Contents:

• Bediako Case Goes to Court
• Initial Victory Keeping Tasers Out of St. Paul Schools

No time for a formal newsletter right now but we did want to let you know about two upcoming events of importance:

BEDIAKO CASE GOES TO COURT TUESDAY, MAY 16TH: BE THERE!
Tuesday, May 16
9:00 a.m.
Federal Courthouse, 13th Floor
4th Street and 4th Avenue

We received the following information from Titilayo Bediako, whose son was viciously beaten by Minneapolis cop Jeffrey Jindra:

Tuesday, May 17th is the day.  After all this time, and after my son's attorney collapsed one month ago, the trial against the police officer that brutally beat up my son happens on Tuesday.  It starts at 9:00 a.m. at the Federal Court House on the 13th Floor.  The Federal Courthouse is on 4th Street, directly across the street from City Hall in downtown Minneapolis.  The trial is expected to last until Friday. 

I am writing to ask for your support.  We are trying to get as many people in the courtroom all the days of the trial.  We as a community must send the message that it is not okay for the police to beat up any of our children.  This is about justice, this is about holding the police accountable and this is about all of us standing up for what is right.

I know that it is not possible for many of you to come because of your jobs.  But if everyone would take this email and send it to as many people that you know, I am hoping that we can fill the courtroom.

Thank you for your support and thank you for getting the word out about the trial and thank you for coming and supporting my son.

INITIAL VICTORY OVER TASERS IN ST. PAUL SCHOOLS--MAKE IT STICK
St. Paul School Board Meeting
Tuesday, May 17
5:45 p.m.
360 Colborne, St. Paul
On April 28, a sizeable contingent of the community showed up at a St. Paul school board committee meeting to express our concerns over Tasers in the schools.  The room was filled with people holding colorful "No Tasers In Our Schools" signs.

After patiently listening to St. Paul police chief John Harrington blather for over an hour (and not say a damned thing!), the people finally got their chance to speak.  Dozens of people gave powerful and emotional testimony on the legal, medical and societal ramifications of having Tasers in the schools.  Most were parents of students in the schools and many of them had graduated from St. Paul schools.  One important voice in the debate was Devorrah Mack, the young woman who was Tasered in her Roseville school over a communications misunderstanding.  After testimony that went on to almost midnight, the committee voted in the end to request that police not bring Tasers into the schools for the rest of this school year while they decide what to do for next year.  Even though the meeting was a "committee of the whole" (meaning all board members were there and voted), the vote won't be official until it comes before a full school board meeting.

PLEASE HELP US MAKE THIS VICTORY STICK!  Please join us at the meeting of the full St. Paul school board in which they will finalize the vote.  We need to pack the house and make sure there's no flip flopping by any of the board members, who are under enormous pressure by police and their allies to change this vote.  The Pioneer Press even printed a despicable editorial railing against the school board's decision.  These people showed some courage--let's give them back up by making it clear what the people want.

Communities United Against Police Brutality
3104 16th Avenue S
Minneapolis, MN 55407
Hotline 612-874-STOP (7867)