community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
What's up with that counter-recruiting/police brutality press conference Monday?
by af
Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005 at 7:45 PM
Victims of Saturday's police attack meet to hostile media represetatives at press conference on Monday.
download PDF (802.0 kibibytes)
A nonviolent protest turned violent when the police clashed with demonstrators in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh last Saturday.
On Monday, the Pittsburgh Organizing Group held a press conference at the Thomas Merton Center to criticize the amount of force used by the police. The press conference ran over an hour. Four protesters recounted their experience with the police, the Thomas Merton Center director said a few words, and representatives of POG made some demands.
After the talking, the media people got to ask questions. They asked some rough questions. The most constructive was something like, "nice demands, what are you going to do besides tell us about them? The answer, it seems, is that is up to us. We should get the Office of Municipal Investigations to look into the excessive force, and to do so we must file formal complaints.
Office of Municipal Investigations
2608 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: (412) 255-2804
Fax: (412) 255-2952
The web page http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/omi/html/filing_a_complaint.html has more information.
It seems Pittsburgh has had plenty of trouble with police dogs in the past. A couple of articles are here:
http://www.geocities.com/ericsquire/articles/dogs/ptr040208.htm
http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/2490/PA/US/1
I told my dad about the repressive treatment we received, he said it's nothing compared to what cops could do if they really went psycho. Philly, May, 1985 was on his mind. I guess it was just the 20th anniversary of the police destruction of Move. There is a short account of that attached as a pdf file.
Question: Has anyone filed a complaint yet?
by af
Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005 at 7:45 PM
audio: 
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According to a reporter at the press conference, the OMI will not open an investigation on excessive force unless they receive complaints.
Carol Weidmann's account [4 min 42 sec]
by af
Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005 at 7:45 PM
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Carol didn't intend to stay at the protest long, she was bitten by a police dog, detained, and finally taken to the hospital in handcuffs.
Rebecca Reid's account [3 min 2 sec]
by af
Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005 at 7:45 PM
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Rebecca was with her three year old daughter when the police initiated a stampede.
Vince Eirene's account [3 min 0 sec]
by af
Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005 at 7:45 PM
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Vince was hit in the chest with pepper spray while his 7 year old daughter was sitting on his shoulders.
Jonathan Robison's account [2 min 49 sec]
by af
Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005 at 7:45 PM
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Jonathan's motorized wheelchair was knocked over by the police-initiated stampede.
Merton Center Director Jim Kleissler in solidarity with the protesters [2 min 18 sec]
by af
Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005 at 7:45 PM
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New Merton Center director Jim Kleissler in his first Merton Center press conference.
POG List of Demands [2 min 51 sec]
by af
Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005 at 7:45 PM
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1. Drop all charges from A20 protest
2. City investigate police violence and misconduct
3. Suspend or fire Officer Samuel Muoio who used taser at protest
4. Moratorium on taser use in Pittsburgh
Question and Answer session [38 min 51 sec]
by af
Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005 at 7:45 PM
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The press was on the defensive following allegations that a freelance reporter connected with Fox News instigated the initial confrontation between protesters and police.
Response
by Janus Christ Ashley
Thursday, Aug. 25, 2005 at 9:32 PM
1. Drop all charges from A20 protest
Um...Not gonna happen. Like its a big deal anyway; disorderly conduct barely carries punishment that is more than a speeding violation.
2. City investigate police violence and misconduct
We already know the police are violent and corrupt. Who do you expect is going to conduct this "investigation"?
3. Suspend or fire Officer Samuel Muoio who used taser at protest
I'll agree with that. I'll up you a few, too: Lawsuit against the officer and discharge and same for any that assisted this officer.
4. Moratorium on taser use in Pittsburgh
I'll agree somewhat. Defintely when the person in question only weighs 100 pounds.
--
by --
Friday, Aug. 26, 2005 at 6:04 AM
Janus, a protester is charged with felony riot. That could result in a 5-10 sentence.
yes
by righteous babe
Friday, Aug. 26, 2005 at 7:10 PM
i suffer from asthma and was also hit with pepper spray, which resulted in choking, and shortness of breath for several days. An informal complaint has been lodged, but i still need to get in my paperwork.
Ignorant Babe
by THoughtful Protester
Saturday, Aug. 27, 2005 at 5:03 AM
You have athma and you are pissed cause you started choking from the pepper spray? You know damn well the police use pepper spray. So why the hell did you put yourself in a position of likely being sprayed if you know a life threating situation woudl result. Idiot. All I can say is that this is another example of Darwinism in action. Charges shoudl be leveled agaisnt you not the cops. Do yourself a favor and find anothere way to protest that won't likely result in you putting yourself in a situation of killing yourself. Asshole.
You pig
by Gus
Sunday, Aug. 28, 2005 at 4:50 AM
You pig. Peaceful protesters shouldn't have to *expect* being pepper-sprayed. If you think this way you are a fascist, just like the cops.
Thats just not very nice
by Janus Christ
Wednesday, Sep. 07, 2005 at 12:10 AM
Thoughtful, thats pretty ignorant. Like the person before said, we shouldn't have to expect pepper spray at a peaceful protest.
Sadly though, if anyone can come to blame it's the Black Bloc. They like to start trouble, I've seen them do so with my own eyes in the past. Whoever started what went down on August 20 is irrelevant, this group is a fan of trying to turn peaceful protests violent and then cries "foul" when the police take response. Pepper spray has its problems but what do you want? Bean bag guns, tazers, and tear gas are all problematic but I'd much rather be in pain for a few hours from OC pepperspray than die from a gun shot wound.
In response the post about that kid being charged with felony rioting, I highly doubt he'll get 5 to 10 even if convicted. Unless, of course, he's a repeat offender in which case he has what's coming to him.
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