Black Cops Against Police Brutality, (B-CAP), was developed for the purpose of assuring that the rights of all citizens are not abridged by the police, especially, in urban America.
Our commitment is to ensure that people of color are afforded the rights under the constitution as those in the "privileged class."
Often the victims of police brutality are minority males, usually Black or Latino, who suffer abuses at the hands of the police--Black and White officers. Because of this, it is in the urban community where we frequently find fundamental breeches of human and civil rights.
In examining these abuses, one doesn't necessarily have to examine extreme cases like Rodney King in Los Angeles, California, which was a circus and horror show. One must simply be armed with that which is true and just then look at the not so obvious cases and issues like:
- Durwin Panell, New York Transit Officer who was shot by co-workers;
- Sgt. Don Jackson, a Los Angeles police officer who video taped the police pushing his head through a plate glass window;
- East Orange, New Jersey police officer who was arrested by two white Elizabeth police officers( who claim that they saw his gun under his shirt) for obstructing the administration of the law, as he walked down the street with a friend;
- prisoners being assaulted while handcuffed;
- handcuffs locked too tightly or reduced bails/release on their own recognizance for white offenders, while minorities receive bails that could pay a king's ransom,
- 3 White males in Glenridge, N.J. found guilty of raping a mentally retarded female were released on bails under $3,000.00., 1993)
We are the advocates and the buffers for the people in our community who aren't given equal treatment by law enforcement officers.
In our community, we function under martial law, because many of us are unaware of the "givens" that are afforded to citizens in other communities like: curbside chats, rides home instead of jail, counseling and no criminalization!
Human rights should be afforded to all human beings. Civil rights are suppose to be guaranteed under the constitution. However, we at B-CAP are aware of the nuances of law, and these rights are all too often granted to people with different skin color than ours.
The manifestation of the loss of these rights is usually brutality as evidenced by the Malice Green case in Detroit, Michigan,( a Black male who was killed while in the custody of four police officers were tried for the murder, Jan., 1993.).
New Jersey:
• Essex County Prosecutor's Office Annual Teen Leadership Conference, Provided technical assistance to several teen panels in preparation for their presentation to New Jersey's education, parental and law enforcement communities. Additionally, this organization continues to provide speakers for similar programs.
• Community Policing Training in The Republic of South Africa, Provided technical assistance to the National Black Police Association and the South African Police Services in South Africa, Novenber 2nd-16th, 1996. Training included meeting with community groups, police services units, government organizations as well as visiting informal settlement to observe street justice practices which are community organized.
• Training included meeting with members of Parliament, as well as liasons to President Nelson Mandela.
• We have established exchange links between B-CAP and South Africa's community-based organizations to continue the training process and to improve community-police relations in both countries.
• Paterson Rebellions (Riots), Feb. 27th -Mar. 30th Provided "peacekeeping" services to the city of Paterson after a Caucasian rookie police officer shot and killed an unarmed 16 year old African-American youth during an alleged drug arrest. This organization interfaced with the city's government, clergy, grassroots organizations and the youth, which created an environment where all parties could meet and dialogue.
We were instrumental in securing six of the eight demands that the residents wanted from the police department during the rebellion. We continue to provide training to the Patterson community for parents, youth and educators.
• Provided resource/research materials for Columbia University's Study of Patterson for a 3 stage pilot program which is an alternative to incarceration.
• Provided technical support to several police departments and community organizations relative to improving relations between the police and the community, i.e. American Friends Service Committee, Newark's Board of Education (Staff Development), Paterson's Board of Education; The NAACP's Youth Councils ( Rahway, Bergen County, Paterson, Elizabeth and Rowan College branches).
• Specifically, assisted the NAACP in Glassboro to settle community unrest after the police shot and killed 14 year old El Termaine Sanders (1992).
• Newark Do Something Leadership Training Program, sponsored 3 youth to attend training for 15 weeks in personal developmental areas such as public speaking, business management, cultural awareness, community volunteers.
• The Hip Hop Cop, developed an anti-drug program through rap music/workshops. Officer Gary Griffin, East Orange police department, provides young people with a positive and warm relationship with the police through a medium that they are most familiar with "rap." During his sessions/rap hard issues are explored like drug abuse, teen pregnancy, community safety and individual responsibility. • Appeared on Court TV to address issues that New Jersey's youth need to be aware of such as probable cause, custody/arrest, "What to DO When Stopped By The Police?"
New Jersey
• Citizen Newspaper Column, "Breaking The Blue...Code Of Silence"
• Provided community-based information to educate, inspire and motivate the community toward positive actions which improve community conditions.
• Worked cooperatively with Correction Officers In Neighborhoods and Schools, (COINS) to secure computers which are being used in two are churches to train elementary age children and senior citizens.
• Annual Pre-Kwanzaa Cultural Celebration-provided cultural activites, training and entertainment to 1500 citizens in the tri-state area.
• Provided technical assistance to New Jersey Senator Wynona Lipman's Office in the area of police services.
• Provided technical assistance to New Jersey Congressman Donald Payne's Office in the area of police brutality.
New York:
• Established a coalition relationship with several community organizers which enabled B-CAP members to provide workshops for the states youth, organizers included: Dr. Lenora Fulani, Rev. Al Sharpton, and The Grand Council of Guardians, (police officers).
• Appeared on WABC's "Like It Is" with Gil Noble, subject was police corruption, brutality and B-CAP.
• Appeared on The Maury Povitch Show, subject was Mark Furhman and police corruption.
• Provided workshops for the inmates which addressed the issues of police brutality, self-help and community involvement in combating crime. Primary institution-Riker's Island, Volunteer Services Director Anthony Mc Cleod.
• Daily Challenge Newspaper Column, "Breaking The Blue...Code Of Silence" Provided community-based information to educate, inspire and motivate the community toward positive actions which improve community conditions.
Future Plans:
B-CAP currently is planning several cooperative projects with sister cities like Orange, New Jersey where we are actively involved with the city's government in efforts to do a variey of cultural/educational forums which will improve the relationship between the community and the police. We are currently negotiating program space in Essex County, New Jersey where B-CAP will provide community-based training such as our Auto Theft Prevention Program.
B-CAP will continue to host New Jersey's largest Kwanzaa Cutural Celebration. This event has now serviced more than 5, 000 citizens over the last 5 years. The impact continues to be quite rewarding based on our ability to safely and successfully hold workshops in the inner cities, where other police organizations have had less success.