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Respected comrade targeted by racist police.

An injury to one is an injury to all. Alton has been threatened in his car by police before. He called the police and made it clear that he would not let them murder him. Being commited to defending yourself is distinctly different from "threatening to attack a police officer." That the officers in question knew of his statement, made at a previous profiling incident, is further evidence of a criminal conspiracy among racist police.
ALTON MCDONALD, activist, organizer and humanitarian, is dedicated to the liberation of his people from social, economic and political oppression. Mr. McDonald's civil rights activities expand into several arenas. In 1998, after serving 15 years in the Army, Mr. McDonald retired as a staff sergeant. It was at that time, that he decided to dedicate his life to uplifting the plight of African American people. Consequently, he ran for school board and mayor in his hometown of Tacoma Washington.
In 2002, he became a founding member of the Tacoma Branch of the National Action Network,(NAN), a civil rights organization started in 1991 by the Rev. Al Sharpton. He now serves as Vice President and legal redress specialist for the organization in Tacoma. Under the umbrella of NAN, and through his advocacy work, Mr. McDonald has helped countless individuals and organizations in the battle against police brutality, employment discrimination and government corruption.
Currently, he is motivating individuals for change in Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky. For example, in Hopkinsville, he is exposing police brutality and abuse of inmates in Kentucky prisons. In Clarksville, he is helping African American faculty, staff and students challenge the Tennessee Board of Regents and Austin Peay State University for violating the historic desegregation case, known now as the Geier Consent Decree. In addition, he is aiding African American police officers who were subjugated to racial slurs and unfair employment pratices in the Clarksville Police Department.
Mr. McDonald is currently completing a Master's of Arts in Organizational Leadership at Chapman University in Tacoma and his future goals include law school and the organization of NAN chapters in the southern half of the United States.

Alton's statement:

On January 29, 2005, approximately 5:25 A.M. I was traveling North I-5, took the Auburn exit traveling 18 East with my signal flashing, I safely merged into the right lane. I observed a patrol in my far left lane approaching my vehicle. The patrol car passed my vehicle. I observed a female officer on the her cellular phone. To my surprised, the patrol vehicle cut me off (merged directly in front of my vehicle) without using a turning signal. I immediately applied my brakes to prevent rearing ending the officer's vehicle. I flashed my lights once at the driver to get her attention or to see if the officer was okay. The officer speed up and then applied her brakes. I immediately signaled, observed my left and safely change into the left lane. The officer now known to me as Brigette, Clary #0105.
Officer Clary applied her brakes and I eventually passed her patrol car and right thereafter, she turned her lights on. I immediately pulled my vehicle over to the right and stopped. While waiting for the officer, I secured my driver's license, car registration and insurance. I rolled my window down, holding my driver's license in my left hand. I called 911 because my intuition told me that this was going be a hostile contact. I requested a Sergeant through the 911 Operator to assist in the traffic stopped. The 911 Operator took my complaint and ask me where I was located, I told her I was just off I-5 on Highway 18 E going towards Auburn. The operator asked me for markers. I told her that there was just construction cones. The 911 Operator transferred my call to the Federal Way 911 Operator # 54. The operator informed me that a Lieutenant was on his way to assist. I saw officer Clary approaching my vehicle. To my surprise, officer Clary started banging on my window, yelling at me to get off the phone. I told officer Clary that I was talking with the 911 operator and requesting for a Sergeant because I fear for my life. She was very hostile, threatening and aggressive towards me for no apparent reasons. At no time did she requested so see my driver's license, car insurance or registration, even though, I had my driver's license in my hand. Officer Clary walked to the rear of my vehicle and had no further contact with me.
Officer Clary's actions made me in fear for my life. During the contact, officer Clary didn't ask me for my driver's license, car registration or insurance. Shortly, I observed another patrol vehicle arrived on the scene and parked behind officer Clary's patrol vehicle, and they were talking with each other. Thereafter, a unmarked patrol vehicle with flashing lights drove up and stopped in front of my vehicle.
The officer got out of his vehicle and as he approached my vehicle he started yelling at me in a hostile, threatening and aggressive manner to get out the vehicle. I was in fear of my life. I immediately opened my vehicle door and got out. The officer now known to me as Lieutenant Ed Fadler #23 (third officer on scene).
Lieutenant Fadler pointed and told me to walk to the rear of my vehicle where officer Clary was standing. Officer Steve Olson (second officer on the scene) was standing on the right passenger side to front of my vehicle looking at us. As I was walking to the rear of my vehicle, Lieutenant Fadler slammed my door so hard, it left a ringing in my ear for seconds which shook my vehicle.
Officer Clary stated to me that I wanted to fight her in the presence of Lieutenant Fadler. I told officer Clary that was impossible, because I was sitting in my vehicle talking with the 911 operator and holding my driver's license in my hand and waiting for her to take it and she refused.
Officer Clary told me to turn around and placed me under arrest and placed me in her patrol vehicle. Later, Lieutenant Fadler came over and opened the patrol vehicle door and asked me, "asked me if I was talking with the 911 operator? I told hi "yes". Also, he asked me, "why did I made a missing person report?" I told him, "I didn't".
Officer Clary transported me to the Federal Way Police station. Officer Clary didn't seat belt me in the vehicle and was driving very aggressively. Officer Clary didn't wear her seat belt during the transport. Upon arriving at the station, I got out the car and Officer Clary grabbed and pulled my right arm. I told the officer Clary that she was hurting me but she ignored me. Inside the building in the first hallway, I told officer Clary that I am human being and she shouldn't treat me in this manner. Officer Clary said to me, "no you are property and Chattel" (slave).
Officer Clary asked me if I wanted to fight her, because I am so buffed, and I think I am bad. I said to officer Clary, "why would I want to fight her".
Officer Clary stated to me that, "I threatened to kill a State Patrol Officer". A Caucasian male officer came from around the counter and handcuffed my left ankle to the bar and removed the handcuff from my hands. Officer Clary stepped into the cell room and removed my hat from my head and threw it on the floor and slammed the door.

Officer Clary charge me with "Reckless Driving".

Officer Manuell Mairs, #66, transported me to the Fife jail. The handcuffs were placed around my wrist very tight. Officer Mairs didn't seat belt me in the vehicle nor did he used his seat belt. At the Fife jail, I asked officer Champion #265 to take a picture of my wrists.
Officer Mairs took a telephone call and wrote another charge on my ticket, "refusal to give information or cooperate with officer".
Officer Olson stayed with my car until it was towed by North West Towing. I was booked into the Fife jail with a bond for my release. I spend $100.00 for my booking fee into the Fife jail, $600. 00 for my bond to get out of jail and $306.27 to North west Towing. The total cost for my racial profiling traffic stop cost me $1006. 27.

Allegations:

1. I was racially profile and stopped by officer Clary for no probable cause in violation of RCW 43.101.410

2. Officer Clary used racial derogatory slurs towards me, calling me property and Chattel (slave) in violation of my Civil Rights under 42 U.S.C 1983 and 1965

3. Officer Clary used racial offensive slurs towards me which is a direct violation of my Civil Rights 1964 Civil Right Act as Amended under Title VI

4. Officer Clary's unsafe operation of her patrol vehicle could have taken my life when she cut me off. She profile me after I flashed my high beam at her and pulled me over in violation of RCW 40.61.500

5. Officer Clary was angry at me for flashing my light her for cutting me off. She approached my vehicle in an hostile, threatening and aggressive manner banging on window and yelling at me to get of the phone

6. Officer Clary at no time asked me for my driver's license, vehicle registration or insurance car

7. Officer Clary transported and failed to buckled me into the car seat which put my life at risk, and in violation of the law RCW 46.61.688
8. Officer Clary made inflammatory statement about me, stating that, "I threatened to kill a State Patrol Officer".
9. Officer Clary arrested me illegally without probable cause in violation of my Constitutional Rights, IV and XIV Amendment of the United States Constitution

add a comment on this article

OK, people let's see if WE THE PEOPLE can get this 02.Feb.2005 22:53

pig

off the streets and take away his badge/gun and give him a much-needed "time-out"?

??? 03.Feb.2005 03:14

Karen

It was a female cop (Brigette Clary) which proves that men don't have a monopoly on acting like shitheads. On the other hand, it sounds like McDonald provoked her by flashing his lights.

Driving courtesy 03.Feb.2005 06:41

heck

It's defensive driving to flash your lights at someone that looks like they don't see you. I'm a bit ruder, I usually just slam my fist down on the horn. Last morning a lady in a green sedan just started drifting into my lane, I flashed my lights, when it looked like she was going to turn into me I slowed down and pounded my horn, she wasn't using signals.
Another situation where it's a good idea to flash your lights is anytime you pass a semi trailer cause chances are you're in thier blind spot, and you don't want them shifting into your lane.
It's difficult for me to see how flashing your lights to make somone aware of you is provocation for bieng called a slave, or having an officer try to provoke a fight with you. The outcome of a one against two fight against armed police officers seems like simple math. Doesn't it seem like the pig wanted an excuse to attack him?

Stay strong comrads.

This gentleman 03.Feb.2005 10:38

just a citizen

is part of National Action Network. I know some of these folks. They are very aggressive in supporting people in cases like this, and since he is actually staff, he will have Rev. Sharpton and friends on the phone to Tacoma pretty damn quick...actually they will probably start at the state capitol and work down. There won't be much left of Officer Cleary when they get done chewing. This cop picked on the wrong fellow, and will soon know it if she doesn't already.

By their logic 03.Feb.2005 12:00

American Citizen

By the logic of the Portland police, at least, I believe you had the right to shoot to kill officer Clary and any others in your way. At least, that's what they would have done. Any time they kill an unarmed person for no reason, they say it was because they "feared for their life." You have said that numerous times. Interesting. I know what I would say if I were on the jury. Sauce for the gander.

Seriously, it hurts even to say that about another human being, even one in the uniform of the oppressor. But how many more killings are we going to accept before we turn their logic back to haunt them? I don't know.

Remember Kendra James.
Remember Jahar Perez.
Remember Jose Mejia Poot.

Rememer civil rights.
Remember human rights.
Remember checks and balances.

hi karen 03.Feb.2005 12:47

clamydia

I know you are trying to be open-minded and "see both sides of the issue," and that your post was made in the spirit of that, but in my opinion that post comes precariously close to blaming the victim, if not all the way. Flashing one's lights at someone who cuts you off in traffic is not an adequate provocation to justify even so much as a traffic stop, much less the over-the-top behavior exhibited by this over-defensive womyn.

quite right there you are 03.Feb.2005 18:19

American Citizen

about the PoPigs...they have so little respect here that it's shameful to see them at work!

Blatant abuse 03.Feb.2005 18:50

gk

This is a blatant case of abuse by police! Officer Clary was attempting to get this driver to commit something wrong. He didn't, instead, he did everything right, and as a result, nobody got killed. Again, police agressiveness and acts against the law allow them (so far) to get by with it. Pursue this to the fullest. This officer must be fired.

Thanx for the report.

be strong Mr. McDonald 03.Feb.2005 20:06

longo

i am so sorry you have been treated like this. this should be front page news. does everything have to be videoed and photoed to hold people accountable?

police training is insufficient.

No Police Violence 03.Feb.2005 21:30

sun flower

sue them for DEPRIVATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS UNDER 42 U.S.C.A. 1983.

I hope you have a great lawyer.

The bastards!!

Shock and awe (and a call to action) 04.Feb.2005 06:39

Marik

I cannot believe what I am reading. As I read through McDonalds statement, my jaws kept getting wider and wider, like some sort of cartoon. This is an outright abuse of police powers, as we all know and have probably experienced yourself. Whether you happen to be black, have long hair, be a woman, or whatever, I'm sure you've been through a form of what Mr. McDonald has gone through (I know I have). But this is one of the more extreme cases.

Why was it so extreme? It's simple, not because he was black, although that may have been the primary reason for him being pulled over, but because he stood up. It was a very passive act of resistance, but look at the repricussion. But I say fuck that and fuck them. Now I think it is time for us _all_ to stand up. There should be some sort of demonstration for Alton's plight, and the plight which is really all of ours. If we do not, taking from Altons example, stand up and say what they did was wrong, they will continue (as they have) to abuse their police powers.

Is there anyone out there who could organize such a demonstration? I do not think I could, but I promise you, I will be there.

Principled acts VS. Legal acts. 04.Feb.2005 06:55

.

gk- Again, police agressiveness and "acts against the law" allow them (so far) to get by with it.

Is defending yourself from a violent cop illigal? A whole swath of laws are like portlands sit lie ordinance, a blank check. If I stand in one place for too long I can be arrested. If I'm attacked by an agent of the government and I fight back I can be arrested. If an undercover fbi agent is selling crack in my community and I kick thier ass and tell them to get the hell out of our community I can be arrested. Meanwhile the US government is breaking up activist groups, bombing forest activists, bombing move, using napalm, torture, funding wars with drugs, going onto reservations and killing people, smuggling arms, setting up "drug free zones," and general breaking laws about as fast as they make them. Hell the us invasion of cuba was illigal, didn't mean they didn't do it. The WTO's definition of insanity is somone that doesn't work or contribute to society for a prolonged period of time. The strait fact of the matter is revolution is "illigal," because the system of laws it self is criminal, and we're gonna have to come to terms with that. The us government is legally obligated, meaning it is LAW that the us cannot violate the geneva convention. Still this doesn't mean that they didn't go ahead and use napalm, that they didn't authorize torture, and give thier victims to people that would torture them. If the us government obeyed half it's laws there wouldn't be a need for a revolution. The thing is there's this thing called systimatic, or institutional violence. This ain't gonna be stopped without "breaking the law" breaking the system itself, and creating one that represents us, and not the one percent that rule this country. So no, I ain't for conditions on revolution. Not if those conditions superceed or come before stopping the governments tyranny in it's act. Not if those conditions put personal security and privledge before principled action.

Question 04.Feb.2005 07:54

I'm curious

Aren't police cars these days equipted with video camaras and microphones? If so, shouldn't there be a recording of the entire incident to verify or dispute Mr. McDonald's accusations?

shame 04.Feb.2005 17:12

justice

This is absolutely uncalled for
I hope a protest is planned
I hope the truth is rectified
I will stand by in solidarity
This makes our city a shameful place

I bet they Investagate and find Police Abuse 04.Feb.2005 17:27

Shame

I bet her cell phone records show that this is accurate
I bet she was blah blah blah on her phone and then cut him off
I bet the 911 call records show he made 911 calls is correct
I bet his cell phone records show this is true
I bet if this is perused some badge numbers will be fired
I bet that if an investigation ensures & under oath the other 2 cops lie they will all be fired
I bet this case will be another payment the city will make for police violating civil rights
I bet he wins thousands of Dollars because of these stupid cops
I bet on all this and I never-ever even Gamble but I can see a Win coming here

last time I looked 04.Feb.2005 17:40

at a map....

....Auburn was in Washington so why do numerous people mention the portland police? Yeah, I agree they are also bad but your comments sound more like Bush tactics - twisting facts around to apply to something else entirely

Riiiight. 04.Feb.2005 18:20

Allergic to BS

Folks, read the statement he made. Does this not look like baiting? I know as well as you do that many cops are total racists and lousy at their job, but we have to be honest enough with ourselves to see through BS. Some people just spend their whole lives hoping to be the "victim" like this guy, and frankly it looks like he tried really damn hard to turn the whole thing into a banner for a worthy cause, whether it was a real case of discrimination or not. He flashed his headlights at a shitty driver, she pulled him over for it. From that moment on, the entire story he tells shows him taking this from a situation where he was right to a situation where he desperately tried to make himself as big a victim as possible. What's the matter dude, need a paycheck that badly?

By the way, cops don't use the word "chattel." They just don't. If they want to call a person a nigger, they will use the word "nigger." Cops use working class terminology and non-pc slang, only activists and people from 200 years ago use words like "chattel." This whole claim smells of BS to me, and the sad thing is when this gets bitchslapped down by whatever courts and investigations is will wind up in, all the minorities out there that REALLY are racially profiled and harassed by the cops will have that much harder of a time at it.

And, for those who keep saying this makes Portland a sad place, THIS DID NOT HAPPEN HERE! IT IS A COMPLAINT FROM ANOTHER STATE ENTIRELY! Yeah, PDX is screwed up, but THIS case was not about PORTLAND cops. We have enough REAL cases from LOCAL misconduct to focus on, like our cops KILLING people.

Lastly, Mr. McDonald, allegations #1 & 4 are disputed by your own statement (she pulled you over for flashing your lights at her, that is not racial profiling, that is being a bitch). Allegations # 5 & 6 are not illegal. Allegations #2 & 3 rely on you finding the one cop that would prefer to use the word "chattel" over some of the more likely slurs. Google allegation #7 and you find that the law does not apply to civil cases (paragraph 6). Allegation #8 would have a paper trail (such as criminal charges for threatening a cop), and you were not charged with that. Allegation #9 no longer applies since the US Supreme court said it is OK to arrest people for minor traffic accusations (such as failure to wear a seat belt in that case), so while you likely were not "recklessly driving" by any sane definition, the headlight flashing thing may well qualify legally (it should not, but it might). Don't endanger all the REAL civil rights lawsuits of today and tomorrow with your pathetic attempt to feed your ego and/or your wallet.

As much as I hate it, I agree 04.Feb.2005 21:12

Ben

Wow, what has the world come too? I never thought I would see the day I would be defending a pig. As much as I want to believe this story, I can't. Even if I could believe this story was true, there would still be some troubles in the way. You said you called the police when someone pulled you over. You feared your life? Where I come from, that's called getting pulled over. Sure, the police officer was being an ass, but that doesn't mean you call the police. In fact, if you were so afraid of the police why did you call them.

Before I go on I just want you to know that I really don't enjoy doing this. It's just incredibly annoying when prosocuters of police are bull shitting indymedia, the one place where the news is honest. It really hurts me to see BS get on Indymedia. I also don't like saying peoples accusations of a crime are bull shit, because I don't know what really went on. From my experience from the police, many others experience with the police, I can tell you that there might not be a lot of truth to this story.

Anyways, back to what I was saying. Getting pissed off that you called the police is almost expected. I think you may have made a large deal of it. If you HONESTLY feared your life, you wouldn't have called the police. That usually makes the situation worse. I'm going to have to agree with the commenter above and say that no one calls anyone a chattel. I think some of this was true. But I think you may have overexaggerated the police brutality a little much.

P.S. They never buckle you into a police car. I don't know if that was ever a law, because I have never seen them buckle someone into a car. They didn't do it for me the two times I was arrested. Cops are assholes, that doesn't mean that they are racially profiling you just because they pulled you over.

P.P.S I'm only saying this because A. I love indymedia because it is the only honest news reporting website there is, and I don't want that to change. B. I'm tired of having bad examples ruining the cases that actually include racial profiling, or anything for that matter. C. This wasn't in Oregon. D. It looked more like you were trying to start something with the police woman.

I'm not against people sticking up for their rights. I'm not against any ethnicity. I am against BS on Indymedia

. 04.Feb.2005 23:27

Trek

I'll be moving to Portland in a very short time, and will be looking forward to my activism against the police. Thanks for this extra motivation.

Counterculture is inevitable.

Bullshit. 04.Feb.2005 23:31

anti-imperialist

FIRST- DO NOT USE INDYMEDIA'S CREDIBILITY TO DEFEND YOUR BEHAVIOR.

Second) The smartest thing a person could do if they are bieng profiled is call the police, and file a charge. You are guaranteed that:

A- You are bieng recorded, and there is a documented public record of the incident should somthing happen to you.
B- Your testimony is contextual, and not filtered or altered by later reflection.
C- It is admissable as evidence. And is not going to be considered heresay, or subject to another parties interpretation as anything but your testimony.

Note: An african american veteran, licensed to posess a firearm is probably a whole lot safer, should they be racially profiled, to make it known and public record, and ask for outside mediation, than to trust that the police are not profiling him- especially because the bulk of his organizing efforts are geared at exposing and confronting institutional racism.
Cops have this really sinister habit of murdering black revolutionaries. No bullshit.

... 04.Feb.2005 23:32

obanon

Um...Ben, even though you're trying so unbelievably hard to sound like a reasonable guy, you're making yourself look like an ignorant buffoon by ASSuming that this guy (for whatever reason which you never state) isn't being honest. Why do you make such an assessment when you have NOTHING to back up your opinion?

My advice to you is to keep your mouth closed, and your tappity fingers still, until you have something to base your hypotheses on. And so far, you certainly do not.

@ 04.Feb.2005 23:34

Trek

Also, if they are in fact aware of your political activism, this may have been more a case of "political profiling" than racial (which obviously always plays a role). But this sounds like a double whammy.

another anti-imperialist 04.Feb.2005 23:37

asdf

Uh...yeah, remember Sherman Austin, the African American Anarchist? That must be rough when confronted by pigs.

 http://www.raisethefist.com

A message to allies 05.Feb.2005 07:06

mb

Hey, I got this email and just want to pass it on. Please help build regional solidarity and support for revolutionaries, and community defense. Please support Leonard Peltier, and our comrads with October22nd.

-MB, From Alton, The National Action Network supports Leonard Peltier
march/rally in Tacoma this Saturday Feb. 05, 2005.
Peace

October 22nd Coalition supporters:

As part of our mission to help the fight against the criminalization of
a generation, we are asking all concerned citizens to show their support
for political prisoner & American Indian Movement member Leonard Peltier
by attending the upcoming rally/march in Tacoma noted below. Leonard
Peltier has been in prison for the past 29 years (not 27 as noted in the
IndyMedia link below) for "aiding and abetting" what the trial of his
"accomplices" essentially determined was an act of self-defense. As in
the case of Geronimo Pratt, incarcerated 27 years for a murder the FBI
knew he could not have committed, the case of Leonard Peltier shows it
is a lie to claim this country has no political prisoners. The first
step in getting justice is to raise awareness of such injustices in more
and more people, and this annual event - like ours - intends to do that.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
CALL TO ACTION Feb 5:
12th Annual March & Rally for Justice for Leonard Peltier in Tacoma

MARCH FOR JUSTICE: 12:00 NOON
Portland Ave. Park (on Portland Ave. between E. 24th
and E. Fairbanks Ave. Take Portland Ave. exit off I-5 and head east)

RALLY FOR JUSTICE: 1:00 PM
U.S. Federal Court House, 1717 Pacific Ave.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

More info on the event and on Leonard Peltier's case:
 http://seattle.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/244363.shtml
 http://www.geocities.com/crazyoglala/WipingTears_Lurie.html

Maps to the venues:
 http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp...
 http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp...

Info on the highly-recommended movie "Incident at Oglala":
 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/6302541468/103-8619517-6433469...
 http://www.freepeltier.org/multimedia.htm

SAVE THE DATE: We will be showing the movie "The Murder of Fred Hampton"
starting 7:00pm on Friday, February 11 at the Safeco Jackson St. Center
(on 23rd Ave. S, one block north of Jackson at Main St.). Admission is
free, but we will be requesting a donation as a fundraiser for the work
our Coalition is doing. We will issue another post specifically about
this event next week.

We are still working with our lawyers to resolve our lawsuit against the
City of Seattle for their rescindment of our permit to march in the
street for our October 22, 2003 rally. Until that is resolved, we will
be holding our public meetings once a month. We are still working out
the best day and time for our members, and we will announce our meeting
day/time fairly soon. Please feel free to contact us via the info below
if you have any police-brutality-related concerns. Thank you for your
interest in this important issue.

Seattle Affiliate
October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality
206-264-5527/1-888-NOBRUTALITY
 oct22seattle@hotmail.com
 http://www.October22.org

Been there 07.Feb.2005 13:22

Arizona

Well, I have been there. Though I am not black, I have been stopped for my looks. And you know what? It's ok. I was driving a beatup car (I am cheap) in a low income neighborhood (coached youth sports there) late at night (after practice and taking a child home).

Now, it is a high crime area, lots of immigrants (undocumented). Drug dealing is common. So they just want to know who is going where, and that is ok. It is good police work, maybe saves having to use a weapon later on.

I found this statement fascinating:

"I never thought I would see the day I would be defending a pig."

Well, who defends us? The ACLU? Not likely. The best studies show us that the vast majority of police officers are good and decent people who risk their lives every single day. In 2000 there were 796,518 full time law enforcement personnel in the US.

In 1999--
21% of U.S. residents had a contact with police
52% of contacts were in traffic stops
19% of contacts were to report a crime
Under 1% of contacts involved police use of force
10% of white drivers were stopped
12% of black drivers were stopped
9% of Hispanic drivers were stopped
84% of drivers considered stop legitimate

"Overall, most drivers who experienced a traffic
stop indicated that they felt the officer had a
legitimate reason for making the stop: nearly 9
out of 10 white drivers and 3 out of 4 black
drivers described the officer as having had a
legitimate reason for the stop. Respondents
maintained these perceptions regardless of the
race of the officer making the stop. White
drivers' assessments of the legitimacy of the
stop were the same whether the officer making
the stop was white or black. Similarly, black
drivers ascribed the same level of legitimacy
to stops by white officers and stops made by
black officers."

"On a per capita basis in 1999, the rate
of police-citizen contact for whites was about
17% higher than for blacks and about 32% higher
than for Hispanics. The rate of contact for
males was about 20% higher than for females
and rates of contact varied inversely with age:
those age 18 to 19 experienced a rate of contact
160% above that of those age 50 or older."

 http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/cpp99.htm

Great stuff in here.

At 5:25 am, on Jan. 29th, it was most liley raining and very dark in Portland. It would seem odd that the driver would be stopped for his race unless the lighting was exceptional. And single female officrs don't usually stop male drivers for fun (police policy in AZ: if a female officer is involved in a stop, a male backup is called immediately. Males tend to become agressive toward female officers).

I would like to hear the officers side of this case.

Sorry... 08.Feb.2005 15:14

but...

Your story sounds a very wishy washy. I was kind of annoyed with you after reading it. Are you sure you aren't exaggerating some of the facts just for shock value? I kind of get that after reading it.

Facts - Profiling - Constitution - Stump Speeches 08.Feb.2005 17:04

My Rights

When I (white long hair male) drove my older model, firebird, I got stopped about once a month.
I had police swing u-turns when I drove by just to follow me because how I looked to them when I drove by. I have been asked everything from "don't I know you" to "didn't I pull you over recently?" etc.,
Now I drive a 98 escort and am never ever pulled over?
I don't like the profiling the Portland Police used on others or me and unlike your outdated facts from 1998 - "84% of drivers considered stop legitimate" I don't consider any of my stops "legitimate" Not even the no blinker before lane changing without a 100-foot notice was really legitimate it was only to "check me out" no citation, just running a warrant check on a non criminal who "looked a little different"
The blatant disregard for Civil Rights is not acceptable and won't be tolerated unless we forsake our rights and allow these abuses to continue unchecked unquestioned and never addressed in the Constitutional light.
To roust or detain based on looks or feelings should not be considered "all right."
As you say "So they just want to know who is going where, and that is ok. It is good police work, maybe saves having to use a weapon later on." NO it's not ok and NO I don't have to explain to the Police where I'm going! And No they better not use a weapon latter there is NO REASON TO! Is this the Gestapo questioning me or am I in America? Good police work? Come on go arrest some real criminals some burglars or muggers not just grilling late night travelers or citizens. That is Profiling & is Police Harassment.
The police should be protecting us NOT threading or intimidating or hassling and especially for no other reason than my skin, hair, car, neighborhood, or my clothing. This is not supposed to be a police state?? And your outdate info from previous post is misleading since the corruption has been ten fold since your stats were taken. Homeland Security wasn't even a factor, now robo-cops are everywhere and Homeland Security supercedes the constitutional Laws you used to remember.

How quick people seem to be to want to judge this event with no more facts than just this one Indy post! Come on save your biased opinions and get more inside facts and quit ASSUMING. Heck basically your just painting the picture with very little info. Then you make a good ASSUMPTION that he is wrong or miss leading or there is more .... Well yes there is more "research you could do" get your fact then start your own lying. But don't get on the stump for a speech without your background notes

Cops vs. Community 09.Feb.2005 06:58

anti-imperialist

First, this didn't happen in portland. I repeat, as much as there is an unabashed history of hate crimes in portlands own police force, this did not happen in portland. Alton travels the country helping communities deal with situations like this. Then it happend to him, close to his home, and the guy just ain't a liar. I talked to him shortly after he got out of jail, and he was truly, genuinly pissed off at what had happenend to him. What I think is going on here is these people that just happen to have outdated arrest statistics on hand are probably realated to, or the families of cops. They don't want to see social justice struggle criticly examine institutional racism in the police force because they know it's there and fear the outrage of our communities. So they lie, spread dis-imformation, and propoganda to ensure that they do not have to live in the climate of fear thier loved ones have generated, or at least contributed to. I can understand this rationale, but cannot agree with it. I can understand fearing outrage, because it often leads to violence, and it's like comrad Billy x said "violence doesn't flow evenly."

The thing is Alton did not attempt to provoke, attack, or otherwise do violence to anyone. At a previous profiling incident, he told the 911 operator that he needed outside intervention, because he believed that the cop was profiling him and that he wouldn't let them hurt him. When somone threatens to attack you, you are within your rights to defend yourself. The thing is his statement, NOT A CRIME IN AND OF ITSELF, has stuck in some police record to the degree that hostile cops, that profile him know of it. This is proof of illigal, or conspiritorial behavior on the behalf of police that are nothing less than proving thier racism with terms like "chattel."

This story has been picked up off pdxindy by at least one major newspaper. The reason we're getting so many cop posts probably has somthing to do with that.

This smells! 09.Feb.2005 12:41

Be reasonable

It looks like any point of view different then completely left of center gets ridiculed on this site. What ever happened to open and honest discussion of the issues? Why is it that it's common practice to disregard the others point of view? Is it allowed to be able to view both sides here? I can understand why the author would be upset at the treatment he was given. That is if he is telling the honest truth and the whole story. Assumptions are all we can make based on the story as written. It's such a bogus argument not to make assumptions, when you are doing just that accepting his story as completely accurate. I hear on this site quite a bit that we shouldn't believe everything you read. It's funny how this advice is ignored when it has to do with Indy's stories. Honest? Come on. It's the anti-fox news channel. If you don't think there is spin here you are fooling yourself. Can anyone propose real solutions here or are we just supposed to call people names and throw out ridiculous accusations? It's beginning to look like Indy is not much different then TheOnion.com

Professional victims 09.Feb.2005 13:16

A cop.

I always laugh when people say all these posters that disagree with them that are probably cops. Really, we are usually willing to sign our posts with some form of the word "cop." There is always a chance that people who are not cops or related to cops disagree with you too, ya know.

I don't know what happened in the original post's situation, so I won't guess. Read it and make your own minds up, there are good comments on both sides of the "BS/not BS" theory here. I will, however, relay a personal story about a civil rights worker.

The Reverend Jesse Jackson came to the city where I used to work as a cop before moving to PDX. He called the local sheriff before he came to make arrangements for his arrest (he was protesting the death penalty and intended to be arrested to further his cause). The sheriff met him at the airport, per Jackson's request, and gave him a ride to the protest to discuss the details. The sheriff was asked to set aside a private booking cell for Jackson, which he did, and was asked to have some of Mr. Jackson's enterage in the jail for various needs, which he also agreed to. The sheriff was asked to set aside a specific deputy to arrest Jackson, which he agreed to do (I believe the sheriff did it himself). All this was about ten hours before the protest.

The sheriff provided a bus for those who wished to be arrested at the protest, but did not want to be jailed. The state cops drew a line at the facility being protested, and basically said "if you cross this line, you will be arrested for trespassing." People, including Jackson, took one step across the line and waited patiently while cops took each one into custody and loaded them on the bus (there was no passive resistence, it was not that kind of day I guess). Once the protest was over, the bus drove around the corner, and those who wanted to be released were cited and let go. Those who wanted to be booked (about five if I recall) were taken to the jail and set in a special cell (apart from Jackson's private one) and then were released a few hours later with no additional charges. There was no twisting of arms, no pepper spray, no tackling. It was understood by all that these people were just making a statement, and not meaning to be a threat. One person even said "please" when he asked the cops to arrest him (one cop then said "sorry, you have to take another step over there before I can"). I should note that in that state, trespassing is usually a citation violation, like speeding. People are generally not arrested over it.

Then the shit hit the fan. Jackson's staff, including some that flew in with Jackson and rode with the sheriff, began to protest the jail for having the nerve to arrest a civil rights worker. People showed up screaming at the deputy who worked the front desk (a volunteer, unpaid retired guy to boot). The sheriff was called every name in the book, lawyers were flooding the place, trying to provoke action by screaming at deputies and refusing to take metal out of their pockets when walking through the metal detectors. Calls came flooding in. I was coming off shift but decided to hang out at the front desk with the nearly octogenarian deff retired deputy because frankly I was scared for him. Press releases went out condemming the sheriff for his actions. Press conferences were held where we were all called racists and nazis. Lawsuits were filed. I was screamed at. Several of Jackson's lawyers showed up and yelled at us because I would not take them into the holding area (there was already a lawyer of his back there, and if they wanted to go through the booking entrance rather than the front door of the sheriff's office and down a dozen hallways we would have obliged). The sheriff's orders to us were to have a "high tolerance," meaning "don't arrest these people unless you absolutely have to, ignore small things as much as possible and try like hell to stay off camera. In short, it was a set up. The sheriff, who was actually a good guy and a civil libertarian (hard thing to be if you are a politician in the south), was more a victim in this situation than Jackson ever was.

I have met many truly great people in various civil rights causes, epecially since moving to Portland. And I have met a few people like Rev. Jackson, but oddly enough I have not met any of those folks in this city.

If The Kitchen Is Too Hot... 10.Feb.2005 17:28

sworn to protect

"If you don't like the heat get out of the kitchen"

Maybe if what ever Jessie was protesting was not done in the first place, which thus required multiple arrests just so the rest of the world would see the corruption in the system, that force the "cops" to have to enforce, arrest, or imprison its citizens well then we wouldn't have 1/2 the problem or confusion. If the Leaders Who Decide & Rule want to play by their own style, with illegal and civil right abuses then people are going to protest. Don't like so many protestors all hopped up n mad? Then start living by and enforcing the constitution as you were sworn to uphold, and if more cops would abide by our constitution then creating less chance of the government to use them as pawns and subjecting them to the horrors of a civil rights movement where millions are flocking to the streets pissed of and damn mad of being lied to, stolen from, and treated as we are the enemy. Whatever Alton M. did, he deserve neither to be pulled over nor arrested? Plain and simple case closed! But instead the police miss treated him and I DON'T CARE WHAT STATE OR FREEWAY IT HAPPENED IN. This type of CRAP is exactly why protests will continue and things such as causing the desk clerk to be scared, lawyers wanting access, press conferences where accusations are being yelled, names being called, etc will happen. Stop treating & profiling unjustly and I'm sure respect will be seen. Keep playing hardball and treating citizens with an iron gun and cement cells and lies and you can be guaranteed to see may more protest in just about anytown usa.

Start treating citizens of all colors, looks, and religious or political beliefs as People.
Quit arresting people when you don't like what they say and quit supporting an illegal system that you were sworn to uphold when you took your Peace Keeping Job of protecting and serving.
Oh and quit crying about the problem of protestors if you don't like your job. Quit siding with the Enemy as their henchmen and support justice like you should. Make a real difference or "get out of the kitchen cause you're in the way"

I fail to see how Jackson was not treated as a person. 11.Feb.2005 15:53

I give up

He was treated with courtesy and respect, and was given all the assistance he asked for. Nothing happened to him that he did not actually ask to be done, verbally and in advance. How was he not treated like people?

who do you serve 11.Feb.2005 18:20

"peaceful" protestor

"what" was he protesting in the first place may be the Clue
what are most people in the streets protesting?
they are protesting injustice most likely (mostly peacefully unless provoked)
stop the abuse at the core and the civic servants wont need to be the "bad guys"
Jessie got what he wanted & it wasn't him that was complaining
when police have the job to be the muscle to make the protest stop ... well gentlemen ...
pick your sides!

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