failing to adequately fund the Township office which provides for the poorest of the poor, refusing to penalize the owners of Gateway Hotel which displaced 200 poor people when it closed, and enforcing its zoning codes to shut down the Safe Haven tent community of homeless men and women.

More than 200 people marched across the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to protest the return of its racist mascot, “the Chief,” which was retired by the Board of Trustees in February 2007.

For the second year a registered student organization, Students for Chief Illiniwek, has rented Assembly Hall to hold an event called “The Next Dance” for those who wish to see the mascot’s return. The University of Illinois continues to refuse to educate its students about the reason for the mascot’s retirement, or enforce its trademark on the image.

The march began at the Alma Mater and went up Green Street. University of Illinois and Champaign police had threatened organizers that they would be arrested if anyone walked in the street. A remarkably well-organized event, the crowd policed itself with designated individuals wearing red arm bands and ushering the marchers. There were two legal observers and medical technicians also present. There were fortunately no arrests.