Mississippi Choctaw Under Seige With Violence by W

[blackcrowheart]

Mississippi Choctaw Under Seige With Violence by White Mississippi Police

"Racial Profiling and Brutal Physical Abuse by White Philadelphia Police"

Is this the 1960's again with racial profiling and mistreatment of people of
colour. This time its members of the Mississippi Choctaw American Indian -
youth, elders and women.

Please send this out to everyone that you know immediately.

A Call to All Nations

On the evening of March 21, 2007, two family members and I encountered a few
of Philadelphia Police Department’s finest. A seemingly routine stop
evolved into my nephews being pepper sprayed while being restrained, one lying face
down and the other up against a vehicle. I witnessed the entire event.
The decisions made by these officers in handling what was originally a
child-abuse case did not reflect the courtesy, skill, and discretion that I expect
from those entrusted to serve and protect all residents of our community,
even Choctaws. It was obvious to me that racial profiling and pre-judging
dominated the situation. Additionally, in a day and age when national attitudes
call for cultural sensitivity in community policing, it seems the Philadelphia
Police Department has failed to step beyond its dark and cloudy past.
Some may argue that the open hostility toward Black residents of Neshoba
County has lessened. However, the attitudes towards the Choctaw people remain
the same. We continue to hear derogatory comments such as “dirty Choctaws,†“
this is not the reservation,†“your kind,†and “your people†when dealing
with some (and I must admit not all) whites in Philadelphia. Disparities are
present even within professionals that are put in place to protect the
public, such as the police force and child welfare agencies. I have hoped and
prayed that the old days of the infamous Philadelphia was being dealt with
justly. It appears that younger leaders of the community are truly embracing a new
day but the vestiges of the past slapped me in the face on the first day of
spring 2007.
I had heard from many fellow Choctaws about the injustice and racism
exhibited by City and County authorities in recent years. One episode involved a
young woman who was slapped by an officer but was accused and charged with a
felony assault. Her attorney later advised her that if she would just apologize
to the officer, he would drop all charges. She recalled the humiliation of
apologizing for a wrong committed against her, but complied to avoid jail time.
Picture the scene of a young Choctaw woman groveling to placate his pride.
Silence in the face of bigotry and racism means acceptance. By not speaking
out against it, you are speaking for it.
I expect nothing less than a thorough investigation by the City of
Philadelphia to be conducted to examine the racial profiling practices of PPD. I
believe these officers involved in my nephew’s case committed racial profiling
and this is racism and bigotry cloaked behind a badge.
I will make sure that every local, state, and Native paper follows these
events as they unfurl. One of the early responses received from Native nations
and organizations has come from Dennis Banks, leader of the American Indian
Movement (AIM). Mr. Banks stated to me, “We [AIM] have been fighting racism and
discrimination for over 40 years… now we fear that racism is leering its
ugly head in Philadelphia, MS…we [AIM] will watch every moment and if need will
gather a national assembly.â€
I refuse to be silent anymore. To all nations I make this plea, let our
struggle be heard.
Sincerely,
Janis Jimmie, Mississippi [e-mail]_
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