Video of Champaign Police Choking Black Youth while in Handcuffs
Submitted by anonymous on November 21, 2011 - 9:57amOn June 5, 2011 Champaign police choked a 20 year old African-American man in the back seat of a squad car while he was in handcuffs. His crime? Asking why he had been stopped, roughed up, and pepper sprayed while walking in campus town.
Here is the video from the squad car with the pepperspraying and choking edited to the front followed by the entire 53 minute interaction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB-DF0bUiY0
Here is the video that was originally leaked to the UCIMC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP76Oc3-fMw
- 43 comments
- Read more
- 7222 reads
Champaign City Manager Holds a Not Very Newsy Press Conference on Police Violence
Submitted by Brian Dolinar on November 20, 2011 - 4:36pm
The below report is by Belden Fields, writer for the Public i, newspaper of the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center.
- 12 comments
- Read more
- 1674 reads
“Secure Communities” Program Adopted by Sheriff Terrorizing Local Immigrant Community
Submitted by Brian Dolinar on November 2, 2011 - 9:51am
- 6 comments
- Read more
- 2106 reads
Stand With Calvin Miller! Tuesday night at Champaign City Council
Submitted by Brian Dolinar on October 30, 2011 - 9:15am
- 2 comments
- Read more
- 2609 reads
Black Youth Beaten by Champaign Police
Submitted by Brian Dolinar on October 25, 2011 - 12:41pm
It has been two years since Kiwane Carrington was killed by a Champaign police officer, but 18-year-old black youth, Calvin Miller, is still afraid of the police. So when a Champaign cop attempted to pull him over for no apparent reason, he panicked. He only wanted to get home that night.
When Calvin appeared in court for arraignment on Monday afternoon, he walked into the courtroom with crutches. His right ankle was sprained, maybe fractured. His right eye was swollen shut. He also had bump on the right side of his forehead. Other people noticeably stared at him.
Called before Judge Richard Klaus, Calvin was told that he was being charged with resisting a “peace” officer. He had “exited a fleeing vehicle” and “lunged” toward Champaign police officer Matt Rush. He was also being charged for criminal damage to property, less than $300, when the vehicle he was driving ran into the porch steps of a house. The story Calvin told me after the hearing was significantly different.
- 9 comments
- Read more
- 4094 reads
UCIMC Co-founder Danielle Chynoweth Awarded Woman of the Year
Submitted by IMCista on October 13, 2011 - 3:11pm
Today, UCIMC co-founder Danielle Chynoweth was awarded Woman of the Year in Champaign-Urbana, at an award ceremony organized by the News Gazette. To a packed room of over 300, Danielle gave a speech highlighting what she attributes her success to - the ability to see what is not there yet - and talked about the role of the Independent Media Center in our community. She said:
"I was one citizen going to where the silences are and advocating for new possibilities, but I wondered how to develop an infrastructure that would enable many people to do the same. So a group of twelve gathered in my living room 11 years ago to conceive of an independent media center that would provide the tools and training to surface many unheard voices in our community – to provide a forum to talk about problems and seek solutions together."
- 3 comments
- Read more
- 1759 reads
Unity March/Occupy 217 Photo Gallery
Submitted by Brian Dolinar on October 8, 2011 - 4:08pmThe annual Unity March took place on Saturday, Oct. 8, a march that this year was organized by Jobs With Justice, CU Citizens for Peace and Justice, and a newly-formed organization Occupy 217. The march began in front of the WEFT radio station in downtown Champaign and ended at Chase Bank. A photo gallery of the march appears below.
After receiving $98 million in bailout money, Chase cut 14,000 jobs.
A group of demonstrators walked into the Chase bank for a temporary occupation.
An advertisement invited visitors, "Get Your Cash Back."
- 16 comments
- Read more
- 3151 reads
UC-IMC General Membership Meeting, Oct. 9,
Submitted by Brian Dolinar on October 8, 2011 - 1:51pm
- 3 comments
- Read more
- 2570 reads
Woman's Dance Night!
Submitted by Abisola on October 3, 2011 - 6:37pm
Somewhere outside of a bar scene, just women, open space, open expression, no class, no rules, no right or wrong. All movement is right!
Join us at the IMC on Tuesday night from 8-9:30pm
- 1764 reads
Occupy217 website
Submitted by anonymous on October 2, 2011 - 1:48pmAn ad-hoc UCIMC group has just put up a local site for posting OCCUPY info & events for Champaign, Urbana, Central Illinois :
Seeking others interested in co-organizing!
- 5 comments
- 1992 reads
Books To Prisoners Fall Book Sale
Submitted by Abisola on September 29, 2011 - 2:27pmBooks To Prisoners Presents: Fall 2011 Book Sale-Pages for Pennies
Dates/Times:
Friday September 30th: 4pm-8pm
Saturday September 31st: 8pm-5pm
Sunday October 1st: 10am-2pm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prices:
$0.75 for paperbacks
$1 for hard covers
***Sunday Special: Bag Sale (fill a bag for only $5)***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Location:
202 S. Broadway
Independent Media Center (Main Floor)
To learn more about the Books To Prisoners Program visit: www.books2prisoners.org
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
B2P Flyer.pdf | 349.97 KB |
- 1 comment
- 1878 reads
"The Dying Breed" Movie Premiere
Submitted by Abisola on September 29, 2011 - 1:11pmOn Saturday October 8 from 8pm-Midnight, come out and suport Champaign's own, Edward "G-Da-Man" Hicks, in his first film release debut! "The Dying Breed" is a story that deals with youth violence in the African American community, where kids killing kids is an everyday thing until someone has to make a stand. Charged up by some of the hottest Hip-Hop tracks by some of the tightest MC's of the Midwest, along with non-stop Martial Arts action, this film delivers a must see for all.
- 1294 reads
Unity in the Community: Sowing Seeds of Empowerment
Submitted by anonymous on September 27, 2011 - 10:26amAn art exhibit of photographs remembering Kiwane Carrington and the Unity March VII by Patricia T. Rosario. The show will run from October 7 - 21. Opening reception on Friday, October 7, 6 - 8 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.
- 1054 reads
UC-IMC Remembering 9/11
Submitted by Abisola on September 21, 2011 - 2:15pm
- Add new comment
- 1385 reads
Graduate Employee tuition waivers for new students is covered in the contract, for the moment
Submitted by anonymous on September 21, 2011 - 10:45am
- Add new comment
- Read more
- 1614 reads
IMC Film Festival This Weekend
Submitted by Brian Dolinar on September 13, 2011 - 2:33pm
The Third Annual Film Festival features local film and video by local artists. Come out to catch this year's festival to catch films like Revolting by Mike Boedicker, This is My Journey by Kate Brickman, Imperial Tourism by David Gracon, and Once Upon a Time in 1972 by Chris Lukeman. Friday night is documentary and will feature a film and discussion hosted by Aaron Ammons on the topic of felony convictions. All events are free to the public, thanks to the help of a grant from the Urbana Public Arts Commission.
- Add new comment
- Read more
- 1870 reads
JOBS: The Real Crisis and What We Can Do About It
Submitted by Brian Dolinar on September 13, 2011 - 9:01am
Unlike the phony debt crisis, the jobs crisis is real. It did not just happen, either, but results from very specific policies over many years. Unemployment and underemployment are much higher than the official unemployment rate, simply because so many categories of people are not counted: students, workers who are laid off after a short time on a new job, workers who are laid off seasonally or from time to time, the long-term jobless, people who have never had a job, people who are barely employed at just a few hours a week, etc.
(For more: http://www.bls.gov/news.
Update in the Bill Walton Case
Submitted by anonymous on September 10, 2011 - 7:03amOn Wednesday, August 3, two Urbana police officers approached "homeless" Bill Walton in the back foyer of the Urbana City Building, and asked Mr. Walton if he would come with them, pursuant to a court order issued July 22 that Walton be "medically" evaluated. Officers were ordered to drive Walton to the Danville Veteran's Hospital rather than Carle Clinic where Walton has been seen before. Walton complied without incident. On August 6, The News-Gazette's Jim Dey reported that Walton was visited by his Guardian Ad Litem, attorney Andrew Bequette, and Bequette was quoted by Dey that Bill "....doesn't want the public to know his business." (Which is the right of those being placed under permanent guardianship.) Therefore, the proceedings would be closed to the public. Ironically, the media, i.e. the almighty News-Gazette, would be allowed into the courtroom to carefully broadcast Bill's "business" county-wide.
- Add new comment
- Read more
- 1583 reads
Catherine Hogue, RIP
Submitted by Brian Dolinar on September 9, 2011 - 5:37pm
We are saddened to hear of the passing of Catherine Hogue, long-time Democratic member of the Champaign County board, and community activist, this morning.
I remember seeing Ms. Hogue at every year's Unity March until she fell ill. When I would say, "It's nice to see you see you," she would reply, "It's nice to be seen."
You can listen to a 2003 interview with Ms. Hogue here.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family.
BD
- 3 comments
- 1638 reads
Dunbar Residents Given 90 Days to Vacate Homes
Submitted by Brian Dolinar on September 7, 2011 - 9:12am
- 3 comments
- Read more
- 1510 reads
UC2B Ground Breaking in Douglass Park
Submitted by Brian Dolinar on September 6, 2011 - 3:46pm
- Add new comment
- Read more
- 1240 reads
Mother Jones Spotted at Labor Day Parade in Urbana, Illinois
Submitted by Brian Dolinar on September 5, 2011 - 11:14am
Many were at the Labor Day Parade in Urbana, Illinois, including Germaine Light who dressed up as Mother Jones and marched with the local chapter of Jobs With Justice.
- Add new comment
- 1208 reads
The City of Champaign is Faltering Again!!!!
Submitted by anonymous on August 25, 2011 - 3:37pmAttached is a memo sent to Police Dept employees. They just don't get it at the City Building. We need someone to come over and speak with all the officers with full assurances that what they say will be confidential. Let them find out the truth. NOTHING will change in until Deputy Chief Murphy is asked to leave..........nothing!!!!
- 2 comments
- Read more
- 1811 reads
10 Years of Indypendent Media: An Oral History of the Public i
Submitted by Brian Dolinar on August 23, 2011 - 11:54am
The Public i commemorates ten years of publication by interviewing some of those who have worked on the newspaper along the way.
You can pick up copies of the August issue locally or read it online at our new web site here.
Darrin Drda
Darrin Drda is a former Champaign-Urbana resident who now lives in San Rafael, California with his wife, Annabelle. He is the author of the forthcoming book The Four Global Truths: Awakening to the Peril and Promise of Our Times (www.thefourglobaltruths.com).
- Add new comment
- Read more
- 1761 reads
Chief Finney "Retiring" From Champaign Police Dept. Jan. 20, 2012
Submitted by Brian Dolinar on August 19, 2011 - 3:42pm
The city has announced that Champaign Police Chief R.T. Finney will be retiring from the department as of Jan. 20, 2012.
Finney's credibility has been significantly undermined since being one of two officers present on Oct. 9, 2009 when Kiwane Carrington, a black 15 year-old, was shot and killed by a police bullet.
However City Manager Steve Carter may spin this news, it must be acknowledged that Finney's retiring comes after sustained community pressure over the past two years. This resulted in the election of a new Mayor and has now led to Finney's not-so-graceful exit.
BD
- 11 comments
- 2739 reads