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Drug Dealers Admit Berkeley PD Have Asked Them To Assault Cop-watchers
"The cops said they would make things hard for us, if we didn't get you to leave." - Anon drug dealer, revealing deal with police
Today on Feb 3rd (2013) Drug dealers in People's Park have admitted today that Berkeley Police has recently asked them to assault local cop-watchers in retaliation against a complaint being heard by the Berkeley Police Review Commission which involves local police reform and Occupy activists. The dealers explained that the police have made a deal that BPD would look the other way provided they would keep cop-watchers out of People's Park and off of Telegraph Ave.
Today on Feb 3rd (2013) Drug dealers in People's Park have admitted today that Berkeley Police has recently asked them to assault local cop-watchers in retaliation against a complaint being heard by the Berkeley Police Review Commission which involves local police reform and Occupy activists. The dealers explained that the police have made a deal that BPD would look the other way provided they would keep cop-watchers out of People's Park and off of Telegraph Ave.
"The cops said they would make things hard for us, if we didn't get you to leave." - Anon drug dealer, revealing deal with police
"I'm going to punch you in the face. I know who you are, and I am going find you. The police will not protect you; they don't want you around." - A second dealer
A local cop-watcher was surrounded in People's Park, and threatened to be beaten if the individual did not leave the Park. The drug dealers explained that the Berkeley police are giving them amnesty on Telegraph and in People's Park if they would remove cop-watchers out of the Park. They seemed assured there would be no consequences to the attack, as if the attack truly would have police approval. Two maintenance workers cleaning the Park restroom, who happened to be in the area, moved closer to make their presence known, which prevented the attack. The cop-watcher was surrounded and pinned, and could have been killed.
The Berkeley police are facing a police review complaint regarding the improper ticketing of a medical marijuana user on Park property, despite presenting proper medical marijuana paperwork. This ticket was initiated by Officer Cole of BPD. Along with the ticket, marijuana was seized, placed into custody and has yet to be returned to the lawful medical holder. The detainment and ticketing of the medical marijuana holder was captured on video by a known cop-watcher, and had been distributed to the Berkeley Community Law Center as well as the police review commission. The complaint regarding this issue is under current review, with witnesses having being interviewed. People involved in the local activist community are witnesses. As well the official _Berkeley CopWatch_ has issued a private behind the scenes statement on behalf of the complaint.
The average cop-watcher is for sensible drug reform, and and an end to the militarized drug war. So the police have chosen a tactic to contract hits on cop-watchers by granting amnesty to drug dealers. The tactic creates conflict; how can cop-watch in Berkeley safely operate if drug dealers are given the green light to beat cop-watchers?
The drug dealers who surrounded the cop-watcher made it very clear that the Berkeley police told them that they would be run out, if they would not stop cop-watch from patrolling Telegraph Ave. The said that the police would make things harder for people caught dealing drugs, if cop-watch continued to film and provide advice during police business.
The cop-watcher in People's Park was put in a very dangerous situation out of retaliation of the Berkeley police department, over a complaint over an infraction. It was only the chance that 2 workers were in the area which prevented a violent assault. The cop-watch in question remains in danger though, as do all cop-watchers who wish to report from the Telegraph area.
The cops are letting a small group of drug dealers run Telegraph Ave as long as the threats against cop-watch keep up. Berkeley PD issuing hits against Berkeley cop-watch, has taken the stakes to a terrifying level. It may be the case that Berkeley erupts into violence, and activists get hurt or killed, before police reform ever occurs. It is unknown if UC police are involved, as they were never mentioned by the drugs dealers who admitted the deal they had with the police.
"I'm going to punch you in the face. I know who you are, and I am going find you. The police will not protect you; they don't want you around." - A second dealer
A local cop-watcher was surrounded in People's Park, and threatened to be beaten if the individual did not leave the Park. The drug dealers explained that the Berkeley police are giving them amnesty on Telegraph and in People's Park if they would remove cop-watchers out of the Park. They seemed assured there would be no consequences to the attack, as if the attack truly would have police approval. Two maintenance workers cleaning the Park restroom, who happened to be in the area, moved closer to make their presence known, which prevented the attack. The cop-watcher was surrounded and pinned, and could have been killed.
The Berkeley police are facing a police review complaint regarding the improper ticketing of a medical marijuana user on Park property, despite presenting proper medical marijuana paperwork. This ticket was initiated by Officer Cole of BPD. Along with the ticket, marijuana was seized, placed into custody and has yet to be returned to the lawful medical holder. The detainment and ticketing of the medical marijuana holder was captured on video by a known cop-watcher, and had been distributed to the Berkeley Community Law Center as well as the police review commission. The complaint regarding this issue is under current review, with witnesses having being interviewed. People involved in the local activist community are witnesses. As well the official _Berkeley CopWatch_ has issued a private behind the scenes statement on behalf of the complaint.
The average cop-watcher is for sensible drug reform, and and an end to the militarized drug war. So the police have chosen a tactic to contract hits on cop-watchers by granting amnesty to drug dealers. The tactic creates conflict; how can cop-watch in Berkeley safely operate if drug dealers are given the green light to beat cop-watchers?
The drug dealers who surrounded the cop-watcher made it very clear that the Berkeley police told them that they would be run out, if they would not stop cop-watch from patrolling Telegraph Ave. The said that the police would make things harder for people caught dealing drugs, if cop-watch continued to film and provide advice during police business.
The cop-watcher in People's Park was put in a very dangerous situation out of retaliation of the Berkeley police department, over a complaint over an infraction. It was only the chance that 2 workers were in the area which prevented a violent assault. The cop-watch in question remains in danger though, as do all cop-watchers who wish to report from the Telegraph area.
The cops are letting a small group of drug dealers run Telegraph Ave as long as the threats against cop-watch keep up. Berkeley PD issuing hits against Berkeley cop-watch, has taken the stakes to a terrifying level. It may be the case that Berkeley erupts into violence, and activists get hurt or killed, before police reform ever occurs. It is unknown if UC police are involved, as they were never mentioned by the drugs dealers who admitted the deal they had with the police.
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I recommend submitting a California Public Records Act (CPRA) request for all Berkeley Police Department (BPD) records — including electronic and non–electronic communications — which are about, pertain to, or reference Berkeley Copwatch or cop watchers in Berkeley.
You're unlikely to obtain any BPD records about alleged deals with drug dealers against Berkeley Copwatch, but you may obtain other crumbs that reveal a sanctioned campaign by BPD against Berkeley Copwatch.
Also request the award letters for all active federal grants to BPD (through the City of Berkeley) and all active contracts with the federal government. They probably receive grants and have contracts with the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ). USDOJ has strict requirements against civil rights violations by those they fund. If you gain enough proof you should file a complaint with USDOJ's Office of Inspector General (USDOJ OIG) and/or USDOJ Office of Civil Rights. Be sure to carbon copy your complaint — with a cover letter explaining how terrible it is for democracy when the police team up with drug dealers to shut down being held accountable — to local and regional news media.
This story must make its way to the news media. Try Propublica, Democracy Now, California Center for Investigative Reporting. Bay Area Newsgroup is more activism friendly than other corporate papers and they actually do investigative reporting: approach them.
This story is explosive. Cops teaming up with dangerous criminals to shutdown citizens.
You're unlikely to obtain any BPD records about alleged deals with drug dealers against Berkeley Copwatch, but you may obtain other crumbs that reveal a sanctioned campaign by BPD against Berkeley Copwatch.
Also request the award letters for all active federal grants to BPD (through the City of Berkeley) and all active contracts with the federal government. They probably receive grants and have contracts with the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ). USDOJ has strict requirements against civil rights violations by those they fund. If you gain enough proof you should file a complaint with USDOJ's Office of Inspector General (USDOJ OIG) and/or USDOJ Office of Civil Rights. Be sure to carbon copy your complaint — with a cover letter explaining how terrible it is for democracy when the police team up with drug dealers to shut down being held accountable — to local and regional news media.
This story must make its way to the news media. Try Propublica, Democracy Now, California Center for Investigative Reporting. Bay Area Newsgroup is more activism friendly than other corporate papers and they actually do investigative reporting: approach them.
This story is explosive. Cops teaming up with dangerous criminals to shutdown citizens.
There have been solid suspicions by activists and admissions made by collaborators in the past. Not surprising the same happened later with Occupy.
This link is to one post, but there several others and numerous comments on Indybay related to this People's Park crookedness.
This link is to one post, but there several others and numerous comments on Indybay related to this People's Park crookedness.
For more information:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/01/2...
Berkeley Police Department sinks to new low by collaborating with drug dealers in an effort to CRACKDOWN HARD on right to observe police misconduct. This is the biggest conspiracy to cover-up future crimes by the Berkeley Police Department. What if our fellow comrade had been beaten to death?
I'M FUCKING TALKING ABOUT MURDER! WE NEED TO FUCKING WAKE UP AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE NOW DEALING WITH HERE!
If no one is willing to observe police abuse in fear of retaliation by street thugs, we have stepped into a whole other level of corruption and ugliness and I'm shocked that both sides cops and drug dealers have sunken to this level. It's the next worst thing to working as a police informant. NO, FUCK THAT! IT'S EVEN WORSE THAN THAT AND SOME PEOPLE ARE STILL HAVING A HARD TIME GRASPING THE LENGTH TO HOW BAD THIS REALLY IS!
Working with cops to intimidate the public from exercising the right to observe police misconduct in America. WOW! I think the Oakland community ought to gang up on anybody who lays one finger on a fellow comrade.
We have just reached a new level of fear and intimidation by the state and the only option left is to either:
1) lay low and try again later
2) quit while we're ahead
3) continue what we're doing and risk getting shot or
4) do cop watch with private security re-enforcement's everywhere for protection so that when drug dealers do the cops dirty work we are always safe and should anything go down where we have to fight or people get shot, everything will be on camera from multiple angles.
Exposing this corruption may help a little so that when go down in a "murder" or "vicious bodily harm", everyone knows it was the police using drug dealers to do their dirty work. And people with cameras can bring justice to the perpetrators. STREET JUSTICE!
We must stay strong!
We must not give in!
We must not give up!
We will not be intimidated by police or anyone working for police!
FUCK THE POLICE!
I'M FUCKING TALKING ABOUT MURDER! WE NEED TO FUCKING WAKE UP AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE NOW DEALING WITH HERE!
If no one is willing to observe police abuse in fear of retaliation by street thugs, we have stepped into a whole other level of corruption and ugliness and I'm shocked that both sides cops and drug dealers have sunken to this level. It's the next worst thing to working as a police informant. NO, FUCK THAT! IT'S EVEN WORSE THAN THAT AND SOME PEOPLE ARE STILL HAVING A HARD TIME GRASPING THE LENGTH TO HOW BAD THIS REALLY IS!
Working with cops to intimidate the public from exercising the right to observe police misconduct in America. WOW! I think the Oakland community ought to gang up on anybody who lays one finger on a fellow comrade.
We have just reached a new level of fear and intimidation by the state and the only option left is to either:
1) lay low and try again later
2) quit while we're ahead
3) continue what we're doing and risk getting shot or
4) do cop watch with private security re-enforcement's everywhere for protection so that when drug dealers do the cops dirty work we are always safe and should anything go down where we have to fight or people get shot, everything will be on camera from multiple angles.
Exposing this corruption may help a little so that when go down in a "murder" or "vicious bodily harm", everyone knows it was the police using drug dealers to do their dirty work. And people with cameras can bring justice to the perpetrators. STREET JUSTICE!
We must stay strong!
We must not give in!
We must not give up!
We will not be intimidated by police or anyone working for police!
FUCK THE POLICE!
Is there any evidence of this (audio or video)? Is anyone willing to talk to the press about this?
So, illegal drug sellers are being coereced by the cops to harass legal drug users and citizens.
Is the People's Park in Moscow or Beijing or Mexico City or Kabul?
Follow the money.
Is the People's Park in Moscow or Beijing or Mexico City or Kabul?
Follow the money.
folks,before folks go making a mountain out of a molehill or a molehill out of a mountain we need more facts.we do not know exactly who the "drug dealers" are,we do not know the copwatcher involved,nor do we know the police involved.of course,we do know the police will deny this be it true or false.anyone can claim to be a copwatcher so whether they are or not actively involved with copwatch remains to be seen.also,drunken hippies in a park talking shit means little or nothing.already local busybodies are ready to make a federal case out of what could be just drunken bravado.on another hand it could be worse than we realize.point is we just do not know.remain calm and wait for facts to be found.appreciate folks concern,tho.p.s this is NOT an official copwatch response but my own two cents.
My name is Mary Ann Uribe and I am Chair of the People's Park Forever Committee. I am also the administrator for the People's Park facebook page.
We are concerned about the safety of our cop watchers and even the alleged drug dealers involved in this story and want to make sure they are (1) legitimate and (2) safe. If this story is true, this is a criminal conspiracy formulated by the Berkeley police to cause harm to one or more of our cop watchers supposedly in retaliation for a Berkeley Police Commission case where the cops are accused of giving citations and harassing legal medical marijuana card holders on Telegraph Avenue.
We are trying to find the cop watcher involved though as Russell has point out, we have not been able to do so as of this writing. We are also trying to find the "drug dealers" who were threatened by the cops.
When and if we do, we will let you know. Peace!
We are concerned about the safety of our cop watchers and even the alleged drug dealers involved in this story and want to make sure they are (1) legitimate and (2) safe. If this story is true, this is a criminal conspiracy formulated by the Berkeley police to cause harm to one or more of our cop watchers supposedly in retaliation for a Berkeley Police Commission case where the cops are accused of giving citations and harassing legal medical marijuana card holders on Telegraph Avenue.
We are trying to find the cop watcher involved though as Russell has point out, we have not been able to do so as of this writing. We are also trying to find the "drug dealers" who were threatened by the cops.
When and if we do, we will let you know. Peace!
They've had peace for quite some time now. Give them too much power and they get out of control. Time to take that power back by showing them how little power they really have.
Good idea John.
I am confused by the call made in the above comment calling for showing the police what little power they have. What does that entail? I would really love to know because oppression is very real in this country for millions of people.
It means creating a situation to show how little control the police really have over the people COLLECTIVELY decide they are no longer the willing servant and useful idiots of the elite and are now willing to disobey ALL police orders and are willing to stand in total defiance all through out the day and night and tomorrow until there is a regime change. Not very difficult to understand. How much more bold do you want me to make that statement?
http://pastebin.com/pScHha8P
1: There will not be a witch-hunt against someone who was threatened by goons.
2: Russ Bates is making incorrect statements and is personally attacking a victim of police abuse
3: There are multiple cop-watch groups an solo cop-watchers in Berkeley. Berkeley CopWatch works with south of campus cop-watchers. It really is not that confusing or strange, and people should not be arguing that south of campus is part of a government conspiracy.
4: For security reasons the names of cop-watchers south of campus (or elsewhere) WILL NOT be divulged just because Russ wants a witch-hunt.
5. This goes to show that people should not be making comments on Indybay posts without any knowledge, because it creates confusion.
1: There will not be a witch-hunt against someone who was threatened by goons.
2: Russ Bates is making incorrect statements and is personally attacking a victim of police abuse
3: There are multiple cop-watch groups an solo cop-watchers in Berkeley. Berkeley CopWatch works with south of campus cop-watchers. It really is not that confusing or strange, and people should not be arguing that south of campus is part of a government conspiracy.
4: For security reasons the names of cop-watchers south of campus (or elsewhere) WILL NOT be divulged just because Russ wants a witch-hunt.
5. This goes to show that people should not be making comments on Indybay posts without any knowledge, because it creates confusion.
For more information:
http://pastebin.com/pScHha8P
Criminal cops, yet another violation of our rights. The gov’t constantly violates our rights.
They violate the 1st Amendment by caging protesters and banning books like “America Deceived II”.
They violate the 4th and 5th Amendment by allowing TSA to grope you.
They violate the entire Constitution by starting undeclared wars.
Impeach Obama.
Last link of “America Deceived II” before it is completely banned:
http://www.amazon.com/America-Deceived-II-Possession-interrogation/dp/1450257437
They violate the 1st Amendment by caging protesters and banning books like “America Deceived II”.
They violate the 4th and 5th Amendment by allowing TSA to grope you.
They violate the entire Constitution by starting undeclared wars.
Impeach Obama.
Last link of “America Deceived II” before it is completely banned:
http://www.amazon.com/America-Deceived-II-Possession-interrogation/dp/1450257437
The police are only one part of problem. They are but just one part of the system that always keeps you down.
My name is Mary Ann Uribe and I am the Chair of the People's Park Forever Committee in Berkeley. We deal with issues in the Park including police abuse, police crimes against civilians, the homeless, etc. I am also the administrater of the PeoplesParkBerkeley facebook page. We have over 1300 friends on facebook.
One of my friends on facebook sent me this Indy article thinking I should know about it. Since then I have tried to find the cop watcher and drug dealers involved to no avail. The Park has friends in the community who are willing to nail these cops to the wall if they have threatened or, as described in the report, engaged in a criminal conspiracy to have one of our cop watchers beaten. We also care for the safety of the drug dealers because they were forced by the cops to engage in this conduct. However, we need people involved in the incident who are willing to make statements, identify who they are and tell us what happened. We will protect them.
We still have time to file a complaint on the person(s) behalf with the Police Commission, file a civil suit against the City, file a complaint with the Peace and Justice Commission and do whatever else is necessary to protect our people and their rights.
If anyone knows any information please contact me. You can reach me at my email address at lothiriel_rohan [at] yahoo.com.
Thank you for your help!
One of my friends on facebook sent me this Indy article thinking I should know about it. Since then I have tried to find the cop watcher and drug dealers involved to no avail. The Park has friends in the community who are willing to nail these cops to the wall if they have threatened or, as described in the report, engaged in a criminal conspiracy to have one of our cop watchers beaten. We also care for the safety of the drug dealers because they were forced by the cops to engage in this conduct. However, we need people involved in the incident who are willing to make statements, identify who they are and tell us what happened. We will protect them.
We still have time to file a complaint on the person(s) behalf with the Police Commission, file a civil suit against the City, file a complaint with the Peace and Justice Commission and do whatever else is necessary to protect our people and their rights.
If anyone knows any information please contact me. You can reach me at my email address at lothiriel_rohan [at] yahoo.com.
Thank you for your help!
You still think we have rights in this country after everything that has happened in Oakland? Are you in denial of the truth? Haven't you seen enough abuse to be convinced that we are not winning the battle in the courts against the police and against everything else that is wrong with this society? Haven't you had enough? Is it going to take the mowing down of civilians by machine gun fire to convince you that the time to organize for insurrection had already passed us a long time ago?? I find it highly insulting to my intelligence that reformists are still coming on here in a sort of way ignoring the situation to dismiss reality that we are now living in a dictatorship as if we are still in a position to negotiate with the system as if anybody in a position of power is listening to any of us anymore. As if everyone living in America is a top priority of the government. WAKE UP! We don't live in the same country no matter what the press tells you. Pull the Obama blindfold off your face and look at this society for what it really is and say what it is with out the self-mouth policing truth filter in your head. Please understand that our time for reform passed us long time ago when we were asleep and now that people are waking up, it is too late to change things politically the diplomatic way. Non-conformity is a tool. Learn to organize and use this tool. Make friends with it. Eat it. Breath it. Live it for it is the only thing left now that is capable for freeing everyone from this corrupt system.
ABOUT OUR ALLEGED COP WATCHER WHO WAS THREATENED, I FOUND OUT IT IS NOT TRUE
I am Chair of the People's Park Forever Committee. We deal with issues that affect the Park and the people in it. In order to find out what happened regarding this incident, today I went to the Park and spoke to 20 adults. I told them there was a report about a cop watcher being threatened. Each person said it did not happen. Instead what did happen is one of the people we know who goes to the Park called someone else in the Park a "cop". The second individual took offense and told the first person to take it back or he would beat him up. NOTHING else happened according to all the witnesses.
I am Chair of the People's Park Forever Committee. We deal with issues that affect the Park and the people in it. In order to find out what happened regarding this incident, today I went to the Park and spoke to 20 adults. I told them there was a report about a cop watcher being threatened. Each person said it did not happen. Instead what did happen is one of the people we know who goes to the Park called someone else in the Park a "cop". The second individual took offense and told the first person to take it back or he would beat him up. NOTHING else happened according to all the witnesses.
This video seems to show there is some truth to this story:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/02/05/18731443.php
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/02/05/18731443.php
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