Posted on Dec 15, 2022
This Kansas City protest group created a new model for police accountability
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Friday Night Protest, an activist group that holds weekly demonstrations to honor people killed by the Kansas City Police Department, has taken another step in advocating for police accountability and the victims of police violence.
Every Friday around 6 p.m., as many Kansas Citians rush home from work and begin their weekends, the names of people killed by Kansas City police echo through downtown.
“We wanted these names to just stay alive in everybody's minds,” says Steve Young, who started the somber tradition with his partner, Winifred Jamieson.
The two formed an organization called Friday Night Protest during the 2020 George Floyd protests at the Country Club Plaza. After they took part in several demonstrations, Young and Jamieson had an idea: Why not move the protest to where the problem was?
Every Friday around 6 p.m., as many Kansas Citians rush home from work and begin their weekends, the names of people killed by Kansas City police echo through downtown.
“We wanted these names to just stay alive in everybody's minds,” says Steve Young, who started the somber tradition with his partner, Winifred Jamieson.
The two formed an organization called Friday Night Protest during the 2020 George Floyd protests at the Country Club Plaza. After they took part in several demonstrations, Young and Jamieson had an idea: Why not move the protest to where the problem was?
This Kansas City protest group created a new model for police accountability
Posted from kcur.org
Protest
Kansas City
Police
Accountability
Violence
Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."KC LEAP also connected Nelson with a lawyer. His civil case against the officers is ongoing. Four months later, he still can’t feel parts of his face.
His attorney, John Picerno, believes a settlement from Kansas City police is likely, thanks largely to Young’s video. Picerno says it proves police lied on the incident report when they wrote that Nelson “resisted arrest by jerking his arms away and attempting to twist his body away.”
“It doesn't appear that Mr. Nelson is doing anything in terms of waving his arms or trying to twist his body away,” says Picerno. “And certainly the video contradicts the officer's statement in his official police report that (Nelson) fell to the ground. … He didn't fall to the ground, he was body-slammed to the ground — that's clear.”
While Nelson waits for the results of his case, KC LEAP continues to help him make ends meet. Nelson, who has experienced homelessness in recent months, says he can’t imagine his life without their help.
“If it weren’t for a certain organization, I don't know where I'd be at right now,” he says. “They (are) my guardian angel.”"...
..."KC LEAP also connected Nelson with a lawyer. His civil case against the officers is ongoing. Four months later, he still can’t feel parts of his face.
His attorney, John Picerno, believes a settlement from Kansas City police is likely, thanks largely to Young’s video. Picerno says it proves police lied on the incident report when they wrote that Nelson “resisted arrest by jerking his arms away and attempting to twist his body away.”
“It doesn't appear that Mr. Nelson is doing anything in terms of waving his arms or trying to twist his body away,” says Picerno. “And certainly the video contradicts the officer's statement in his official police report that (Nelson) fell to the ground. … He didn't fall to the ground, he was body-slammed to the ground — that's clear.”
While Nelson waits for the results of his case, KC LEAP continues to help him make ends meet. Nelson, who has experienced homelessness in recent months, says he can’t imagine his life without their help.
“If it weren’t for a certain organization, I don't know where I'd be at right now,” he says. “They (are) my guardian angel.”"...
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