Community Mass Meeting – Did Hogtieing Lead to Death?
All Come! It is so important that you and all your friends come out on Monday night.
Monday, Dec. 3rd, 2018, 6:30 pm, Shiloh Baptist Church, 1210 South Eugene St.
Our Constitution grants that all power is in the hands of “the people.”
We must use our power to compel our Police and City Council to do the right thing.
Fact: The police body camera showed that Marcus Smith died while in police custody shortly after he was hogtied.
Initial Police Response: Marcus Smith was suicidal. He collapsed and died. After public exposure, the police adjusted their story to acknowledge that Marcus was hogtied but still determined that no laws or policies were violated.
Greensboro Police Policy: “At no time shall the wrists and ankles of an arrestee be linked together using RIPPHOBBLE restraining devise, unless the arrestee can be seated in an upright position or on their side. If this is done, the knees of the arrestee will not be bent more than 90 degrees (unless extenuating circumstances exist) to prevent stress being placed on the arrestee’s chest muscles or diaphragm which might contribute to a positional asphyxia situation.”
Fact: Marcus Smith was taken to the ground by police and put on his stomach (chest-diaphragm) and died there. Also, the police did not inform the coroner that Marcus was hog-tied.
This flyer was developed and circulated by the Beloved Community Center (BCC). We can be reached at 336-230-0001 orinfo@belovedcommunitycenter.
We congratulate BCC member Rev. Wesley J. Morris for his installation as Pastor of the Faith Community Church
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- Photos by Lewis Brandon
13 local groups release their statements about conduct and accountability of members of the Greensboro Police Department
In a press conference held at BCC on Tuesday, October 23rd, 13 groups released their statements expressing the reason for filing an amicus brief that “advise the court of relevant, additional information or arguments that the court might wish to consider” in Zared Jone’s case (read about the case here). The City has requested for and extension for the deadline for the filing of the amicus brief date in order to make additional preparations. Click here to read the letter sent to Mayor Vaughn and the City Council requesting their Support Group of the City Council’s Appeal of the Zared Jones Related Gag Order.
Here are the three main points addressed in the press conference:
1. The 13 groups (see list below), whose complete statements can be read here, will be filing an amicus brief in the NC Court of Appeals in support of the City of Greensboro’s appeal of the gag order banning them from publicly discussing the contents of police body camera recordings of the Zared Jones incident (read about the case here). We commend Council for making this appeal. When public officials, elected by the people, are prevented from speaking out on serious matters of public interest, our rights as citizens are unjustly curtailed.
2. While supporting the City’s appeal, these groups call on city council to watch the entire set of police recordings and take appropriate action NOW. While the appeal may take one to two years to be resolved, the Greensboro City Council currently has both the authority, based upon court order, and the duty, based upon their responsibility to the citizens, to watch the police recordings right NOW. Police misconduct, if found, must be investigated and all those responsible held accountable NOW. These 13 groups will release to the public their letter previously sent to each city council member making the request for them to view the recordings and act NOW. We are asking for a specific response from City Council to that letter.
3. Graham Holt, attorney for Zared Jones, has been authorized by court order to view the entire set of police recordings and has done so. He has sent a confidential letter, confidential only because of the gag order, to City Council detailing specific issues of police misconduct reflected in those police recordings. Attorney Holt was present to comment, within the limits of the law, on that letter and the concern that Council is exhibiting a deliberate indifference to the rights of his clients and others by failing to watch the entire set of police recordings and act NOW.
STRUGGLE FOR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY IN RELATION TO ZARED JONES’ CASE MEETING
MONDAY NOVEMBER 12th
Shiloh Baptist Church – 1210 S Eugene St, Greensboro, at 7 pm
List of the 13 local groups:
1.) Beloved Community Center of Greensboro
2.) Community Play! All Stars Alliance
3.) The Homeless Union of Greensboro
4.) Democracy Greensboro
5.) The Professors of Reclaiming Democracy
6.) Triad City Beat
7.) The Pulpit Forum
8.) The Guilford Anti-Racism Alliance (GARA)
9.) UNCG Faculty Members
10.) League of Women Voters of the Piedmont Triad (LWVPT)
11.) Carolina Peacemaker
12.) St. Barnabas Episcopal Church
13.) NAACP
Join the North Carolina Poor People’s Campaign
Beloved Network “Voter Check-in Meeting” Saturday, October 27th
Beloved Network “Voter Check-in Meeting”
Saturday, October 27th, 10 am – 11 am at BCC – 417 Arlington St.
NEW VOTER GUIDES ARE AVAILABLE!
Can be picked up Monday-Friday at BCC from 10am-5pm or by appointment by calling 336-230-0001.
Let’s continue to learn, cooperate, unite, and support each other’s efforts to mover our city, state, and nation forward.
Activities and events shared our Voter Check-in Meetings are listed below. Let’s support and encourage each other!
1) March for Our Lives (high school students & others)
Oct. 23rd – Candidate Townhall
Oct. 28th – Parkland High School Students in Greensboro, Place & Time :TBD
2) Working America & BCC
Oct. 17th, 4pm – 7pm Party at the Polls
Oct. 28th, 12pm-5pm – Souls to the Polls,
Location: Craft Center 3911 Yanceyville St.
3) UNC TV
Oct. 23rd 6pm -Town Hall
Location: NC A&T
All Beloved Voter Network “Check-in Meetings” are on Saturday’s, 10-11am at 417 Arlington Street, Greensboro, NC 27406. The next meeting is Saturday, October 27th.
Note: ” The Beloved Network” is a volunteer network of individuals, groups, and organizations convened to better grow and coordinate our community work, especially GOTV work during this electoral season.
Distributed by the Beloved Community Center (BCC): For more information on how to connect with us or other groups doing this work contact us at 336-230-0001 or e-mail us at: info@belovedcommunitycenter.
Hurricane Florence Relief Efforts
Our hearts go out to those who were affected by hurricane Florence. Various organizations in NC have partnered together to recover supplies and donations to help out the damaged communities in eastern NC.
We encourage you to support their efforts by donating HERE . Find out how to send supplies by visiting this website: https://anothergulf.com/a-
Poor People’s Campaign Relief Efforts: https://www.facebook.com/
Thank you,
BCC
Toward Healing Greensboro Healing Tuesdays – Tomorrow at Noon
Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation 15 minutes at Noon Every Tuesday at the Governmental Plaza, Downtown Greensboro (Rain or Shine)
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter:
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Beloved Network “Voter Check-in Meeting” Saturday, October 13th, 10am-11am at BCC 417 Arlington St.
Let’s continue to learn, cooperate, unite, and support each other’s efforts to mover our city, state, and nation forward.
Activities and events shared at the Sept. 29th Voter Check-in Meeting are listed below. Let’s support and encourage each other!
1) March for Our Lives (high school students & others)
Oct. 16th, 5pm-6:15pm – Sign-making Scuppernong Books
Oct. 23rd – Candidate Townhall
Oct. 28th – Parkland High School Students in Greensboro, Place & Time :TBD
2) League of Women Voters – Candidate Lunch Forums
Oct.16th, 11:30am – Temple Emanuel, 1129 Jefferson Rd, $11 Lunch NC House of Representatives, 6 Constitutional Amendments
3) Working America & BCC
Oct. 17th, 4pm – 7pm Party at the Polls
Oct. 28th, 12pm-5pm – Souls to the Polls,
Location: Craft Center 3911 Yanceyville St.
All Beloved Voter Network “Check-in Meetings” are on Saturday’s, 10-11am at 417 Arlington Street, Greensboro, NC 27406. The next meeting is Saturday, October 13th.
Note: ” The Beloved Network” is a volunteer network of individuals, groups, and organizations convened to better grow and coordinate our community work, especially GOTV work during this electoral season.
Distributed by the Beloved Community Center (BCC): For more information on how to connect with us or other groups doing this work contact us at 336-230-0001 or e-mail us at: info@belovedcommunitycenter.
Hurricane Florence Relief Efforts
Our hearts go out to those who were affected by hurricane Florence. Various organizations in NC have partnered together to recover supplies and donations to help out the damaged communities in eastern NC.
We encourage you to support their efforts by donating HERE . Find out how to send supplies by visiting this website: https://anothergulf.com/a-
Poor People’s Campaign Relief Efforts: https://www.facebook.com/
Thank you,
BCC
A Cultural, Structural and Historical Perspective
by Rev. Nelson Johnson and Retired Attorney Lewis Pitts
…we each commented on the tremendous inspiration and deep impact of our time at BCC. The Johnson name was lifted constantly as a beacon for the Work and for us, the workers. Blessings on your ministry of faith and healing. We’re carrying you in our hearts all across the country and honor you in our journey.
Althea Dryden