The AMA Coalition for Justice and Police Reform is working toward these five
goals:
1. A federal investigation by the Justice Department to include criminal and civil rights violations, as well as a federal audit of patterns and practices of the Portland Police Bureau.
2. Strengthening the Independent Police Review Division and the Citizen Review Committee with the goal of adding power to compel testimony.
3. A full review of the Bureau's excessive force and deadly force policies and training with diverse citizen participation for the purpose of making recommendations to change policies and training.
4. The Oregon State Legislature narrowing the language of the State statute for deadly force used by police officers.
5. Establishing a special prosecutor for police excessive force and deadly force cases.

The AMA Coalition for Justice and Police Reform follows these three principles:
--Embrace the five goals.
--Accept the principles of non-violent direct action as enunciated by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
--Work as a team in concert to achieve the goals.

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AMA Coalition for Justice and Police Reform Actions

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Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice and Police Reform
c/o Maranatha Church

Media contact: Dr. LeRoy Haynes, Jr, AMA Coalition 503-288-7242

CALENDAR ITEM / MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 22, 2020

AMA COALITION HOSTS
"REMEMBERING AARON CAMPBELL: STOP THE VIOLENCE"

Saturday, January 25, 2020, 5:00 PM
Maranatha Church, 4222 NE 12th at Skidmore

The Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice and Police Reform will host a gathering on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at 5:00 PM at Maranatha Church, 4222 NE 12th at Skidmore titled "Remembering Aaron Campbell: Stop the Violence." Campbell was killed by a shot to the back from a police sniper on January 29, 2010, ten years ago. Members of his family are expected to be in attendance at the event.

Campbell was distraught over the death of his brother and feeling suicidal. The police arrived upon getting a call worrying about what he might do. One officer talked him out of an apartment and he came out unarmed. Unfortunately, the "custody team" was unaware this had been negotiated and yelled at Campbell to put his hands over his head. But his hands were on his head; to make him comply Officer Ryan Lewton shot him with a less lethal round. When Campbell moved his hands toward his lower back, reacting to the "bean bag," Officer Frashour shot him in the back with an AR-15 sniper rifle. At the same time, another officer released a police dog on him. While Frashour was fired for failing to follow his training, an arbitrator ruled he should be reinstated after members of the Training Division contradicted their Captain about whether Frashour followed training. So far as the community knows Frashour remains on desk duty today. The City settled with Cambell's family for $1.2 million.

In addition to police violence, the January 25 event will also focus on various other forms of violence such as Domestic Violence, Gang Violence, Mass Shootings and War Violence.

Cosponsors of this event include Albina Ministerial Alliance, Portland Copwatch, Portland Standing Up for Racial Justice/Black Lives Matter Action Group, Mental Health Association of Portland, Lift Every Voice Oregon, Ceasefire Oregon, Portland Jobs with Justice, Portland Democratic Socialists of America, and Sisters Of The Road.

For questions about the event, contact the AMA Coalition c/or Maranatha Church at 503-288-7241.

Download a flyer for this event.

See the facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/events/1070735676600308

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Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice and Police Reform
c/o Maranatha Church
503-288-7242 Media contact: Dr. T. Allen Bethel, AMA Coalition 503-288-7242
Dr. LeRoy Haynes, Jr, AMA Coalition 503-288-7242 Calendar Listing / News Item For immediate Release August 9, 2019

ALBINA MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE COALITION
FOR JUSTICE AND POLICE REFORM
TO HOST COMMUNITY FORUM ON
POLICE ASSOCIATION CONTRACT
Monday, August 26, 2019
6:00-8:00 PM
Maranatha Church, 4222 NE 12th at Skidmore.

The Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice and Police Reform
(AMAC) will host a forum on the City's new contract with the Portland
Police Association to be held *Monday, August 26 from 6-8:00 PM* at
Maranatha Church, 4222 NE 12th at Skidmore.

We will begin with a short presentation on background on the current
contract between the City of Portland and the Portland Police
Association. Following this we will open the floor to the community for
input. Our goal is to hear the community's concerns so they can be
forwarded to members of City Council before the new contract
negotiations.

The Portland Police Association (PPA) contract-- a Collective Bargaining
Agreement between the PPA and the City-- expires on June 30, 2020. It is
meant to cover wages, benefits and working conditions for the
Association's members. The City is expected to begin negotiations early
this fall. In 2016, the community was shut out of the process to the
point where City Council left Council Chambers before voting, and people
who were still in City Hall were pushed out violently by police.

We want to see a more inclusive process this time. Questions to consider
include: Why is it so difficult to fire officers? Why aren't officers
drug tested after deadly force incidents? Why does Portland's civilian
oversight body not have the ability to investigate use of deadly force
or to compel officer testimony?

The Portland Police Association represents the rank-and-file officers as
well as Sergeants, Detectives, the newly hired Public Safety Support
Specialists, and, as of 2019, Emergency Communications (911) employees.
The current contract can be found at:
https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bhr/article/10857 .

This forum is hosted by the AMAC and is being cosponsored by Portland
Jobs with Justice, Portland Copwatch, Portland Forward, Portland Metro
People's Coalition, As the Spirit Moves Us and NAACP Portland Branch.

A flyer for this action can be found here.

For more information or if your group would like to be listed as a
cosponsor contact the AMA Coalition at 503-288-7242.

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EVENT: Memorial march and rally on 50th Anniversary of the Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
Wednesday, April 4, 2018, 5:00 PM

The spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is calling all people who love democracy, freedom, justice, equality, peace, elimination of poverty and who desire to build the Beloved Community to respond to the "Urgent Now" calling us to take a stand and recommit ourselves to the Dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The March will take place Wednesday, April 04, 2018 at 5:00 P.M.
At 5:00 P.M. we will gather at the Japanese American Historical Plaza (NW Naito Parkway at Davis St.
At 5:30 P.M. we will march across the Steel Bridge to MLK Statue (At MLK Blvd. & Holladay St.)
At 6:30 P.M. we will Rally at MLK Blvd & Holladay.

This March & Rally is sponsored by the Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition For Justice and Police Reform. Co-Sponsored by the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, The Beloved Community.

Download an action announcement to post or distribute.

Check back here for more details and links to the official event page.

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Public Forum to take feedback on
City's progress with DOJ Agreement Tues 4/25 6 PM

The AMA Coalition for Justice and Police Reform will hold a public forum to update the community on the status of the Settlement Agreement with the US Department of Justice, and specifically to take input on the latest draft Compliance Report on the City's progress in implementing reforms. The forum will be held Tuesday, April 25 at Maranatha Church, 4222 NE 12th in Portland. The Compliance Officer/Community Liaison (COCL) released the semi-annual draft report on April 3, and comments are due by May 2nd.

A copy of the report, which covers progress on Use of Force, Training, Accountability, and other aspects of the Agreement in Quarters 3&4 2016 can be found here: http://www.cocl-coab.org/news/q3-q4-2016-draft-cocl-compliance-report-released

Two members of the COCL team from Chicago have committed to attending the forum.

The AMAC wishes to hold this forum to continue its commitment to community engagement regarding the Settlement Agreement and police reform more generally.

For more information contact Chair Dr. LeRoy Haynes, Jr, or co-chair Dr. T. Allen Bethel at 503-288-7242.

Download a flyer for the forum. Last updated April 12, 2017

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ACTION: Saturday January 28, 2017 March for Justice and Equality
"Advancing Justice and Equality for All Through the Strength to Love"

On Saturday, January 28, 2017 the Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice and Police Reform will hold a March for Justice and Equality to bring together people from North, Northeast and Southeast Portland and elsewhere. Gather at 10:00 AM at the Martin Luther King Jr statue at to 1000 block of NE MLK Blvd (at Holladay St), followed by a march to Maranatha Church. At 11:45 AM join a rally at the church (4222 NE 12th). The theme for the family-friendly event is "Advancing Justice and Equality for All Through the Strength to Love." The date coincides with the 7th anniversary of the death of Aaron Campbell, an unarmed African American man shot by Portland Police in 2010, as well as the transition to a new federal government that potentially threatens the civil liberties of many communities.

March for Justice and Equality
Saturday, January 28, 2017
10:00 AM

Program:
10:00 AM Assembly at Martin Luther King Jr Statue
      1000 block, NE MLK Blvd (at Holladay St, by the Convention Center)

10:30 AM SHARP: March begins (permitted march)

11:45 AM: Rally at Maranatha Church
      (tabling and refreshments)

Sponsors: March sponsored by Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice and Police Reform.

Endorsers: Endorsers include NAACP Portland Branch, Urban League of Portland, Unite Oregon, Muslim Educational Trust, Japanese American Citizens League, Asians4BlackLives PDX, Portland's Resistance, Voz Workers' Rights Education Project, Right 2 Survive, Black Cultural Affairs Board at PSU, Portland Copwatch, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Sisters Of The Road, 350PDX, Showing Up for Racial Justice - Portland, Portland National Lawyers Guild, Oregon Green Energy Coalition, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Jewish Voice for Peace-Portland and others.

Guidelines: Guidelines for AMA Coalition Actions and Demonstrations:

1. All AMA Coalition actions are guided by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s non-violent direct action principles.

2. Language use in rallies, marches and civil disobedience or other actions must be family and children friendly.

3. All organizations and individuals participating in AMA Coalition demonstrations and actions must show respect for one another.

4. All demonstrations and actions of the AMA Coalition are under the leadership of the AMA Coalition Steering Committee.

The Coalition held a similar march on the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington in 2013: http://albinaministerialcoalition.org/actions.html#marchonWADC>

Flyer: For a flyer promoting this event go to http://albinaministerialcoalition.org/ama_march012817.pdf

Transportation: Participants are encouraged to take public transportation. There are a number of options to consider. If you park near the rally site at Holladay and MLK Blvd you may run into people parking for the Auto Show, which is the same day. If you instead want to park near Maranatha Church at NE 12th and Skidmore, you can either take the #8 bus down 15th and the Max over to the Convention Center, or walk over to MLK and take the #6 down. The MAX Blue, Green and Red lines all stop at the Convention Center.

Signs: Please bring family-friendly signs appropriate to the day's themes of justice, equality for all, and the strength to love.

Keep checking back to http://albinaministerialcoalition.org and the Coalition's Facebook page < http://www.facebook.com/pages/AMA-Coalition-for-Justice-Police-Reform/328861034751> for more details and information, or call Dr. LeRoy Haynes, Jr, Chair or Dr. T. Allen Bethel, co-chair, at 503-288-7242. There is a facebook page for the event at
< https://www.facebook.com/events/1298123663579678/>

ACTION ALERT!

Contact City Council and tell them to drop their appeal of Judge Simon's order, and to extend Community Oversight Advisory Board members' terms until a new COAB is seated! Click here for details.

Last updated January 29, 2017

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TAKE ACTION: Tell City Council to Rescind Its Appeal of the Judge's Order
When: March 2015->July 2015 NOTE: A new order changing hearings to status conferences ended this issue in July 2015

The City of Portland is appealing U.S. District Judge Michael Simon's court order, which requires the City to appear at annual hearings assessing implementation of the Settlement Agreement between the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and the City of Portland. The Settlement Agreement seeks to address allegations that the Portland Police Bureau has engaged in a pattern and practice of excessive force against community members with mental health issues or perceived to be in mental health crisis. While the City claims the appeal seeks "clarification" on the "frequency, scope, procedure, and evidentiary burdens" that the Court can apply in those hearings -- including what evidence can be brought forward by the parties, including the Portland Police Association and the Albina Ministerial Alliance (AMA) Coalition for Justice and Reform -- the paperwork filed clearly shows the City intends to challenge the Judge's authority to hold those hearings at all and to ask questions about implementation of the Agreement.

Sign our petition calling on the Portland City Council to Rescind The Appeal!

* If the Council is truly committed to reform and accountability, an annual hearing with Judge Simon is essential to rebuilding trust with the citizens of Portland.
* Keep U.S. District Judge's Independent Review of Portland Police Reforms.
Sign the petition online or download a hard copy you can sign and get others to sign.
Return petitions to National Lawyers Guild, PO Box 40723, Portland, OR 97240-0723.
You may also pick up hard copies of the petition at Maranatha Church, 4222 NE 12th (office on NE 13th), or call (503) 288-7241, leave a name, address and number of petitions you'd like mailed to you (26 signatures per 2-sided sheet).

Thanks to Basic Rights Oregon for creating these petitions.

For more information see http://albinaministerialcoalition.org/AMA_Rescind_Campaignv2.pdf

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Kickoff Rally for Campaign to Rescind City's Appeal of Judge's Order
When: Wednesday, January 7, 2015, 12:00 Noon
Where: Portland City Hall, 1221 SW 4th

The City of Portland has decided to appeal Judge Michael Simon's court order to appear annually for a hearing assessing its implementation of the US Department of Justice (DOJ) Settlement Agreement. While the City claims the appeal is to "clarify" what kind of evidence can be brought forward by the parties, which also include the Portland Police Association and the Albina Ministerial Alliance (AMA) Coalition for Justice and Police Reform, the paperwork they filed clearly shows they intend to challenge the Judge's authority to convene hearings assessing the progress (or non-progress) of implementation. Join the AMA Coalition in its kickoff action for a campaign to rescind the appeal with a news conference and picket line on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at 12:00 Noon in front of City Hall at 1221 SW 4th Av.

Note: The City will be discussing the DOJ Agreement at 2 PM on Wednesday, transferring more money and approving the contract for the Compliance Officer/Community Liaison, who is by the judge's order expected to appear for the annual hearings.

For more information see http://albinaministerialcoalition.org/AMA_Rescind_Campaignv2.pdf

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Cry For Justice: Prayer Vigil and March for Victims of Police Violence
When: Saturday, December 20, 4 PM
Where: Allen Temple Church 4236 NE 8th Ave, Portland, OR 97211

On Saturday, December 20 at 4 PM, the Albina Ministerial Alliance for Justice and Reform will lead a Prayer Vigil and March through Northeast Portland in memory of Michael Brown, killed by police in Ferguson, Missouri and Eric Garner, killed by a police chokehold in Staten Island, New York. In both cases, grand juries failed to bring indictment for their deaths. The Prayer Vigil and Rally will also honor Trayvon Martin and Tamir Rice, a 12 year old shot by police in Cleveland, as well as Portland victims of police shootings and deadly force, including Kendra James, James Jahar Prez, James Chasse, Aaron Campbell, Keaton Otis, Jose Mejia Poot and others. The theme of the Vigil and March is a Cry for Justice.

The Prayer Vigil and March will bring together clergy and members of the community to build momentum for the movement for police reform, nationally and in Portland. An inter-faith coalition of clergy will lead prayers and a March, ending at the overpass where Kendra James was killed by police in 2003. All participants are asked to wear black as a symbol of mourning and respect. Participants are encouraged to bring flashlights or electric candles for the march.

The AMA Coalition will highlight its five goals for justice and police reform. It will also update the community on the US Department of Justice lawsuit against the City of Portland for its use of excessive force. Recent events have made this an important time for local involvement and the AMA Coalition will provide information and ways to support change.

The Prayer Vigil will be preceded by a children's event starting at 2 PM at Allen Temple, including sign-making, an indoor rally, and a short march ending back at the church for the 4 PM event. This event is organized by concerned parents and children.
https://www.facebook.com/events/619536944819413/

People wishing to volunteer for the event should contact AMA Coalition Chair Rev. Dr. LeRoy Haynes, Jr. at 503-287-0261.

Flyers are available at http://albinaministerialcoalition.org/amac_prayer_vigil122014.pdf.

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EMERGENCY ACTION: MICHAEL BROWN GRAND JURY (October 2014-January 2015?) Tuesday November 25, 2014

The day after the Grand Jury decision in the Michael Brown case (Tuesday, November 25, 2014), the AMA Coalition for Justice and Police Reform will hold an emergency action at 4:00 PM in front of the Justice Center at SW 3rd and Madison Streets in downtown Portland, focusing on police accountability and justice for Michael Brown.

In keeping with the AMA Coalition's organizing principles, this will be a non-violent action. All Portlanders wishing to see justice and peace are encouraged to attend.

The rally will be held regardless of the verdict, and may take place on a weekend or holiday depending when the announcement is made.

For more information contact Dr LeRoy Haynes, Chair of the AMA Coalition, at 503-287-0261.

The emergency rally is cosponsored by Portland Copwatch, Portland Jobs with Justice, Jewish Voice for Peace-Portland, All African People's Revolutionary Party, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and Killjoy Prophets.

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Race and Police Accountability Forum: "The Ferguson, MO Story: What Really Happened"


LEADER IN STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE IN FERGUSON, MO TO SPEAK IN PORTLAND
Rev. Robert White on "What Really Happened": Saturday, Nov. 1, 3 PM
Maranatha Church, 4222 NE 12th

On Saturday, November 1 at 3 PM, Rev. Robert White will speak in Portland as part of a Race and Police Accountability Forum, speaking on "The Ferguson, Missouri Story: What Really Happened." The Forum will take place at the Maranatha Church, 4222 NE 12th, and is sponsored by the Albina Ministerial Alliance (AMA) Coalition for Justice and Police Reform. Rev. White is the president of Clergy United for Peace and has been a major leader in the struggle for justice for Michael Brown, the unarmed African American teenager killed by Ferguson police on August 9.

The AMA Coalition will also use the event to update the community on the US Department of Justice lawsuit against the City of Portland for its use of excessive force.

People wishing to volunteer for the event should contact AMA Coalition Chair Rev. Dr. LeRoy Haynes, Jr. at 503-287-0261. Organizations wishing to co-sponsor the event are asked to contribute between $50-200 on a sliding scale, payable to the AMA Coalition, and mailed to Allen Temple, 4236 NE 8th, Portland, OR 97211.

Current cosponsors include First Unitarian Church of Portland, Augustana Lutheran Church, Maranatha Church, Allen Temple, Portland Copwatch, Urban League of Portland, Portland National Lawyers Guild, Consult Hardesty, Christ Church: Portland, Portland Jobs with Justice, Ainsworth United Church of Christ and others.

A facebook page for this event can be found at https://www.facebook.com/events/374382292717216/.

Flyers are available at http://albinaministerialcoalition.org/Race_Police_Ferguson1.pdf ("Love is Our Weapon"-color), http://albinaministerialcoalition.org/Race_Police_Ferguson1bw.pdf ("Love is Our Weapon"-B&W) and http://albinaministerialcoalition.org/Race_Police_Ferguson2.pdf ("Stolen Lives").

NEW! April 2015 Watch video of "Ferguson to Portland: Race and Police Accountability" from Flying Focus Video, sponsored by the AMA Coalition:
http://www.flyingfocus.org/FergusonForumstreamingpage.html

Information updated October 2, 2014 to reflect changes to date, time and title, plus addition of location; also updated October 16, 23, 28 &30, 2014 and April 28, 2015

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Portland memorial Service for Nelson Mandela, Father and former President of the New South Africa

The world and America mourn and celebrate the life, words and deeds of Nelson Mandela.

A world Icon for freedom loving people throughout the world.
When: Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at 6:30pm

Where: Maranatha Church 4222 NE 12th Ave, Portland Or 97211 (503) 288-7241

Sponsored by: The Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice and Police Reform
             and The Center for Intercultural Organizing

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Historic 1963 March on Washington will be commemorated in Portland on August 24th.

August 5th, 2013, Portland, OR--  The Albina Ministerial Alliance (AMA) Coalition for Justice and Police Reform, along with community partners including the Oregon Commission on Black Affairs, the Urban League of Portland, McKenzie River Gathering Foundation, First Unitarian Church, AFSME, Central City Concern, the AFL-CIO, the NAACP of Portland, the ACLU of Portland, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Metanoia Peace House and others are planning a march and rally to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The march will be held on Saturday, August 24th at South Waterfront Park. The commemorative march will begin at 10am on August 24th, at Chapman Square (next to Terry Schrunk Plaza) located across from Portland City Hall at SW Third Avenue and Madison St. Participants will then march to South Waterfront Park, where the rally, speakers, and music will begin at 1pm.Timed to coincide with the national event in Washington DC, people from all walks of life in the region will gather in recognition of this historic day and in support of the ongoing civil rights movement. In Portland, many of the issues that compelled the 1963 March of Washington for Jobs and Freedom are still the pressing issues of today.

The rally will commemorate the historical significance of the day and will also focus on critical issues of civil rights, including the U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, a cornerstone of modern civil rights law. Attorney General Eric Holder, speaking recently at the National Urban League Conference, found the ruling "disappointing and deeply flawed" but stressed that the decision is not a defeat, but "a historic opportunity" to strengthen civil rights law. Marchers will use this opportunity to voice their support of stronger protections under the law.  Other events, including the recent verdict in the trial of George Zimmerman, highlight a failure on the part of our legal system to address systematic injustices and unequal protections under the law.

The AMA Coalition is an umbrella group of community organizations and individuals at the forefront of community organizing for police accountability and oversight in Portland.

The Urban League is one of the oldest African American service, civil rights and advocacy organizations in the nation. The Urban League of Portland is a part of a network of over 95 National Urban League Affiliates across the country and is recognized as one of the leading voices for African Americans and other people of color in Oregon. 


##

Contact: Michael Alexander, President & CEO of the Urban League of Portland 503-280-2600, ext 625 
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/557729150950973
Information at First Unitarian Church website: http://www.firstunitarianportland.org/our-programs/social-justice/news/784-qmarch-on-washingtonq-50th-anniversary
(Note: Start point moved from Terry Schrunk to Chapman Square on August 20)

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Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice and Police Reform
c/o Allen Temple
4236 NE 8th Ave
Portland, OR 97211

Calendar item

For immediate release April 24, 2013

KENDRA JAMES 10 YEARS LATER MEMORIAL VIGIL TO REMEMBER
WOMAN SLAIN BY POLICE IN 2003
Sunday, May 5, 2013, 5:00 PM 931 N Skidmore

On Sunday, May 5, the Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice and Police Reform will lead a memorial vigil for Kendra James, the young woman killed by Officer Scott McCollister exactly 10 years ago on the Skidmore overpass in Portland. The memorial will be held outside the Greater Faith Baptist Church at 931 N Skidmore, just yards away from the spot where McCollister discharged his pistol at James, who was behind the wheel of a car. The vigil will begin at 5 PM. Members of James' family will be in attendance.

Despite McCollister's claims that he "feared for his life," the AMA Coalition presented a detailed analysis that McCollister was not in any danger, knew who the unarmed Kendra James was and could have found her even if she had driven away, and raised serious questions about whether he had collaborated with the other officers on the scene by meeting at a restaurant to get their stories straight before they talked to investigators. McCollister was given 180 days' suspension, but that discipline was overturned by an arbitrator after the Portland Police Association grieved the action.

James' death was a touchstone for many in Portland who saw the shooting of an unarmed African American woman as a symptom of a Police Bureau needing major reforms. In many ways her death led the accountability efforts down the path to the changes now being sought as a remedy by the Department of Justice in their lawsuit against the City.

The event is endorsed by Portland Copwatch and other community organizations. For more information or if your group wishes to endorse call Dr. LeRoy Haynes, Jr at 503-287-0261.

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March-April, 2012:

CALL TO ACTION!
PICKET LINE AND NEWS CONFERENCE FOR AARON CAMPBELL 11:30 AM Monday, April 2, 2012
Portland City Hall, SW 4th and Madison

The Arbitration regarding the shooting of Aaron Campbell has concluded with the recommended reinstatement of Officer Ron Frashour
to the Portland Police Bureau.

As noted previously, the AMA has a call to action in response:

On Monday, April 2, people should meet at 11:30 AM on the 4th Ave side of City Hall (between Madison and Jeffeson) for a picket line and news
conference. (The news conference will begin at noon.)

Please spread the word.

Here is some background information:


On Monday, April 2, the Albina Ministerial Alliance (AMA) Coalition for Justice and Police Reform will hold a picket line and news conference to protest the State Arbitrator's decision to reinstate Officer Ron Frashour to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB). Frashour shot the unarmed Aaron Campbell in the back in January, 2010 and was fired later that year. 

The reinstatement of Frashour is another in a long line of arbitration overturning firings of officers who wrongfully use deadly force, or otherwise take actions often targeted at communities of color.

--Officer Scott McCollister, who was suspended for six months after shooting and killing African American Kendra James in 2003, was reinstated with back pay;
--Officer Douglas Erickson, who shot and wounded African American Gerald Gratton in the back in 1993, was reinstated;
--Officers Richard Montee and Paul Wickersham, fired for selling T-Shirts reading "Don't Choke 'Em, Smoke 'Em" after an officer choked African American security guard Lloyd "Tony" Stevenson in 1985, were reinstated;
--Officers Craig Ward and Jim Galloway, fired for tossing dead opossums on the porch of a black-owned business in 1981, were reinstated;
and
--In one case where the victim, Dennis Young, was white, Lt. Jeffrey Kaer was reinstated after being fired for shooting and killing Young in 2006.

The apparent racial bias of the arbitration system comes in the midst of a national debate on racial profiling, sparked by the shooting of teenager Trayvon Martin in Florida. Like Keaton Otis, an African American man shot and killed by Portland Police less than four months after Campbell, Martin was deemed suspicious for wearing a hoodie.

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January, 2012:


CALL TO ACTION!
NEWS CONFERENCE AND PICKET LINE FOR AARON CAMPBELL AND KEATON OTIS
11:30 AM on the Days After News Breaks

Supporters of the Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice and Police Reform:

The AMA Coalition is calling for the community to come together for two emergency actions that
may be protests or celebrations. In the next few weeks, we should be getting news about:

--Whether the Police Bureau will find the officers who shot and killed Keaton Otis in May, 2010
violated any policies when they shot him 23 times, after punching him in the face and Tasering
him, and before shooting his mortally wounded body with "beanbags" and leaving him lying on the
ground;

--Whether a state arbitrator will uphold the City's firing of Officer Ron Frashour, who killed
Aaron Campbell with an assault rifle shot to the back in January, 2010.

The day after the announcement,* people should meet at 11:30 AM on the 4th Ave side of City
Hall for a news conference and picket line--- though the message may be different if either
incident ends with positive news for those of us who beleive in accountability. Clearly, if the
officers who shot Otis and Campbell are found out of policy and are disciplined, the picket
line will be more of a celebration than a protest.

*NOTE: If the announcement comes out on the day before a holiday or a weekend, the news
conference and picket line will be held on the next regular weekday; that is, if the
announcement is on a Friday, the AMA action will be on the next Monday.

For more information contact the AMA Coalition via Chair Pastor LeRoy Haynes, 503-287-0261 or
email chair@albinaministerialcoalition.org

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