Know Your Rights Trainings:
Contact us about doing a free Know Your Rights training for your group or event. In English, Spanish, or both. Appropriate for all ages.
Music
The Coup, Dead Prez, NWA, Beastie Boys, The Crux, Litany for a Whale, Saul Williams, Bikini Kill, Zion I
Television
Fuck it!
Books
Our Enemies in Blue by Kristian Williams; Beat the Heat by Katya Komisaruk
Heroes
All the folks who aren't willing to take this shit anymore!
Petaluma Copwatch's Details
Status:
Single
Zodiac Sign:
Scorpio
Petaluma Copwatch is our communities taking back our streets! Posted at 11:27 PM Dec 5, 2007 view more
About me:
Here's a brief history of Copwatch. This movement began during the civil rights movement, spearheaded by the Black Panther Party and Brown Berets who patrolled their neighborhoods to be present and observe police interactions within their community. The idea was to not only be physically present, but directly hold police accountable for their actions and de-escalate any violent confrontations.
This idea was revitalized in Berkeley in 1990 due to the harassment of folks living on the streets, local activists and the young people of color by law enforcement. Rooted in principles of non-violence, the basic premise was to directly observe and document police behavior. In hopes of deterring police misconduct by involving the eyes and ears of the community, Copwatch bears witness to the range of police misconduct. So who is Copwatch? A short answer: anyone and everyone. Anytime you bear witness to someone being stopped by the police, you are Copwatching. While the act of Copwatching may appear as radical, it is actually protected under the Bill of Rights First Amendment freedom of assembly. Many members of the community are directly involved in the actual organization and organizing efforts of Copwatch, others simply practice police monitoring through Copwatching in their daily lives. Today, nearly 70 Copwatch groups exist around the country. Copwatch chapters have surfaced across the country as independent organizations, not as the local branches of a national organization. And yet, there exists a certain unity amongst Copwatches.
Petaluma Copwatch formed in May of 2006. We are volunteer students, youth, and workers. We organize weekly patrols to observe Petaluma Police activity using police scanners, video camera’s, note pads, information on your rights and specific techniques used to document encounters and all parties involved. Petaluma Copwatch also hosts Know Your Rights Trainings, campaigning to create neighborhood solidarity and alternatives to calling police, works with friendly lawyers, and fundraises for victims of police brutality.
Important phrases:
WHEN STOPPED BY THE COPS, IF YOU ONLY REMEMBER A FEW KEY PHRASES, REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING! SAY THEM LOUDLY ENOUGH FOR OTHERS TO HEAR YOU! AND IF YOU CAN, RECORD THEM...
- "I do not consent."
- "I'm going to remain silent."
- "I wish to speak to an attorney."
- "Am I being detained?"
- "Am I under arrest?"
If you don't have papers or fear you may be deported, don't say anything except "I am going to remain silent and wish to speak to an immigration attorney." Don't sign anything without an immigration attorney present. Asking for an immigration attorney does not mean you do not have legal status in the U.S. If you are on parole, your rights to search and seizure have probably been altered, so simply saying, "I am going to remain silent and I wish to speak to an attorney" is a safer bet.
And always, if you see someone being engaged by the police, stop and watch. You have the legal right to observe or film police activity.
Who I'd like to meet: CONTACT INFO:
707-696-1694
546 Pacific Ave
Santa Rosa, Ca
petalumacopwatch@yahoo.com
Join Santa Rosa CopWatchers at 7pm, Thursday, January 3rd for a discussion of police history and accountability centered around chapters 5 & 6 of "Our Enemies in Blue," by Kristian Williams.
These chapters, "Natural Enemy of the Working Class" and "Police Autonomy and Blue Power" will discuss the history of police as a tool toward suppression of labor and the development of police unions, internal review and influence on policy development in the United States. It's not as dry as it sounds.
