LARENCORE: U.S : Tampa police tried to disappear this Black woman.

mercredi 26 août 2020

U.S : Tampa police tried to disappear this Black woman.

Tampa activists are being targeted and harassed by the police.

Sign the petition to demand all charges against Tampa activists are dropped & Police Chief Dugan is fired NOW.

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Dear friend,

On Friday night, Tampa police officers attempted to disappear a Black woman and community organizer at Color of Change.

Sadie Dean was home alone when a man posing as maintenance personnel knocked on the door. When she answered, nine tactical officers, barged into her apartment and arrested her. They yelled at her and created such a scene that her neighbors came out and witnessed the violent arrest. The abuse continued as she was transported to jail - the officers drove violently, inexplicably transferred her into two additional transportation vehicles, all the while verbally harassing her throughout.

Let's be clear, this violation of Sadie’s home and her person is part of a systematic effort to intimidate and stop Black people from demanding justice. That is why we are calling on Hillsborough County State's Attorney Andrew Warren to drop the charges against Sadie and other Tampa activists who are in the line of fire. We are also demanding Mayor Jane Castor to fire Police Chief Dugan who has played a key role in perpetuating violence against our people.

Sign the petition. SA Warren must drop these charges & tell Mayor Castor, Dugan has got to go.

And even though Sadie has been released on bail, and is now home with her family, she still faces criminal charges and emotional and psychological trauma from the ordeal of being arrested. All of this because Sadie attempted to cut off harmful contact -- by closing a door -- to prevent an escalation in physical violence with counter-protesters who were determined to get into a physical altercation with Black Lives Matter protesters more than two months ago.

Police attacks against protesters in Tampa are on the rise. Throughout the month of August, several protesters have been targeted, harassed, and arrested by Tampa police officers. At least 3 other protesters have been unjustifiably arrested for the same confrontation that led to Sadie's charges. Jae Passmore is an activist in Tampa who was hospitalized after being hit by a truck whose driver had yelled anti-Black messages at protesters. The driver faces no charges but Jae was targeted by police for arrest in another clear indicator that protest leaders are being ruthlessly targeted by law enforcement.¹

Our people are not safe. But SA Warren & Mayor Castor can do something about it. Demand Action.

Worst of all Police Chief Dugan is encouraging this violence against activists and organizers. In his public comments about Black Lives Matter protests he’s said, “[people should] start stepping up” and have “white supremacist vigilante violence”.² And the reaction from Mayor Jane Castor ? She’s been quick to come to the defense of Dugan and the entire corrupt Tampa Police Department, making it very clear that she has every intention to invest in the police, not our people who are being brutalized day in and day out.³ Dugan poses a real threat to Black people in Tampa, and for that, he must go.

The police must know that this harassment and targeting will not be tolerated. That's why we're calling on Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren to drop these ridiculous charges against these Black Lives Matter activists and for Mayor Jane Castor to fire Police Chief Brian Dugan. Only State Attorney Warren, who played no part in these cases so far, has the power to ensure that these unjustified arrests don't turn into real charges or convictions. But the police report to Mayor Castor and only she can cut this retaliation off at the source by firing the police chief and replacing him with a leader who will not respond to critiques with harassment and intimidation.

Sign the petition. Demand justice for our people in Tampa.

Until justice is real,

Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Ernie, McKayla, and the rest of the Color Of Change team .