Demonstrators Want Police Prosecuted

About 125 people protested Friday on the steps of the City-County Building in downtown Pittsburgh calling on Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala to file criminal charges against 3 white Pittsburgh Police officers in the beating of then 18 year old Jordan Miles, an African American student, in January 2010.
The rally came after the Justice Department announced Wednesday that there was insufficient evidence to show beyond a reasonable doubt that Jordan Miles' civil rights have been violated. The following day, Pittsburgh Police Chief Nate Harper announced that the officers, Michael Saldutte, David Sisak and Richard Ewing, who had been on paid leave for more than a year, were being reinstated.
The crowd chanted "Shame" and some held up signs including one reading "Prosecute the police" during the rally.
Brandi Fisher of the Alliance for Police Accountability says this is not about striking back at the police department...
"I have made it very clear that we are not against the police. I have made it very clear that we understand that we need the police. But I've also made it very clear that the police will not run through our neighborhoods and beat our children at will and get away with it."

There's been no word yet if the district attorney will pursue charges against the officers.

Jordan Miles' Mother: "The Whole Community is Outraged"

City of Pittsburgh officials had said they would wait until the federal investigation was over in the case of the beating of an 18 year old African American high school student on January 12, 2010.
Police Chief Nate Harper will hold a news conference this afternoon about the 3 plain clothes officers who allegedly wrongly beat Jordan Miles, an honors student at Pittsburgh's Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) High School.

The three officers confronted Jordan Miles as he was walking from his mother's house in Homewood to his grandmother's home. Miles says he did not the 3 men were police officers. The officers said they thought Miles had a heavy object in his pocket and he failed to obey an order to stop. Jordan Miles wound up in the hospital, badly beaten about the face and with chunks of hair pulled from his head.

The Department of Justice announced yesterday that it would not pursue criminal charges against Officers Michael Saldutte, David Sisak and Richard Ewing. The statement said that after an exhaustive review by the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI including interviews with more than 40 people "there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt" that Jordan Miles' civil rights were violated.
The attorney for the Miles' family, J. Kerrington Lewis says the Justice Department made the wrong decision and this sends a message...
"That there's no opportunity even for the citizens through a jury trial to determine whether that beating was so excessive it became criminal."

Dan O'Hara, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, said the 3 officers "have been vindicated" by the Justice Department's decision not to prosecute.
Terez Miles, Jordan Miles' mother, says they were hoping for the best but in this case the justice system did not work....
"Jordan and I are both outraged about this. The whole community is outraged. Our family is outraged. There needed to be charges filed on these officers. That would have been the greatest deterrent to this sort of thing happening to other people in the future."

The Miles family filed a civil suit several months ago against the city of Pittsburgh and the 3 officers. That case is expected to go to court late this year.

The 3 officers have been on paid leave for more than a year.

No Federal Charges Against Police In Miles' Case

The U.S. Department of Justice has decided not to file charges against Pittsburgh Police Officers Michael Saldutte, David Sisak and Richard Ewing in the January 2010 beating of 18 year old Jordan Miles of Homewood, an honors student at Pittsburgh's Creative and Performing Arts High School.

The statement from the Justice Department said the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI conducted an "exhaustive review of the incident" including interviews of more than 40 witnesses.

"After a lengthy, independent, and thorough review consuming hundreds of hours of agent and prosecutor time, federal officials determined that the evidence was insufficient to prove a federal civil rights violation, beyond a reasonable doubt, against any of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police officers."

Miles says he was walking from his mother's house to his grandmother's house when the three officers confronted him. They claim they tried to stop him because he had a heavy object in his pocket and refused to stop. Miles said he was afraid because he didn't know the plain-clothes officers were police.

Pete Shell of the Alliance for Police Accountability says he's "deeply disappointed and surprised by the decision not to prosecute..."there's ample evidence to prosecute...they put him in the hospital...they tore out chunks of his hair."

Shell says the group presented hundreds of petitions to the Allegheny County District Attorney calling for a local prosecution and he said he would wait till after the federal investigation...."Now that that decision has been announced, we expect D.A. Zappala to move forward with the prosecution in this case. That's the last chance for justice."

Saldutte, Sisak and Ewing remain suspended at this time.

"Empty Bowls" Fundraiser to Fight Hunger

As the demand continues to rise for food assistance in the region, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and Just Harvest will host their 16th Annual Empty Bowls Dinner this Sunday. Over the course of the last 15 years, this fundraiser has brought in $428,000 to help fight hunger in the Pittsburgh area.
The fundraiser is a meager meal of soup and bread but Joyce Rothermel, CEO of the Food Bank, says 30 restaurants and caterers have donated more than 300 gallons of soup ranging from exotic selections including Maryland Crab and Butternut Bisque to standards like vegetable and chicken noodle.
Rothermel says the most notable feature of the event is the handmade bowls donated by local amateur and professional potters...."Over 1,000 wonderfully crafted pottery bowls that will be available for people who come to choose the one that matches who they are as a reminder of people who are hungry."
In addition, there will be an auction on bowls signed by celebrities including Paul McCartney, Sidney Crosby, Mike Tomlin and Bon Jovi.
Rothermel says more and more people in the Pittsburgh community have need for food assistance and 1 in every 7 Americans receives food stamps.
The event is Sunday, March 6 from 2-6 p.m. at Rodef Shalom Congregation in Oakland. Tickets are $20.

Legislation to Ban the "R" Word

Two state lawmakers this week introduced identical bills in the House and Senate that would remove the term "mentally retarded" from Pennsylvania laws. Legislation authored by Representative Jake Wheatley of Pittsburgh and Senator Andy Dinniman of Chester County would redefine the term "mental retardation as "intellectual disability" in state laws.

"The point is this: words do matter," said Dinniman. "They carry weight and they carry power. It's time that we abandon the use of this archaic and derisive terminology in favor of language that is inclusive and accepted by the physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities community."

Allegheny County changed the name of its Office of Mental Retardation last July to the Office of Intellectual Disability. Don Clark is the deputy director of that office and says nationally the terminology began to change in 2007. Clark says it's more than a matter of perception..."But also describing better that these are people with strengths and can contribute to their community. Many are out holding down jobs, living independently in the community. Some need additional support but many are contributing to their society."

Clark said they support this legislation because language is very powerful..."The words mentally retarded and retarded have some very negative connotations." He says by changing the terminology "it's hoped that this language will allow people to look at people individually and view them through their strengths."

Wheatley's bill has been sent to the House Judiciary Committee and Dinniman's to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee.

City Councilman Hears from Community on Police Accountability

A Tuesday night hearing at the Shiloh Community Missionary Baptist Church in Homewood addressed upcoming legislation for more police transparency. Pittsburgh Councilman Ricky Burgess' bill would establish policy for off-duty police, and compel the Pittsburgh Police Bureau to produce an annual report on the make-up of the police force; any legal action against police officers; average response times; arrests by charge, race and gender by zone and specialized units; conviction rates and traffic stops as well as recruitment and retention.

Burgess says that a lot of people are interested in the duties and requirements of off-duty police officers. "I think there needs to be a clear policy that states what off duty police officers should and should not do, and what is the responsibility and the city's commitment to them so that both sides are clear. I think that recent events have lead us to need to have that process clarified."

He says that the majority of his constituents are behind him and that he has not yet heard from the opposition directly. Burgess is willing to make compromises to his legislation but believes that the conversation and public discussion is incredibly important.

Councilman Burgess' legislation was proposed after allegations of police brutality against 18 year old Jordan Miles, who was allegedly beaten by 3 plain clothed officers while walking to his grandmother's house in Homewood.

Speakers Testify on City Police Reform Legislation

Experts from law enforcement, academia and the legal arena spoke out in support of proposed police reform legislation at Pittsburgh Council Thursday. The post-agenda meeting centered on an ordinance drafted by Councilman Ricky Burgess that would require routine data collection by officers and law enforcement administrators. That data would include everything from routine traffic stops to incidents involving the use of force. The information would be published in an annual public report that would specify the make-up of the police force; any legal action against police officers; average response times; arrests by charge, race and gender by zone and specialized units; conviction rates and traffic stops as well as recruitment and retention. Vic Walczak, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania says in the 1990's Pittsburgh police were forced to abide by a consent decree that help bring the department in line. But he says he's sure the police union will come out against the legislation as hamstringing their operations, "that is demonstrably false because other police departments around the country do it, and the city of Pittsburgh police department has done it--they were forced to do it under the consent decree--and crime went down." Walczak says there's a perception in the black community that it is under siege, "and until and unless the city measures what their officers are doing and publicizes it, they can't credibly come out and say there's no problem." Wayne Babish, a former police officer and adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh supports the legislation and says over time, police officers will recognize its benefits, "a police chief would welcome and view this proposed legislation as an opportunity to communicate and collaborate with elected officials." Burgess' legislation was sparked by the alleged beating of Jordan Miles, a black high-school student, by white, plain-clothed police officers in Homewood in January 2010. An investigation into that incident is still pending.

March to Support Egyptian Uprising

Supporters of the political uprising in Egypt will march through Oakland this Saturday to raise awareness and spark discussion of the situation.

Chatham University global policy major Justine Sumrok organized the event. She says the march will bring together organizations like the Students for a Democratic Society, Students for Justice in Palestine, the Industrial Workers of the World and more.

Sumrok says the marchers will also demand the Obama administration stop financial and military aid to the current Egyptian government, led by President Hasni Mubarak.

Sumrok says she saw why the Egyptians are protesting when she studied in a poor area of Egypt last summer.

“These people suffered daily indignation at the hands of the police, which [is] one of the only forces still loyal to Mubarak. Witnessing the economic injustice, the level of unemployment, the complete lack of public service… I think them banding together and making a move towards democracy should always be supported.”

Sumrok says anyone who supports the uprising should join the march, which will begin at 1:00 p.m. Saturday at the University of Pittsburgh’s Posvar Hall.

Red Kettle Donations Down, Internet Giving Up

The Western Pennsylvania Salvation Army's Red Kettles may have come up a bit short but Internet contributions more than made up the difference. Major Sandra Jackson, the Allegheny County Coordinator for the Salvation Army, says contributions at the kettle sites trailed their goals by nearly $100,000 but online donations were at an all-time high of more than $126,000....

"For any of us who don't change with technology, we are going to be left behind. So many people do a lot of their shopping via the Internet, so they don't encounter one of our Red Kettles. So, Internet giving is going to be more important, more critical."

Major Jackson says their goal this year was $2,575,000....up $75,000 from 2009....and they exceeded the overall goal by $52,000. ...."we are so grateful for the community we have here in southwestern Pennsylvania."
She says reaching that goal was critical...."once Christmas was over, families continue to struggle in Western Pennsylvania and the resources that are raised in those communities stay right there to assist families during these early winter months if there's continued heating needs, rental assistance of just getting to work."

Jackson noted that in 17 of their 39 Worship and Service Centers, the Red Kettle donations were behind 2009 figures so they will reassess their goals in those communities and consider the impact of stores that have closed in those communities that were supportive of the kettle campaigns in the past.

Change in Gender ID Policy

PennDOT has changed its policy on how transgender people identify themselves on their driver's licenses. Transportation Department spokesman Craig Yetter says the agency and Equality Pennsylvania reached an agreement...
"Equality advocates approached the department and brought the policy change for passports to our attention and let us know there were 26 other states and the District of Columbia that had similar policies in place and then PennDOT took action to change the policy."
The U.S. Department of State in June implemented a change in policy regarding the gender markings on passports.
Under PennDOT's old policy, to change the gender on their licenses or state ID cards, people had to prove they had sexual reassignment surgery. The new policy that is effective immediately doesn't require proof of surgery. It does allow a change in gender on the licenses if people are living full-time in the new gender and it is verified by a licensed medical or psychological caregiver or social worker "whose practice includes helping people with gender identity issues."
Yetter says that can be done online at Department of Motor Vehicles website.

Grant Gives B-PEP Opportunity to Expand

The Black Political Empowerment Project and the Coalition Against Violence have received a $150,000 grant to increase their engagement of Pittsburgh communities.

B-PEP Chairman Tim Stevens says the organization has used the Pittsburgh Foundation contribution to hire Kenneth Huston as a community liaison. Stevens says Huston will work with individuals and organizations of all kinds to implement the Coalition’s goals.

Stevens says while the Coalition has previously outlined plans to decrease African-American violence and increase political interest, it has never had the resources to apply those goals to Pittsburgh.

Stevens says he doesn’t expect anyone to read the entire “Strategies for Change” document, but he does want Pittsburghers to review the segments that address them in particular. The document can be found here.

PCOC is not ACORN but Similar

Now that the Pennsylvania Communities Organizing for Change (PCOC) is starting to make some public appearances at rallies around town members are beginning to speak to reporters about the group. PCOC Volunteer Coordinator Mary Ellen Hayden says PCOC is not a continuation of the Pennsylvania arm of ACORN (Association for Community Organizations Reform Now) as some have been reporting but many former members of ACORN are now members of PCOC. Hayden describes the new organization as an organizing group for low and moderate-income communities made up of volunteers from those same communities. She says the group already has 501 (c) (3) and 501 (c) (4) status for its different efforts. She says PCOC had been talking to the 7,000 AORN members in Pennsylvania asking them if they wanted to stay with ACORN or join the new organization. She says now that ACORN in PA has been dissolved those conversations are bit different. She says they have recruited about 2,000 members so far. She says, “There is still a lot of work to do.” For now, PCOC has offices in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and Hayden says as they move forward members hope to drum up support in other Pennsylvania communities and form more chapters in the future. ACORN officials at the national office in Chicago say the organization is not dead but some state chapters are dissolving after a slew of bad press made it hard to hold onto members and find new funding.
Last May the Allegheny County District Attorney charged seven local ACORN members with election law violations. One has pleaded guilty, one has had charged dismissed and the remainder are awaiting trial.

Demand on Food Banks Increases

The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank has seen a surge in both need and donations in 2009. Food Bank CEO Joyce Rothermel says 1,500 additional families have come for assistance since August 2008. While they have not turned anyone away who is eligible and in need at soup kitchens and food pantries, Rothermel is not sure if people have been receiving enough food. She has doubts because there have been more emergency calls than usual.

"Usually the volume of food that is being provided at the area pantries is sufficient to make it through the month," she says. "People in need who needed the help before find themselves in even greater need now."

For 2010, Rothermel projects similar trends for the first two quarters, with more of the working poor and unemployed coming forward for help. But by the end of 2010, she hopes to see some of the trends recede.

Local Groups Call for End to Gaza Fighting

Four events are coming up calling for an end to the fighting in the Gaza Strip. A coalition of local groups including the Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee, the mostly Jewish Middle East Peace Forum, the Muslim Student Association, and the Thomas Merton Center Antiwar Committee are holding vigils and leafleting campaigns starting Thursday.

Pittsburgh native Jonas Moffat now heads Students for Justice in Palestine at Pitt after spending 2 years in Palestinian areas. He says there was a humanitarian crisis and lack of basic necessities in Gaza even before the latest hostilities. Moffat says the situation now, after twelve days of fighting, is unbelievably dire for Gaza residents, who are trapped there.

Moffat condemns any military action against civilians, including Hamas rocket attacks. On Saturday, some concerned Pittsburghers will bus to Washington to urge the Bush Administration to take a more active role to end the fighting in Gaza.

Events:
Thursday, January 8, 5 p.m.: vigil on corner of Forbes Avenue and Bigelow Blvd.
Friday, January 9, 8 p.m.: photo exhibit at the Kimbo Art Gallery, William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh
Saturday, January 10, 12 noon: vigil and leafleting on corner of Forbes and Craig St. for those who can’t take bus to Washington, D.C.
Sunday, January 11, 7 p.m.: outside Cathedral of Learning, the Tel Rumeida peace and justice circus