No Struggle, No Progress

This just came across my inbox, and is *exactly* the type of thing I’d like to use this blog to share. Jazz is a personal friend of mine, has been targeted by the police for his activism against police misconduct, racial profiling, the “stop and frisk” policy, and more. In particular, he has drawn their anger for catching police misconduct on camera. I will be at the DA’s office on September 6th. I hope to see you there! -BJ

—- ** Please Forward Widely! ** —

Keep Jazz Hayden Free!

Rally at Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance’s Office 

Thursday, September 6^th, 10am - 1 Hogan Place

(Near Centre and Worth Streets, 1 block East of 100 Centre Street)

Jazz Hayden is currently facing felony charges – and potentially 14 years in prison – as a result of an unlawful stop and search of his car last December leading to felony charges for a penknife and a commemorative mini-replica baseball bat clearly in retaliation for his work as a Citizen Reporter covering police/community relationships in the Harlem community for over 4 years. You can find Jazz’s videos at www.allthingsharlem.com/copwatch. DA Cyrus Vance has the power to drop these retaliatory charges but has yet to do so. When Cyrus Vance was campaigning for the DA’s office, he sat down with Jazz Hayden for an interview for Jazz’s website, and Jazz asked Vance what he would do to stop racial bias and harassment of people of color by the NYPD. Vance told him that while he “can’t tell the police who to arrest or who not to arrest,” as DA he would like to assure that “when it comes to us, we are not making charging decisions that are biased in any way.” Now is Vance’s chance to prove he meant what he said.

Drop the Charges Against Jazz Hayden!

www.freejazzhayden.wordpress.com

Please take a second to sign Jazz’s petition on the above website, where you can also learn more about Jazz and his case.

Share this with someone in your family and/or community