Page 3 - Berkeley Copwatch News Today

Like the George Floyd witnesses, he saw police kill a man. Now, he’s part of the system, demanding change Watching eyewitnesses in Derek Chauvin’s trial express their grief, anger, fear and helplessness at seeing George Floyd beg for his life, Feidin Santana had been there before. The 29-year-old, who recorded the fatal police shooting of Walter Scott in North Charleston, South Carolina, six years ago, had to testify himself amid threats, bigotry and bogus allegations — all for the seemin...

Twisting the Law THE FLOYD DEATH WATCH-The trial of Derek Chauvin is underway. The press writes articles searching for ways to say something unimportant about it. On Sunday, 3/28, an article in the SF Chronicle wonders if a “snap decision” defense would work, or would the defense be better off with a “trying to do his job well” approach. Six paragraphs go by that way, without ever mentioning that Floyd had already been arrested and was in handcuffs when killed. He was killed in ...

Berkeley City Council unanimously passes major reforms in hopes of more equitable policing KGO Share: BERKELEY, Calif. (KGO) -- Berkeley City Council held a special meeting Tuesday night to vote on sweeping police reforms. Convened before police killed George Floyd last May, Berkeleys Fair and Impartial Policing Workgroup, shared data on racial disparities, when it comes to who Berkeley Police stop in cars, on bikes, and on foot. "In Berkeley, for the years 2015 to 2018, black drivers were abou...

After months of delay, Berkeley City Council struck down a vote of no confidence in Berkeley Police Department Chief Andrew Greenwood, citing the council’s lack of legal authority over the employment status of city department heads. The resolution was first proposed by former Councilmember Cheryl Davila last year following a controversial statement made by Greenwood during a June city council discussion on police reform. When asked during the meeting what tear gas alternatives are available t...

Protesters tear down fences at Berkeley rally to save People’s Park With echoes of People’s Park’s legacy of resistance, protesters reacted Friday to UC Berkeley taking the first steps towards developing the land for student housing. People’s Park co-founder Michael Delacour at a rally to stop UC Berkeley from building on People’s Park. Jan. 29, 2021. Photo: Pete Rosos Fifty-two years after founding People’s Park, Michael Delacour stood in front of a crowd that had gathered Friday a...

Aimee Ziegler, Lisa Teague, Russell Bates, and Yesica Prado watch the Zoom broadcast of the Berkeley Community Safety Coalition Homeless Memorial on Dec. 12. Photo: Pete Rosos On Saturday, a coalition of advocates for Berkeley’s homeless community gathered online to sing, pray and demand justice for the unhoused people and their supporters who died in Berkeley this year. The memorial came as new shelter-in-place orders and heavy rain underlined the increasing pressures that quarantine and win...