Contents:

• Victory in INS/MPD Separation Ordinance
• Court Support for Mohammed Hassan Mohamud
• Court Support for Rickey Jones
• Court Support for William Neal
• Mom Learns of Son's Death via Cop Voice Mail

CHA-CHING AGAIN! VICTORY #3 FOR THE WEEK!
We must be living right because we had yet a third victory for the people this week when, on Friday, the Minneapolis city council passed a resolution to block the Minneapolis Police Department from signing an agreement to become extensions of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). As we've reported before, this ordinance will be very important for making sure immigrants have the same access to police services as other members of the community, without fear of being arrested or deported.

You are invited to attend the ceremonial signing of the ordinance on Monday, July 14th (tomorrow) at 11:30 a.m. in the Mayor's office on the Mezzanine level of City Hall.

Kudos to all who worked so hard to make this happen: immigrant groups (Somalis and Latinos taking the lead this time; Somali Community of Minnesota; Confederation of Somali Community; and Women of Africa Resource and Development Association; Immigrant Workers Rights Project, Resource Center of the Americas); union leadership and membership from SEIU, HERE 17, and the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council); faith based groups such as the Muslim American Society, Jewish Community Action, Sagrado Corazon de Jesus, and ISAIAH; and civil rights/civil liberties/community action groups such as Jobs and Affordable Housing, the Minneapolis Chapter of the NAACP, the Urban Coalition, the Council of Black Minnesotans, Centro Legal, Communities United Against Police Brutality, Women Against Military Madness, Arab-American Discrimination Committee, Minneapolis Bill of Rights Committee, and the Minnesota Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. Special props go to Peter Brown, top-notch organizer of the Local Impacts Working Group and member of the National Lawyers Guild, whose leadership guided the whole process.

COURT SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES THIS WEEK
We just got details on three court support opportunities for the week:

Monday, July 14 (tomorrow), 9:00 a.m.
Hennepin County Government Center
Courtroom 1753
Mohammed Hassan Mohamud, charged and harassed by police for stalking his ex-girlfriend. He has proof that his girlfriend is the one who is stalking him and that she stole his father's car, yet police refused to investigate and arrested him. The city attorney's office has attempted to punish his attorney for defending him. This case reeks of a post 9/11 attack on a Muslim man.

Tuesday, July 15, 9:00 a.m.
Hennepin County Government Center
Courtroom 1753
Next saga in the case of Rickey Jones (see July 7th CUAPB Newsletter). This will be a of hearing on evidence and new motions.

Wednesday, July 16, 9:00 a.m.
Hennepin County Government Center
See court calendar for courtroom
Arraignment of William Neal, Brenda Jenkins' significant other. See July 10th CUAPB Newsletter for details.

HORRIFYING STORY OUT OF OMAHA
Mom learns of son's death via voice mail
Friday, July 11, 2003

OMAHA, Nebraska (AP) -- Police have apologized to a woman who learned her son was killed in a traffic accident from a voice mail message an officer left on her telephone.

"I want to see that police officer reprimanded and I want some kind of training in that program so that it will never, ever happen again," said Judie Howell, whose 34-year-old son, Bobby, was killed June 26 in a Cass County car accident.

Howell said an Omaha police officer left her a message telling her about the accident and that her son's body was sent to a funeral home in Plattsmouth. She filed a complaint with the Omaha Police Department.

Lt. Tim Cavanaugh, commander of the internal affairs unit, sent a letter of apology to Howell.

"On behalf of the Omaha Police Department, I again want to express my sympathy for the loss of your son and regret for the message left on your answering machine," Cavanaugh wrote.

When reached Thursday, Cavanaugh declined to further comment. Officer Cathy Martinec, a police spokeswoman, said the matter was being investigated.

Under standard department procedures, notification should be made in person by a uniformed officer and one other person, Martinec said. If a survivor cannot be located, a message must be left either at a residence or a place of business asking them to contact police as soon as possible.

Communities United Against Police Brutality
2104 Stevens Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Hotline 612-874-STOP (7867)