CUAPB

UPDATE: A facilitated discussion about police brutality will take place at Tent State on the Coffman Union Front Plaza at 3pm on Tuesday.

So the Minnesota Daily as well as Esme Murphy on WCCO are reporting a "Spring Jam Party Riot" last night at the University of Minnesota in Dinkytown. Apparently hundreds of drunken college students were involved. According to news reports, the police responded in riot gear and in force to a bonfire party in the middle of the street. Police fired chemical weapons and rubber bullets into the crowd and into houses, in all probability part of the arsenal left over from the RNC last September. The students threw rocks and glass bottles back at the police. At least seven students were arrested.
More:MN Daily slideshow • MnStories video • Video • Satire: Bro Univ. Radicalization Project (BURP)

Last week the Minneapolis Police Department announced a new, easier way for community members to submit feedback about their officers online. Users can now submit both complaints and compliments via the internet. However, many are questioning the positive aspects of this change.

 The MPD fails to clearly inform users of what can be done with the information they choose to submit. For example, the so-called False-Reporting Law is not mentioned on the online form.

from the open publishing newswire: Early on Thursday, February 5, Minneapolis police killed Ahmed Guled, 23, as he drove down Morgan Avenue in the area where police were arresting three other people. One of the arrestees witnessed the incident and states that reports by police that they were somehow "in danger" and had to shoot were lies. He states that Guled was driving no more than 20 miles an hour and was just trying to get through the narrow lane police created by blocking the road with their vehicles when police opened fire, shooting at least 20 times. He referred to the killing as "an execution."

Related: Demonstration @ North Commons Park Wednesday | Call to Action | CUAPB Sues MPLS Civilian Review Authority | Court Watch Thurs. for Eduardo Cardenas, Attacked by MPD

Darryl Robinson's case in Hennepin County Court was dismissed on Monday afternoon. Robinson was charged with obstruction of legal process, disorderly conduct, and obstructing a sidewalk after being beaten unconscious by Minneapolis Police while copwatching outside a shelter last July. Communities United Against Police Brutality writes:

In an exciting courtroom victory today, charges leveled against CUAPB Vice President Darryl Robinson after he was beaten and arrested during copwatch were suddenly dropped by the prosecution in the middle of jury selection. We believe this was indicative of the weakness of the case, once the prosecution realized there were a number of witnesses who could collaborate Darryl's recollections of the incident. Darryl still faces one count of trespass for a previous copwatch incident and that case will go to trial on March 23rd but for now we are all relishing the wonderful victory today.

Communities United Against Police Brutality
URGENT ACTION CALL OUT
November 2, 2008
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THIS TUESDAY: STOP POLICE INTIMIDATION AT THE POLLS!

Despite cold and dreary weather - always an appropriate backdrop for the St. Paul City Hall - over 60 people gathered to speak out against the massive police brutality that occurred at the RNC and that occurs everyday on the streets and in the jails of the Twin Cities. They gave a voice to those who now have none - the 18 people who have been murdered by police this year in Minnesota alone.

UPDATE 10/23: Photos from the rally

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Organized by Communities United Against Police Brutality, the first major protest in St. Paul after the Republican National Convention begins at 4:30pm at Wabasha Street and Kellogg Boulevard in downtown on Wednesday. Twin Cities Indymedia will be there! If you attend, publish your pictures, video or thoughts here after you get back!

From the calendar:

OCTOBER 22 NATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY,
REPRESSION AND THE CRIMINALIZATION OF A GENERATION

From mass police brutality during the RNC to the everyday brutality against people of color and poor people in the streets and in the jails, something has got to be done to end the reign of terror.

OCTOBER 22 NATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY,
REPRESSION AND THE CRIMINALIZATION OF A GENERATION

From mass police brutality during the RNC to the everyday brutality against people of color and poor people in the streets and in the jails, something has got to be done to end the reign of terror.

Come out and demand REAL solutions:

* We need a real civilian review authority that holds cops accountable and isn’t just a rubber stamp agency!
* End beatings and abuse in the jails­and prosecute brutal jailers!