Protesters Demand Police Reform and Accountability
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GREENBELT News ReviewAn Independent Newspaper VOL. 83, No. 33 15 Crescent Rd., Suite 100, Greenbelt, MD 20770-1887 JULY 9, 2020 Mayor Byrd Challenges CBA Protesters Demand Police Process in Mid-negotiation by Kathleen Gallagher Reform and Accountability by Melissa Sites The last regular meeting of the Then Mayor Colin Byrd made Greenbelt City Council on Mon- two motions that came rather out day, June 22, did not get off to of the blue, with apparently no a good start. Approximately the forewarning to any of his col- first 45 minutes of the meeting leagues. One was to postpone were devoted to council’s debat- and remove from the agenda an ing what should or should not be item for council to review and on the agenda. The first motion approve the proposed draft Col- to add an item went smoothly lective Bargaining Agreement enough, as Councilmember Rod- (CBA) with the Fraternal Order ney Roberts requested that a let- of Police (FOP). Byrd’s second ter to Greenbelt’s Congressional motion was to have “immediate delegation be added to seek their public release” of the document assistance in the city’s quest to so that it could be reviewed by acquire the Armory property on members of the public. Greenbelt Road. See COUNCIL, page 8 PHOTO BY IAN BLACKWELL ROGERS IAN BLACKWELL BY PHOTO Demonstrators in front of Roosevelt Center call for greater police accountability and increased services for those in need. Este artículo está disponible Oriadha and Amity Pope ex- or your family members saying en español en nuestra página web plained their demands. “We are things that are ‘uncomfortable,’ www.greenbeltnewsreview.com. not being unreasonable when we you check them before they leave Prince George's Changemak- demand accountability,” Oriadha the house. Don’t allow them to ers (PGC) Coalition led a rally said. “We will break systemic sit comfortably. When you leave on Monday afternoon, gathering racism and bring it to its knees, here, you have a charge: take a more than 50 supporters despite and we’ll do it by policies and little bit of the burden off our heavy rain, thunder and light- legislation.” The organizers were shoulders.” ning. Marchers proceeded from relieved to see how many com- Policy changes that PGC want Roosevelt Center to Greenbelt mitted Greenbelters turned up to see include the repeal of LEO- Road, where they gathered near despite the bad weather, to “show BR, the Law Enforcement Officer the intersection with Southway, up in the rain, stay out, march Bill of Rights. Maryland passed chanting and holding signs with and advocate.” Oriadha went on the first LEOBR in the United messages including “Pass Anton’s to urge the crowd toward further States in 1972, and it remains Law,” “We Deserve Police Ac- action: “This is what I’m asking one of the most protective of po- countability” and “Fewer Police, all our allies here to do. Black lice officers in the country. More Social Workers.” Green- women, since they were stolen PGC demand the passage of PHOTO BY NATALIA RINCÓN NATALIA BY PHOTO belt is the eighth city in Prince and brought here as slaves, have Anton’s Law, Maryland HB1090/ From left, Ana Fernandez-Napp, Julia Sharapi, Tyler George’s County where PGC been holding up social move- SB1066, which concerns the Pulick and Natalia Rincón (front) celebrate their success- have rallied. ments on their shoulders. Allies, use of deadly force, complaints ful bake sale for Black Lives Matter. They raised $1,384. After returning to Roosevelt it’s going to cost you something. Center, rally organizers Krystal When you see your neighbors See PROTEST, page 8 Maglev DEIS Prep Resumes, Some Design Changes Made by Deanna Dawson Planning work has resumed environmental impact statement for the Baltimore-Washington (DEIS) had been paused last year Superconducting Maglev Proj- by the Federal Railroad Admin- ect (baltimorewashingtonscmag- istration, the lead federal agency levproject.com). The proposed on the project, and the Maryland high-speed magnetic levitation train would run between Wash- See MAGLEV, page 8 ington and Baltimore, with an intermediate stop at Baltimore- Washington International Thur- What Goes On good Marshall Airport. This is the first segment of a system Monday, July 13 envisioned to eventually connect 8 p.m., City Council Meeting metropolitan hubs and airports in Wednesday, July 15 the northeastern U.S. The project, 8 p.m., Council Workses- which is proposed by Northeast sion: Economic Development/ Maglev, LLC, and being devel- Recovery oped by Baltimore-Washington All meetings are virtual. Rapid Rail (BWRR), has strong See the meetings calendar at RUTH ANN WHITE BY PHOTO support from Maryland Governor greenbeltmd.gov for agendas Greenbelt Babe Ruth team members pose for a photo after their final fall game on November Larry Hogan and already is par- and information on public 8, 2019. Standing from left, Fernando Gomez, Javier Alexander Oquendo, Adam Howard, Alan tially funded. participation in these meetings. Elliott, Javier Alessandro Oquendo and Kalen Corujo. Kneeling from left, Anthony Robles The permitting process and and Abdul Saibou. Front from left, Joseph Kline and Sandro Granados. See story, page 3. development of the project’s draft Page 2 GREENBELT NEWS REVIEW Thursday, July 9, 2020 Letters to the Editor Service or Garden Side? One Disruptive Thing Ohio and Georgia as well. It is from the democratic processes I recently moved to Greenbelt important not to treat this as cra- that apply to the rest of our gov- from Austin, Texas, and I love it zy people letting off steam during ernment. Today small steps are here. The community is so happy the pandemic. There is a very changing the traditional scope of and welcoming and I am truly real potential for it to grow into police work. As reported in The happy to be here. something much worse than just New York Times Magazine (June I wanted to let readers know a few people who should have 21, 2020), the Camden New Jer- about the only slightly disrup- known better maiming themselves sey Police Department instituted tive thing in this sliver of para- and their co-residents. Our neigh- a policy in 2019 that mandates dise. On my walks around the bors need to report incidents so that the police de-escalate a con- neighborhood, I frequently hear police can at least get a pattern flict, use force only as a last a high-pitched tone that hurts my to report to ATF or the FBI. resort, intervene to stop excessive ears. My parents can’t hear it at As with violence at peaceful force and report violations of law all, however I have learned that demonstrations, at some point and policy by other officers. On younger children can. I didn’t the pattern will probably point to June 12, 2020, the State of New know what it was until I talked outsiders using the situation for York repealed a law that kept to a neighbor and he told me that their own purposes. Don’t shrug secret the disciplinary records of he had installed a squirrel repel- it off. Report fireworks use. police officers. In Los Angeles lent device. The sound was so Patricia Heil some city council members suc- piercing that I couldn’t even go ceeded in getting the mayor to in my backyard to garden. Apology propose moving $150 million of I’m writing because you may In response to a Letter to the the Police Department’s nearly not know that this sound is au- Editor printed in the July 2 News $2 billion operating budget to health and job programs. In Eu- dible to children and young teens. Review, I would like to sincerely - B. Glee If you live near or around young apologize for an offhand remark gene, Oregon, some 911 calls children, you may not want to I made June 22 to another coun- are routed to a crisis intervention use this device. cilmember who proposed, I be- service called Cahoots that deals Our neighbor very kindly with homelessness, substance Correction lieved, overly-aggressive police The photo accompanying turned off his device and instead abuse and mental illness. Hous- I have completed action toward persons not wear- Lisa Aguilar’s obituary in last is using a spray. He says it works ton, Texas, routes some mental my 2020 census. ing masks at Buddy Attick Park. week’s issue was taken by well and is a good alternative in health calls to a counselor, if they I meant no offense by this inap- Jackie Berkley. case you need it. propriate attempt to make a point, are not emergencies. The Green- Thank you, Greenbelt, for be- but understand how insensitive belt Police Department says that ing so kind and welcoming! it was. Mayor Colin Byrd’s proposed Jojo Gillotte, aqe 14 Judith “J” Davis legislation, the Greenbelt Fair and Just Policing Act of 2020, essen- Letters Policy tially codifies existing practices. The News Review reserves the right not to publish any letter Report Fireworks Use Codify Accountability Then let’s codify his legislation submitted. Letters are considered accepted when published. This is a copy of a letter sent On July 4 our country cel- so that it can become another All letters must include the letter writer’s name, physical address to Prince George’s County. It is ebrates its rule of law, its system small step toward the democratic and telephone number. Only the name will be published; the News now 1:30 a.m. and a fourth fire- of checks and balances, demo- accountability of the police and a Review will consider withholding the name upon request.