Redwood Curtain CopWatch, based in the north coast of California, is part of a larger movement of self organized CopWatch groups throughout the US. Our local efforts seek to intervene in the drastic rise of the presence, militarization, and violence of the police, and build support networks based on self-determination, caring, and concrete needs.
civil rights violation
Response to Outrageous Gov't Premise for Police Action Against Occupy Eureka
Submitted by copwatch on Sat, 01/07/2012 - 2:24pmJan 7, 2011
Open Letter to Humboldt County District Attorney, Paul Gallegos:
We have reviewed your November 2, 2011 email to the Humboldt County Sheriff, County Counsel, and the County Administrative Officer in which you direct that the tents of Occupy Eureka be removed from the front of the Humboldt County Courthouse. The “go get 'em” email, obtained through a California Public Records Request, instigated, with no legal basis, the November 7 militarized raid, arrests, and civil rights violations by the Eureka Police Department [EPD] and the Humboldt County Sheriff's Department (and presumably the subsequent raids, arrests, and civil rights violations) and creates a conflict as you attempt to prosecute people arrested in those raids and related police actions. Most egregious, however, is that your email to the County is a malicious work of “shock and awe” deceit that should be retracted immediately. You wrote of Occupy Eureka protesters as if they might be terrorists with “explosives” in their tents. Redwood Curtain CopWatch is outraged and disgusted at your dangerous, wholly unfounded, and secret implications regarding non-violent Occupy Eureka protesters. Undoubtedly, thousands of people who will learn of your disingenuous and inflammatory Nov 2 email and the subsequent similar emails will also be appalled and offended by your actions.
Local Cops Ready for War With Homeland Security-Funded Military Weapons
Submitted by copwatch on Sun, 01/01/2012 - 11:25pmA decade of billions in spending in the name of homeland security has armed local police departments with military-style equipment and a new commando mentality. But has it gone too far? Andrew Becker and G.W. Schulz of the Center for Investigative Reporting report.
Dec 21, 2011 Nestled amid plains so flat the locals joke you can watch your dog run away for miles, Fargo treasures its placid lifestyle, seldom pierced by the mayhem and violence common in other urban communities. North Dakota’s largest city has averaged fewer than two homicides a year since 2005, and there’s not been a single international terrorism prosecution in the last decade.
But that hasn’t stopped authorities in Fargo and its surrounding county from going on an $8 million buying spree to arm police officers with the sort of gear once reserved only for soldiers fighting foreign wars.
Stop the Attack on Civil Rights at Occupy Eureka
Submitted by copwatch on Tue, 12/20/2011 - 11:02amPlease phone and email the numbers & addresses below!
*Demand Return of All
Property including Signs,
Literature,Banners.*
*Insist the Police Respect
Our Right to Protest,
Stop Abusing Us & Stop
Occupy Eureka Persists In Strength Despite Ongoing Arrests and Police Repression (Dec19,2011)
Submitted by copwatch on Mon, 12/19/2011 - 12:00pmEureka, CA: The first trial of an arrested Occupier (Eureka) is over. The Humboldt County prosecutor's case revolved around the arrest of the demonstrator for videotaping Eureka police officer, Michael Guy, when he approached the Occupy Eureka site at 4am. After officials jailed the person who was filming for eight days, wasted the impoverished county's money, and spent nearly two weeks in court claiming that the videotaping woman's behavior put the officer in grave danger, a jury voted ten-to-two for acquittal. The case was dismissed.
Martin Cotton Civil Trial Press Conference, Sept. 21 (with VIDEO)
Submitted by copwatch on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 9:00pmSept 21: PRESS CONFERENCE OUTSIDE CIVIL RIGHTS TRIAL, ABOUT FATAL POLICE BEATING OF MARTIN COTTON
Submitted by copwatch on Tue, 09/20/2011 - 1:23pmoutside Oakland Federal Courthouse
1301 Clay Street, Oakland
Press Conference after court in last days of jury trial: Siehna Cotton et al v. City of Eureka
Read Sept. 20 Press Release
CIVIL RIGHTS TRIAL ABOUT FATAL EUREKA POLICE BEATING OF MARTIN COTTON CONCLUDING THIS WEEK
Submitted by copwatch on Tue, 09/20/2011 - 11:54amFor Immediate Release Sept. 20, 2011
Short Update (9/14/11) from Martin Cotton Trial in Oakland: Eureka Cops Beat Him To Death
Submitted by copwatch on Fri, 09/16/2011 - 10:50pmClosing Arguments on Thursday, Sept 22nd!
Currently, the civil rights trial about the August 9, 2007 police murder of Martin Frederick Cotton II is in its last few days. The Eureka Police beat Martin Cotton brutally- in fact- beat him to death in broad daylight, in front of the Eureka Rescue Mission and many (other) houseless people. The civil trial, brought by Martin Cotton's father, Marty Cotton, and Martin's young daughter, Siehna Cotton.
Support for the Cottons has been wonderful from the Oscar Grant Committee, Redwood Curtain CopWatch, and Transport Workers Solidarity Committee.
On Wednesday (9/14) and Monday (9/12), two Eureka cops have been testifying, Justin Winkle and Adam Laird.. Thursday, EPD Officer Gary Whitmer.
September 13, Update on Civil Trial About Fatal Police Beating of Martin Cotton
Submitted by copwatch on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 2:12pmMEDIA UPDATE & CLARIFICATION*: September 13, 2011
Jury Seated and First Testimony Heard in Civil Trial About Fatal Police Beating of Martin Cotton
Oakland, CA: On the morning of September 12, 2011 in U.S. District Court, Northern District in Oakland, CA, a seven person jury was sworn in to hear the civil trial brought by the family of Martin Frederick Cotton II, who was killed by a fatal police beating in Eureka, California four years ago. Supporters and members of Redwood Curtain CopWatch and the Oscar Grant Committee Against Police Brutality rallied outside the courthouse early in the morning, spreading the word about the trial about to occur, speaking out against state brutality, and holding signs "Cops Beat Martin To Death. Justice For Martin Cotton!"
View Secret FBI Documents Revealing Targetting Anti-War and International Solidarity Activists
Submitted by copwatch on Mon, 05/30/2011 - 10:59amDocuments Released on May 18th (PDF format):
Supreme Court Says, "Get Used To Living In A Police State"
Submitted by copwatch on Tue, 05/17/2011 - 8:37pmSupreme Court gives police a new entryway into homes
The Supreme Court, in an 8-1 decision in a Kentucky case, says police officers who loudly knock on a door in search of illegal drugs and then hear sounds suggesting evidence is being destroyed may break down the door and enter without a search warrant.
San Fran DA Drops Cases Due to Illegal Cop Searches
Submitted by copwatch on Wed, 04/27/2011 - 4:04pmDA drops 57 cases in San Francisco Cops Scandal
(or "Every Once in a While, Cops Get Busted for Their Common Thug Behavior")
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=8004435
Note: DA Gascon is saying that SF will have a prosecutor to give copsin-the-moment advice as to what they can get away with when busting in to search places... if the cops even call for such guidance....
STOP THE INJUNCTIONS: Check Out Facebook!
Submitted by copwatch on Sun, 03/13/2011 - 3:08pm
Pitchess Motion
Submitted by copwatch on Sun, 03/13/2011 - 2:00pm
What is a Pitchess Motion ???
A Pitchess Motion is filed by a defense attorney to force the police to produce information about the police officers which will help the defendant and which is negative towards the police. Citizen complaints*, on the job discipline and other information must be provided.
A California Pitchess motion is a request for information contained in an officer's personnel file. Criminal defense lawyers typically raise this motion when they believe that their client has been the victim of police misconduct.
Jeremy Marks, Black High School Student's Home Raided by L.A. Cops/DA Cooley; [Petition after article]
Submitted by copwatch on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 12:53amJeremy Marks, a black high school student was put in jail last year for videotaping a LAUSD school police officer assaulting another teenager at a bus stop. All Jeremy did was videotape the incident & nothing else yet he was put in jail for approx 7 months, & was bailed out right before XMAS thanks to someone from Google....he was charged with 'Attempted Lynching.' (His bail was $155,000 & he was threatened with 7 yrs prison time)
On Jan 26, 2011, DA Steve Cooley had Jeremy's home raided and 30 + LAPD cops came in and took computers, cell phones etc.....trying to get any evidence they can before his trial!
LA District Attorney orders Gestapo-style police raid on home of Jeremy Marks
Terror tactics in the police war on video
By Doug Kauffman and Ian Thompson January 27, 2011 
Santa Rosa Cops Killed Richard DeSantis in 2007 and Civil Rights Lawsuit Moves Forward [Audio included after article]
Submitted by copwatch on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 11:31pmSupreme Court: Family of man shot by police can sue
By JULIE JOHNSON THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Published: Monday, January 24, 2011
A U.S. Supreme Court judge ruled Monday that the family of a bipolar Santa Rosa man who was shot and killed by police officers during a 2007 confrontation can proceed with their lawsuit against the Santa Rosa Police Department.
Richard DeSantis
Center for Constitutional Rights Stands with Copwatch Groups to Ensure Their Right to Monitor Police Activity
Submitted by copwatch on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 3:34amCopwatch groups are made up of concerned community members, who take action to lawfully monitor local law enforcement activity in their neighborhoods. Copwatch groups are proactively working to reduce police violence and misconduct in exercising their right to hold the police accountable for their actions. Many Copwatch groups use video recording to document police misconduct, thereby shifting the balance of power between law enforcement agencies and the communities they patrol, and in some cases affecting changes in police practices and policies. Video recordings of police activity are both constitutionally protected and vital to help deter police misconduct or expose it when it happens.
Thank you for standing with us in the fight for justice.
Sincerely,
Annette Warren Dickerson
Director of Education and Outreach
Center for Constitutional Rights
Amicus Brief in Glik v. Cunniffe, et al.
Synopsis
Illegal To Share Food In Public? FOOD NOT BOMBS!!! [video]
Submitted by copwatch on Sun, 01/02/2011 - 3:09pmIllegal To Feed Homeless- Man Arrested 2009 [Video]
The "soup wars" continue... If you don't buy it, if you don't sell it- you're a criminal. And not everybody who eats free food is homeless. The State just wants to make sure people who are really hungry and don't have money, can't eat.
In PEOPLE PROJECT, we say "This ain't charity, it's survival!" We know that the only way we'll all make it is through SHARING. Read about Grub-n-Grab's and PEOPLE PROJECT's Good Morning Neighbors Breakfast Program.
Cop Arrests Man for Filming, Confiscates and Deletes Videos (other videos included here)
Submitted by copwatch on Tue, 11/30/2010 - 12:27amAnother day, another case of abuse of power by cops unwilling to have their public police activities filmed by passersby with an iPhone, Android, or any other video recording device. This time around, we bring you the story of a Connecticut man who was recently arrested by New Haven Assistant Chief of Police Chief Ariel Melendez for the alleged crime of “disturbing the peace.” According to reports, Luis Luna was convicted of the crime after being approached by Officer Melendez, who asked Luna to stop using his iPhone to videotape police officers breaking up a fight on College Street. Luna also claims that the officers involved in the incident proceeded to delete the videos that he had just recorded with his iPhone.
Ass. Police Chief arrests CT man for filming cops with iPhone, confiscates and deletes videos
http://www.intomobile.com/2010/11/15/cops-arrest-iphone-video-phone/#
Latest Attempt to Get Compliance from Humboldt Sheriff's With Public Records Act
Nov.3, 2010
This letter pertains to my June 2008 California Public Records Request, and follows my last correspondence of August 2008 regarding said Request. (I have included a courtesy copy of the August 2008 letter which was both hand delivered and delivered via certified U.S. Mail to your office.)
The Humboldt County Sheriff's Department [HCSD] has failed to comply with the California Public Records Act with regards to the June 2008 Request. Not only has the HCSD refused to provide most of the materials requested that are in its possession, but it also has 1) failed to assist me in identifying records and information that are responsive to the request or to the purpose of the request, as stated; 2) provided no descriptions as to the information technology and physical location in which the records exist, and; 3) made no effort to provide suggestions for overcoming any practical basis for denying access to the records or information sought.
Humboldt County Sheriff's Department Refuses to Comply with California Public Records Request
BACKGROUND
KMUD news, May 12, 2008: http://www.box.net/shared/iz6j5tdy3x begin at 6 min, 21 sec
May 24, 2008: Recent County Raids on Houseless People Spawns Forming of Community Group from North and South Humboldt
Eureka Cops Plan Raids of Houseless People's Sleeping Spots ; Raids Will VIOLATE Human & Constitutional Rights
Submitted by copwatch on Sat, 07/17/2010 - 11:22amThe word is that raids will begin on Monday, July 19th. Cops hunt down outside-sleeping people every night, but these raids will be broad-sweeping and perhaps more orchestrated.
These raids will violate the rights of the houseless people. There are no legal, free-of-charge places to sleep in Eureka (or Arcata), so there are no options for almost all people who have no shelter except to sleep where they can find a hidden piece of ground. Then ya gotta be able to protect yourself from the rain, wind, cold, dew.
This is not a new situation. But all too often, people who are housed dismiss the reality of the situation by simply saying, "Well, there are homeless shelters for them to go to." That is completely INACCURATE.
Demo in Philly on the 4th of You Lie!!
Attorney General, Eric Holder will be in Philadelphia on July 4th.
DEMAND that Holder do a Civil Rights Investigation into Mumia's case!
*July 4th, 2010
*11:00am
