Washington, DC – On Wednesday, March 19, the Parkchester community came out to an impromptu event in support of Ronald Butler, Donte Butler, Donte Butler Jr., Frederick Simms and Jermaine Irving Jr. These five men were brutally attacked by the Metropolitan Police Department on March 11 after defending their family and are facing multiple charges, including assaulting a police officer.

The Butler family decades before lost a loved one to police murder, and this instance brought up the trauma they faced at that time. However, this time, they are committed to fighting back and ensuring justice.

They are working with the DC Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (DCAARPR) and demanding all charges are dropped against their family. They are also insisting the officers involved are fired and convicted, specifically Officer Evan Zelesnick, who was the prime instigator of the brawl, as well as the lieutenant who escalated the incident by arriving on scene and immediately starting to mace the handcuffed family members. The lieutenant’s name was conveniently left off any legal paperwork.

On Wednesday, Daniel Butler, son of Donte Butler Sr. and nephew of Ronald Butler, spoke on the incident and how police consistently terrorize his community, stating, “We been dealing with this pain for decades, generations. Drop all the charges, get all them police outta there. [MPD] looks at us as enemies, been that way for years. We need justice, real justice. You want me to be honest? The police department is the very first organized gang.”

Donna Butler, matriarch of the family, spoke as well, “This right here, this is my family. And this is how we come together when it’s needed. Release my son, he did no wrong. He protected his family, and as I always told my kids, stand ten toes. And right now, [MPD] got him in handcuffs, because he chose to protect his kids, his family, his cousins.”

#WashingtonDC #InJusticeSystem #Police Crimes #KillerCops #NAARPR #DCAARPR

Milwaukee, WI – On July 6, elected alderpeople of the Milwaukee Common Council hosted a town hall regarding a city sales tax increase and other provisions around Wisconsin Act 12. Members of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (MAARPR) participated in the town hall and distributed general information about Act 12 to community members. Alderpeople from the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, and 15th Districts were present.

The city organized the event to gauge opinion on the potential of a 2% city sales tax increase. An opportunity to implement this sales tax comes from last month's bipartisan Shared Revenue bill (now law, known as Act 12), but the revenue it generates can only be used to pay for the fire and police departments pensions.

Moreover, Act 12 requires the following: having two of the Fire and Police Commission’s (FPC) members be selected by fire and police union members, stripping policy-creating power of the FPC, reinstating cops in public schools, keeping a minimum amount of sworn police officers on duty (which would be required to increase from the current total), and no usage of tax revenue to fund diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in the city.

Some alderpeople have expressed staunch disagreement with these provisions and are considering a lawsuit against the state. Alderwoman Milele Coggs opened the financial presentation with comments on how negotiators stonewalled the Milwaukee Common Council input on the sales tax proposal. Budget Director Nik Kovac gave a brief presentation on the options forward. Topics outlined in the presentation included a history of the city budget, projected outcomes for future years, and conditions for the sales tax. Intermittently the alderpeople present spoke to arguments on both sides for the Act 12 sales tax.

The overwhelming input of community members that gave comments suggested the city shouldn’t have to take up the sales tax. Citizens were frustrated, and rightly so, that the city’s biggest stream of revenue would be burdened upon them.

“The sales tax is a Band-Aid on the harm Act 12 has caused Milwaukee, and it will not stop the bleeding for our city,” said Aurelia Ceja, co-chair of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (MAARPR).

They and other MAARPR members spoke to the need for revenue streams without these other conditions. Paris Miller, propaganda chair of the Milwaukee Alliance, spoke to the need for city officials to not repeat the same errors in city budget planning that created Milwaukee’s insolvency, such as giving the Milwaukee Police Department an estimated $300 million, a number which continues to climb yearly.

The Milwaukee Common Council will meet on July 11 to vote on the sales tax proposal. 10 of the 15 council members are needed to vote in favor for the proposal to pass. A vote in favor may please the police department, fire department, and city employees who rely heavily on the city’s pension fund. A vote in favor will also risk alienating and angering community members who cannot afford the sales tax and who had little to any participation in negotiations. Members of the Milwaukee Alliance will attend this meeting and continue to voice the community’s dissatisfaction with this proposal.

#MilwaukeeWI #Police #budget

New York, NY – On April 26, at 1 p.m., people gathered outside the New York City's Parks and Recreation Department (NYCPRD) building to hold a press conference and protest the NYCPRD's decision to move the annual International Workers Day protest to the North End of Union Square Park.

May Day has been held at South Side (off 14th Street) of Union Square Park for the past century. The decision to grant the permit for the park three blocks north of the historic location is a blatant move to throw off May Day protesters who plan to attend the rally.

Organizers for May Day at Union Square submitted a permit over three months ago, and the NYCPRD, along with NYPD, have been giving the organizers the runaround. Finally, after hemming and hawing, they granted a permit a few days ago. They tried to excuse their decision by saying that construction would get in the way of the rally. Organizers went to visit the location, and it shows no signs of construction.

Sara Flounders, with the International Action Center, said, “This denial is a clear violation of the constitutional right to assemble in public places. In the age of Trump, such arbitrary abuse of bureaucratic authority should be challenged. It is part of the climate of raids, round-ups and growing police repression and militarization.”

Commonly, it is known that the south side of the park has more traffic and is more accessible by the different train lines. Also, holding a rally at the north side of the park would get in the way of street vendors who normally gather there during the week.

The attendees of the press conference were sure to let those passing by know what the NYCPRD was attempting to do. Before the conference started, chants rang through the street of, “May Day, where? South Union Square!”

Several spoke representing different organizations that are putting May Day together, from Anakbayan New York to Labor Against Racist Terror.

Michela Martinazzi spoke on behalf of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression NY. In her statement she said, “The parks department's attempt to shut down May Day is an act of political repression. But, we won't let them shut down May Day, because it's a celebration of the struggles we've all waged in this past year. So we will be there celebrating, militantly rallying and ready to march.”

May Day Union Square has over 60 organizations signed on for the day. If you're interested in attending, here's the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2004671003192915/

#NewYorkNY #MayDay #PeoplesStruggles #Police