Tyisha Miller remembered in light of recent spate of police shootings (tags)
RIVERSIDE (California) - Today marks the thirteen-year anniversary of the police murder of Tyisha Miller, a nineteen-year-old African-American woman shot by the Riverside police department. The murder caused an outcry, particularly among the city's black community, and led to some of the most militant and long-reaching organizaing the region had seen in years, including a shutdown of the 91 freeway and the establishment of numerous bureaucratic apparatuses put in place to prevent such tragedies.
Photos courtesy of Occupy Riverside
Devin Was 13...and the Police Killed Him (tags)
In the quiet of 4:00 on a Sunday morning, in the darkness, alone in the front seat of a car, the short, sweet life of Devin Brown was ended in a violent burst of gunfire. A night-riding Los Angeles police officer stood near the car he was in. It took him seconds to draw his gun and fire: Five shots. Then five more. Half of them struck and killed the boy in the car. Devin Brown was 13.
Valuing the Lives of the People vs. Wanton Police Murder (tags)
If they were there to serve and protect, they would have found any way but the way they did it to handle this scene, they could have and would have found a solution that was much better than this. This is the way the proletariat, when it's been in power, has handled and would again handle this kind of thing--valuing the lives of the masses of people- -as opposed to the bourgeoisie in power, where the role of their police is to terrorize the masses, including wantonly murdering them, murdering them without provocation, without necessity, because exactly the more arbitrary the terror is, the more broadly it affects the masses.
Former RPD officer commends Cincinnetti police for killing Nathanial Jones (tags)
The man who once joked about Tyisha Miller's tragic death pens a letter asking that officers be commended for killing Nathanial Jones in Cincinnetti
Rallies to be held in Riverside County to protest shooting death of Richard Burrola (tags)
Rallies are scheduled to be held to protest the shooting death of Richard Burrola by a deputy from the Riv. County Sheriff's Department
Protest against the reinstatement of one of Tyisha Miller's killers (tags)
a superior court judge ruled that a former Riverside officer who participated in the shooting death of Tyisha Miller must return to work.
Riverside Police Department Brass labels protesters, 'anarchists' (tags)
In what can be called an unfortunate lack of insight, Riverside Police Department police chief expresses his belief that the peaceful anti-war demonstrators are 'anarchists' as his agency begins to place protest leaders under surveillance
Riverside demonstrators determined to protest the war in Iraq (tags)
Over 50 people turnout to protest the war in Iraq while a much smaller group counter-demonstrated across the street.
Over 50 protest in Riverside, one activist slashed by counter-demonstrator (tags)
Though crowds are smaller in Riverside, we received another reminder of the dangers of protesting a war in California's most conservative corner.
Over 250 protest in Riverside amidst heavy police presense (tags)
Over 250 protesters congregated to demonstrate against the war, and dozens of police officers from three law enforcement agencies showed up
Riverside protesters show up in force against war (tags)
Over 50 people protest against the war in Iraq in Riverside, amidst death threats, jeers and a lot of honks in support.
The Killing Fields revisited: The Riverside police department post consent-decree (tags)
Two years after it entered into a consent decree with the state, the Riverside Police Department has had an increase in fatal officer-involved shootings as its union desperately tries to rewrite the history the agency lived before the shooting of Tyisha Miller
Police Commission to investigate RPD shooting (tags)
After hearing comments from over 10 community members concerning a Hispanic man shot by police officers, the Community Police Review Commission decided to investigate independantly
All out for OCTOBER 22nd Day of Protest Against Police Brutality (tags)
The call and regional logistics.
Riverside DA and Judge clash over controversial prosecutor's promotion (tags)
When prosecutor Michael Rushton came under fire last summer for kicking off nine Black jurors in a capital murder case, his boss, Grover Trask was silent. Now, with his promotion of Rushton to supervise the drug enforcement division, his silence is broken.
POLICE BRUTALITY DID NOT DIE ON SEPT 11TH (tags)
The following post is for the October 22nd coalition that is planning demonstrations against police brutality in cities across the U.S. Check the new call and contacts in your area.
Arbitrator: Pay Cops for Shooting Miller (tags)
After the arbitrator released his decision to reinstate two of the officers who shot Tyisha Miller to death, the city also decided to offer the two men disability retirements that could guarantee them half of their salary annually for the rest of their lives.
U.S. Attorney to release decision in Tyisha Miller shooting (tags)
After three years of investigating, the U.S. Attorneys office plans to announce its decision on whether to file charges against the four officers who killed Tyisha Miller. But if the news is good, why all the cloak and dagger behavior regarding where to make this announcement, and to whom?
Arbitrater orders two officers who shot Tyisha Miller back to work (tags)
An independent arbitrater ruled that former Riverside Police Department officers Michael Alaga and Wayne Stewart must be allowed to return to work by April 30, to the disgust of many members of the African-American community.
Tyisha Miller's Killers reinstated by arbitrator (tags)
Over three years after the tragic shooting of Tyisha Miller by Riverside Police Department officers, an independent arbitrator has ruled that officers Michael Alagna and Wayne Stewart should never have been fired and every attempt should be made to repair their damaged reputations...
Bring War on Terrorism to California! (tags)
Terrorism is nothing new in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. For nearly three years there have been a number of documented incidents of racially motivated state sponsored terror.
About 500-700 protesters successfully demonstrate against police brutalitiy in Los Angeles.
Riverside City Council decides to appeal arbitrator's ruling on Gregory Preece (tags)
After keeping the populace in Riverside in suspense for a week, the City Council voted unamiously in closed session last Tuesday to appeal the arbitrator's ruling regarding the firing of former Riverside Police Department sergeant Gregory Preece, in superior court.
Former Riverside Police sergeant contests arbitration (tags)
Several days after an arbitrator reversed his firing, Preece's lawyer announced that his client will not settle for a demotion and 30 day suspension, but only full exoneration. The ball is now in the court of the City Council, which will meet on Tuesday in closed session to determine what position it will take, as an upset community watches.
Gregory Preece arbitration hearing: the shooting (tags)
Arbitrator John D. Perone said, in his decision that former Riverside Police Department officer Gregory Preece should never have been fired for his role as supervisor of the officers who killed Tyisha Miller. Here is more information based on his 42 page finding...
Arbitrator says: Give Riverside Police Dept. officer Gregory Preece his job back (tags)
Two years after Gregory Preece was fired for his role of supervisor in the shooting of Tyisha Miller, an arbitration board says that he should not have been fired. Another example of a step taken forward, two steps taken back, as city officials prepare to meet in closed session to decide his fate.
RPD officer shoots and kills man with a knife (tags)
In the past two years since the shooting death of Tyisha Miller, the Riverside Police Department had not killed a single civilian. That mortorium ended on Sunday, as a young man was shot to death by a police officer in front of his house, after allegedly rushing an officer with two knives.
Stop Mexican "Development" Plan! (tags)
Just as in Riverside, Ca. seeking justice for Tyisha Miller, we should seek justice for the people of Mexico and Central America by shutting down the Pan American Highway in Chiapas!
Tyisha Miller's cousin sentenced to six months in jail (tags)
Bernell Butler protested for two years, the death of his cousin Tyisha Miller, at the hands of four Riverside Police Department officers. And like other before him, he learned that the District Attorney's office has been prosecuting more activists than police officers, who kill on the job.
Riverside District Attorney not to prosecute officer who shot Dante Meniefield (tags)
Throughout its history, the Riverside County District Attorney's office has never prosecuted a law enforcement officer for an on-duty shooting. Yesterday, prosecutors decided to keep that streak intact by deciding not to file criminal charges against Moreno Valley Police Department officer Robert Marks for killing an unarmed man with his hands up.
A RPD officer's ode to four officers who killed Tyisha Miller in poetic verse (tags)
Dedicated to Paul Bugar, Daniel Hotard, Wayne Stewart, and Michael Alagna, fired after shooting Tyisha Miller in Dec. 1998. Like the majority of the officers of this department, who shaved their heads enmasse to protest the firings, Wheeler views the officers who killed a black woman and celebrated it, as heroes while those who protested against her death are the "racist horde." Even with a state consent decree, the police culture of Riverside's finest still lives on....
Through the looking glass of Riverside's Hall of Injustice (tags)
When 20 defendants marched for justice after Tyisha Miller was shot to death by four white officers, they did not know that the ones who would be prosecuted would be them, rather than the officers.
Protesters vow to keep marching after Moreno Valley police shooting (tags)
Tyisha Miller, Irvin Landrum, Hector Islas, the list grows of police killings in the Inland Empire. The name of Dante Meniefield was added to this growing list last Saturday, and hundreds of demonstrators have marched daily to the halls of power, for justice in his name.
Riverside County's latest police shooting (tags)
Before, police officers justified shootings, by saying "they were going for their gun." Now, they can shoot unarmed people to death simply for saying they were moving...
The Tyisha Miller shooting: a former RPD cop's perspective (tags)
Former Riverside Police Department officer, Bill Rhetts offers his perspective on the Tyisha Miller shooting, and why he made the racist comment: "in L.A. they treat you like a King, In Riverside, it's Miller time."
Riverside police department's promotions mixed bag (tags)
Last week, Riverside Police Department Russ Leach promoted nine men, including two men of color and two white sergeants who sued the city citing reverse discrimination, and forced a former police chief into retirement.
Gazing through the looking glass that's Riverside. (tags)
Last week, in Riverside, an activist who protested against the shooting death of Tyisha Miller was released from jail, while the former officer who supervised those who killed her was given a hero's welcome at an awards ceremony. What is wrong with this picture?
Miller shooting supervisor Gregory Preece given award (tags)
On a cold morning in December 1998, former Sergeant Gregory Preece used racist slurs against Tyisha Miller and her grieving family members. Two years later, he received two awards of excellence awarded by the Riverside Police Dept. and California Asssemblyman Rod Pacheco, and received the loudest cheers and applause than any other officer awarded.
Bill Lockyer to Riverside: sign agreement or go to court (tags)
California's state attorney general bill Lockyer issued an ultimatum to Riverside's City Council: sign an agreement to reform the police department or he'll see them in court. Mayor Ron Loveridge urged the council to sign but council member Ed Adkison says he'll have to think about it.
Bernell Butler acquitted of felony charges (tags)
Last week, the political prosecution of Bernell Butler came to a close as a jury acquitted him of six felony and misdemeanor charges, and convicting him of one added lessor charge of misdemeanor simple assault.
Bernell Butler takes the stand (tags)
Today, Bernell Butler took the stand and testified how the death of his cousin, Tyisha Miller impacted his marriage even as it galvanized a civil rights movement in Riverside.
Frank Esposito sentenced to jail (tags)
After spending three days traveling from Texas on a Greyhound bus, Frank Esposito was sentenced to 90 days in jail, for his role in the 91 freeway demonstration.
Minister arrested for contempt of court in Butler trial (tags)
Pastor Ron Gibson refused to answer a question, asked by the prosecutor, and was placed in handcuffs and taken to jail, the latest witness in the prosecution of Bernell Butler.
The Persecution of Bernell Butler (tags)
Bernell Butler never rested in his search for justice in the shooting death of his cousin, Tyisha Miller. Now, he is currently on trial for his freedom in lieu of the four officers who committed an atrocious killing and still walk free.
Activists prosecuted instead of four RPD officers (tags)
Ralph Avila suffers from dyslexia and is unable to take written notes. He also is under medication to treat conditions relating to a head trauma. So why then did the judges of the Riverside County Superior Courts grant his motion to represent himself, during his trial for participating in a protest on behalf of Tyisha Miller?
Riverside activist gets convicted for freeway demonstration (tags)
Frank Esposito stood tall, as the jurors delivered their verdict, not once looking him in the eye, as they convicted him of two misdemeanors related to the Nov. 1, 1999 freeway demonstration, which took place to protest the death of Tyisha Miller.