Re: [UC] New mass arrests for poor and minorities, pot

[UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN]

Glenn moyer wrote:

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20100408_Editorial__Justice_for_all.html


Book: The New Jim Crow.  You can find interviews with
author Michelle Alexander in the archives of Democracy
Now and Bill Moyer's Journal.

http://www.thenewpress.com/index.php?option=com_title&task=view_title&metaproductid=1617




I watched this very same author speaking on bill moyer's 
journal the other night; she was awesome in her clarity. she 
and bryan stevenson. basically: the u.s. incarceration 
system today is the new jim crow.


here's a summary, with links to video and transcript:

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/04022010/profile.html


Alexander believes that King would be deeply troubled by
the remaining inequality in America. As she tells Bill
Moyers, "I think Martin Luther King would be thrilled by
some of the individual progress of African Americans, but
stunned, absolutely stunned and saddened, by the state of
African Americans as a whole today."

Stevenson adds that to reach King's dream, America must
address the causes of poverty, "I think in America, the
opposite of poverty is justice. I think there are
structures and systems that have created poverty, and
have made that poverty so permanent, that until we think
in a more just way about how to deal with poverty in this
country, we're never gonna make the progress that Dr.
King envisioned."

Both believe that America's policies of mass
incarceration continue the cycle of poverty. America is
the largest jailer on the planet, with 2.3 million people
behind bars. But the policy of mass imprisonment, unique
among industrialized nations, disproportianatetly affects
minorities, especially African American men. One in 100
adults in America is behind bars, but one in nine African
American men aged 20 to 34 is behind bars. Much of this
arises from the "war on drugs." According to Human Rights
Watch, African American adults have been arrested at a
rate 2.8 to 5.5 times higher than white adults in every
year from 1980 to 2007. Yet, according to government
statistics, African Americans and whites have similar
rates of illicit drug use and dealing.



- - - - - - -


in other news, coming to penn april 14 to speak about public 
parks is author alex garvin ("Public Parks: the Key to 
Livable Communities"). he'll certainly cover a lot of the 
issues about public parks that have been discussed on this 
list about clark park, and can provide a precision of 
language and a clarity of focus (I'm reading one of his 
books now) -- so there might be interest here. one of his 
more revealing quotes:


   "The most difficult question is whether
publicly owned and managed open space
is *public* if people are excluded?"



details:

http://www.upenn.edu/penniur/events_upcoming.shtml#Apr14




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[UC] lost tuxedo kitty may have crossed Baltimore Ave

[Linda Lee]

Folks,Two people have reported seeing a tuxedo cat near 48th & Windsor yesterday/last night.  It hasn't been confirmed whether it is the missing Pepe or not.  Pepe lives near 49th & Walton.  ANYTHING is possible (since he has been gone since Sunday), so please keep your eyes peeled for this little guy and call Jody at 215-589-5234 if you see a b&w kitty resembling the photo below.  Many thanks!!lindaFrom: Jody Chavez Date: April 6, 2010 1:53:53 PM EDTSubject: [PFSNI] Lost tuxedo cat - 4800 block of Walton AveDear neighbors,Our indoor cat, Pepe, escaped from our home at 4835 Walton Avenue on the evening of Sunday, April 4th.  We think he may be hiding under a porch or in a backyard of a house  on the 4800 block of Walton or Cedar Avenues.  Pepe is an 8-yr old, short-haired, smallish (12 lb) tuxedo cat with white legs.  He is very timid. PLEASE CALL WITH ANY INFO JODY 215-589-5234. Thanks for your help.  We miss him terribly.

[UC] New mass arrests for poor and minorities, pot

[Glenn moyer]

Dear citizens,

The plan to streamline small arrests for marijuana is a new green light for 
mass arrests.  I was an early advocate for something like "community court" so 
I feel a responsibility to explain this smoke screen.  

Alternatives to incarceration for non-violent drug offenders became obvious 
during the crack epidemic caused by Reagan's war on pot. (My first grant 
proposal centered on this topic.) 

But Philadelphia's Community Court has nothing to do with public health or 
safety! It is an enhanced plea bargaining system, which strips victims of their 
right to due process and gives the green light for mass arrests of poor people 
and minorities.

The arguments for legalization of marijuana are overwhelming, but I will not 
cover these now.


Diverting individuals with serious substance abuse problems to pharmaceuticals 
(i.e. heroin, cocaine), out of the criminal justice system and into intensive 
drug treatment, was the important health and safety goal for developing 
Community Courts.  In the early 2000's (around the time FOCP attacked my 
character in the City Paper), I was helping with the evaluation of this special 
court in Philadelphia. 

I was collecting the data or histories of those people receiving literacy 
services after mandated addiction treatment.  (Please note: Court mandated 
treatment is the least effective most expensive way to provide addiction 
services.)

What I found was that young people were being pushed through the system because 
of small beer crimes, etc!  They all needed the literacy services but the 
majority were not addicted!  To me it was obvious; community court was simply a 
new way to process people like traffic court processes people.  (This was 
before special service districts were calling for a chain gang labor force.)

Now, the kids of privileged classes can easily pay a fine when snared by cops.  
And cops will be given the green light to make more mass arrests of the working 
classes.  They will no longer need to plant small amounts of drugs stolen from 
dealers, as we are seeing in the Camden and Philadelphia cases.

Like the beer sweeps in Clark Park last fall, targeting the working class and 
poor, special service districts can expect a new wave of slaves for their 
community service programs.  

The new policy does not reduce the "criminal justice" budget appropriately and 
it does not serve public health or safety in any way.  It allows more stop and 
frisk mass arrests, denies the poor due process, and traumatizes the young when 
they are put in chain gangs called community service.  (See the link for "The 
New Jim Crow" and the reality of mass incarceration.)

Corporate media is manipulating people into thinking that this is a step to 
decriminalization of marijuana and reform of this horrible war on drugs.  It is 
really separating the punishments based on class, so that another tool for mass 
arrests of the working class and poor can begin!


http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20100408_Editorial__Justice_for_all.html

Book: The New Jim Crow.  You can find interviews with author Michelle Alexander 
in the archives of Democracy Now and Bill Moyer's Journal.

http://www.thenewpress.com/index.php?option=com_title&task=view_title&metaproductid=1617

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