Latest in a series of posts on the George Floyd killing

Tip o’ the hat to Dana for contributing.

Latest in a series of posts on the George Floyd killing

April Gamiz, “Bethlehem protest over George Floyd death.”
Morning Call, June 4, 2020.

Series of two dozen photos by Gamiz. Good stuff. The crowd was estimated at 1,000.

Did any attending Gadfly followers capture audio or video?

from Laurie Mason Schroeder and Andrew Wagaman, “Protests kick off simultaneously in Allentown and Bethlehem, demanding justice for George Floyd.” Morning Call, June 4, 2020.

Peaceful rallies were held simultaneously in Allentown and Bethlehem on Thursday afternoon, kicking off at 3 p.m. at 12th and Hamilton streets and in Payrow Plaza, with both calling for an end to police brutality in light of the killing of George Floyd while under restraint by Minneapolis police on Memorial Day.

In Bethlehem, about 1,000 people gathered, chanting “black lives matter” and “no justice, no peace.”

“Until we are all sick and tired, change won’t even begin to happen,” Joshua Smith, one of the Bethlehem organizers, told the crowd.” “My skin color should not be perceived as aggressive,” he said. “I’m tired of getting panic attacks anytime I see a cop, not because I fear one or I want to disrespect one, but because I actually fear my life might be taken by one.” Said Cyndria Pugh, “I am sick of people with my skin color feeling threatened by someone else’s skin color.”

The Bethlehem protest was coordinated by Black Lives Matter Lehigh Valley Support, which urged people, through social media, to “Come with a peaceful heart and a loud voice” if not Thursday then Saturday, when the group is planning an Allentown protest. Also Saturday, the Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton chapters of the NAACP will hold a vigil for Floyd at noon at Payrow Plaza.

The sun was hot and the forecast threatening when Thursday’s rallies started. After a Bethlehem demonstrator appeared to faint from the heat, which hovered around 88 degrees, organizers called for a break so everyone could get a drink, and water bottles were passed out.

Though the protest was held next to the police station, officers were not visible in Bethlehem.

In Bethlehem, Mike Henriguez urged everyone to carry the momentum. “It’s an ongoing process and you have to keep it going,” he said. “What is a protest if we do nothing after this?”

Speakers asked for a civilian review board for police misconduct to overcome the “blue wall of silence,” and for the Bethlehem Area School District to remove police officers from school buildings.

Kennedy Hughes read a long list of names of black people killed by police, as the crowd interjected angrily. “Police brutality is not new. Black bodies being killed is not new,” she said. “Black people have been screaming for years, asking the world to pay attention. … Some of you screamed back at us.”

from Sarah Cassi, “Hundreds protest police brutality at Black Lives Matter rally in Bethlehem.” lehighvalleylive.com, June 4, 2020.

Hundreds of black-clad participants, many carrying signs, filled the plaza on the sunny and warm afternoon, and then listened to organizers speak on combating police brutality and racism, and using the movement for positive change in the future.

As organizers spoke, loud chants of “Black Lives Matter,” “No justice no peace” and “George Floyd,” reverberated between the buildings and could be heard from blocks away in the surrounding neighborhood.

Protest organizer Kennedy Hughes began listing the death toll, starting with Botham Jean, then Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Eric Harris, Philando Castile and Ahmaud Arbery. When she finished talking about Floyd, people in the crowd shouted more names, including Breonna Taylor and Mike Brown.

“What needs to be said goes beyond just today, this week, or even this month. One of my greatest fears is that after the social media posts and the protests slow down, and we go back to work, and after the world returns to somewhat normal, the majority of America will be silent again until another murder is caught on film,” organizer Joshua Smith, 27, told the crowd. “That can’t happen.” Smith said he wanted to be able to feel safe in his own country. “I’m tired of my skin color being taken as a threat before someone even knows my character. I’m tired of me and black bothers and sisters being pulled over because our skin color creates suspicious activity,” he said.

Cyndria Pugh, an organizer from Montgomery County, read the rules of police officers’ use of force, which ends with killing a suspect. “Why is that the first one they go to?” she asked, as someone in the crowd yelled, “I can’t breathe!”

Organizer Sydney Duffy, who is from Bethlehem, spoke of the “sacrifice” white people will need to make to combat racism in their own lives. “There will be times where you may lose friendships or family relationships due to the ignorance that they choose to pursue,” she said, later adding, “Fight for what matters. Fight for justice. Fight for their human rights.”

The speakers urged support for black businesses, for the crowd to educate themselves on black art and culture, and to give space and amplify black voices. They touched on improving mental heath resources and funding, establishing a civil review board for misconduct in local police departments, and for the Bethlehem Area School District to end its use of city police as school resource officers.

“We need healing from the trauma America has inflicted upon us for hundreds of years. This is not — is not — an issue that can be solved overnight. At all,” Matty Fall said. “We will be doing this for years to come, and years after, and we’re going to keep working toward it until we see the results we want to see. It’s an ongoing process and we have to keep on working at it, and I hope it really doesn’t stop here.”

The protest comes a day after Bethlehem police Chief Mark DiLuzio released a statement that he was horrified at “the callous actions of the police officer kneeling on Mr. Floyd’s neck” and the inaction of the three other police officers. He also denounced looting and violence at nationwide protests.

Organizer Michael Henriquez urged attendees to look at their relationships, with family and friends and at their jobs. “It’s time to break the silence. … It is always an appropriate time to call out racism,” he said. “No one is free until everyone, including black lives, are free.” For those that stay silent, who ignore cries from the black community, “You have as much blood on your hands as the offenders,” Henriquez said. “We are the change America needs to see. We are the future.”

Latest in a series of posts on the George Floyd killing

Gadfly is bunkered in because of the virus. He would appreciate followers attending local BLM events today 3-5 around the City Center and over the weekend sending pictures, audio, video.

from Connor Lagore, “Following weekend rallies, more Lehigh Valley protests are planned for coming days.” lehighvalleylive.com, June 4, 2020.

• A Black Lives Matter stand-in is planned for 3 p.m. Thursday (June 4) around Bethlehem City Hall and the Bethlehem Area Public Library. According to the event’s Facebook page, all-black attire and face coverings are required, and signs are encouraged.
• At 3 p.m. on Sunday, the Bethlehem Area Public Library will again be the site of a peaceful protest, this one more rooted in faith, featuring spoken word, prayer and worship.

Saturday event:

Jacqueline Polochko, “Lehigh Valley NAACP branches to hold vigil for George Floyd,” Morning Call, June 1, 2020.

Local NAACP branches will hold a vigil for George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after being pinned for more than eight minutes with a white officer’s knee on his neck in Minnesota.

The vigil will start at noon Saturday at Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem. It is sponsored by the Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton NAACPs.

Latest in a series of posts on the George Floyd killing

Peter Crownfield is officially retired but spends most of his time working with students in his role as internship coordinator for the Alliance for Sustainable Communities–Lehigh Valley.

Gadfly:

A good statement from Chief DiLuzio.

My only question is why it took nationwide rioting to prompt it, since police killing unarmed people — especially people of color — has been going on for years*. Most police officers are good people who would never commit acts such as the murder of George Floyd. At the same time, the ongoing violence makes clear that it is more than a case of a few “rotten apples”; it’s a pervasive, systemic problem that raises many questions.

Here are a few of the questions I see:

Why do police agencies tolerate such rotten apples instead of rooting them out and firing them? (The officer who killed Floyd had 17 or more previous complaints about use of violence and excessive force.)

Why is it common practice for police to close ranks and protect officers who commit such offenses?

What does “law enforcement officer” even mean when more than just a few police officers commit crimes ranging from theft to assault to murder?

Why haven’t police been leading the charge to demand that police officers who commit crimes be charged as criminals and prosecuted?

Why do police, as a group, have a higher rate of domestic violence and spousal abuse than almost any other demographic?

Why are there more black and minority drug arrests than white, even though drug crime is much known to be higher among whites?

Is it any wonder that people in many big cities see police as more of a danger than a solution?

* Last year, police killed about 1100 people, many of whom were unarmed and innocent of any crime. Available statistics indicate that police shoot in the US and kill an average of about 2 Black people every week.

Peter

to be continued . . .

Latest in a series of posts on the George Floyd killing

Gadfly is bunkered in because of the virus. He would appreciate followers attending local BLM events today 3-5 at Town Hall and over the weekend sending pictures, audio, video.

Our Mayor and our Police Chief made powerful statements deploring the country’s racist climate and the actions of the police in the killing of George Floyd.

Which is good.

But Breena Holland has asked us to push beyond the rhetoric to self-examination and to action.

Which is good.

This is no time to be self-satisfied, self-congratulatory, smug, back-patting, complacent, resting-on-laurels, etc.

It’s a time for rigorous self-examination even if we think we are doing a good job.

Holland reminds us of discussion barely three months ago of an incident at a traffic stop that is exactly the kind of incident that can blow up like Minneapolis did and that might only be the tip of an iceberg here. (See Police on the list of topics on the right-hand sidebar to refresh your memory. Gadfly will come back to this incident in another post shortly.)

“Does the mayor really think there are no problems with how our police department is dealing with people of color?” Holland asks, “The Bethlehem police may not be killing people, but that does not mean that they treat black and brown people the same way they treat white people.”

Hard words, Gadfly said, but a necessary tonic at this cultural moment.

Through the good offices of Councilwoman Grace Crampsie Smith, the Mayor was connected with local protest organizers Matty Fall and J. C. Lustre Villanueva. The Mayor reported that they had a 90-minute meeting yesterday and will meet again.

Which is good.

The Chief reported that there will be another Black Lives Matter event today 3-5 Town Hall and perhaps one Saturday and Sunday.

Which is good.

(Gadfly is bunkered in because of the virus. He would appreciate followers attending and sending pictures, audio, video.)

These are important next action steps after the rhetoric.

Public comment at the Council meeting last night by Alex Dobyan focused precisely on the need for self-examination — and making police policies transparent to us.

Dobyan asked about Bethlehem Police policies designed to reduce the likelihood that events that transpired in Minneapolis would happen here, mentioning the Use of Force project. Do we have policies to exhaust all options, warn before using deadly force, criminalize choke holds, report all threats to use violence with weapons, forbid hiring officers being investigated elsewhere, mandate use of least amount of force, etc.? All of these are examples that protect police and citizens and help reduce racism.

Good questions.

Councilwoman Grace Crampsie Smith elicited answers to such questions later in the meeting when she asked the Chief about the training our officers receive.

The Chief expressed confidence that the department already had in place the kinds of policies Dobyan was asking about, saying that the department was accredited both by the state and nationally, a dual accreditation that only 4% of departments have, that the department followed guidelines by such organizations as the NAACP, and that officers must qualify every year — training is continuous, the Chief said.

to be continued . . .

Latest in a series of posts on the George Floyd killing

Mark DiLuzio is the Bethlehem Chief of Police. This statement was delivered at City Council last night June 3 (min. 1:15:45) and appears on the Police Department Facebook page.

At Council last night as well, the Chief announced a Black Lives Matter event today 3-5 at Town Hall and perhaps one Saturday and Sunday. Gadfly is not clear about these events, however, and hopes that anyone with more details will let him know.

Latest in a series of posts on the George Floyd killing 

from Timothy Healy, “Rally against racism ‘It’s our job to protect one another’.” Bethlehem Press, June 2, 2020.

In light of the death of George Floyd, an unarmed African American who died at the hands of a Minnesota police officer, Lehigh Valley residents took to the streets in Bethlehem Saturday, marching for Floyd, for other African American police victims, and for the Black Lives Matter movement.

Activists Matty Fall, J. C. Lustre Villanueva and Michael Henriquez led the march, which gathered at the Rose Garden in Bethlehem at 3 p.m.

“It really weighs heavy on my mind and on my heart,” Fall told a park full of protestors, “when another black brother or sister has their life taken by someone in uniform.”

“This whole thing leaves me with so many questions,” Fall said. “I don’t have all the answers, but I know that we can do better. We really need to vote. We need to vote for people that care.”

Hundreds of protestors marched for nearly two hours, crossing the West Broad Street bridge, weaving through the streets of downtown Bethlehem, and rallying beside the Bethlehem Area Public Library before making their return to the Rose Garden.

Protesters from across the valley chanted “No justice, no peace,” “Say their names,” “Silence Is compliance.”

Pennsylvania residents are no strangers to questionable police actions against people of color. According to a press release by march organizers, of the more than 1,000 incidents where people were killed by police in the United States last year, 165 of them happened in Pennsylvania.

“It’s our job — our duty as a community — to protect one another,” Lustre Villanueva said, “because when the government fails to protect its people, who else is going to take care of them?”

“Today we’re marching in support of the Black Lives Matter movement,” said Fall, who hopes to prevent violence towards the black community.

“People like me are in danger all the time,” she said. “It’s extremely uncomfortable.

“Today, with everyone uncomfortable in the heat, I don’t think that even equates to what a black person goes through on a day-to-day basis,” she added.

The turnout was like that of a Super Bowl parade, but while those participating in parades may celebrate a victory, those who marched both mourned a loss and shared a hope.

“We’re out here raising awareness, spreading the word, and using our voices to try to get justice for all the black bodies that America has on its hands,” Fall said.

The event concluded at the Rose Garden, where the crowd knelt down, raised their fists in the air, and listened as Ashleigh Strange read some names from the list of over a thousand Americans killed by police in 2019.

Fall said she helped plan the rally sort of at the last minute, thinking maybe 30 or 40 people would show up.

“I never thought it would get this big,” ”she said. “I feel so overwhelmed. I’m just so excited and happy that this many people care about my life, every other black life here, and every other black life in America.”

Latest in a series of posts on the George Floyd killing

John Rothschild is a family law attorney residing in Bethlehem who graduated from Lehigh.

Breena,

I am embarrassed that I did not comment sooner. I agree with everything you mentioned, although I think even less of the Mayor’s “powerful statement.” “That all men are created equal?” Women, people of different colors, and more? What about them? Grieving as a nation and standing together? Whom are you kidding?

And Mayor Donchez’s reference to a past south Bethlehem somewhere in Nirvana without racism, bigotry, or intolerance. What?? And speaking of Allen High School, when was Transgender even recognized?

And the George Floyd is just a race issue that includes a police issue where some police seem to have no fear of reprisal. One does not need to ignore the human issue, but make no mistake, this is a race issue.

Why does the Mayor quote someone who dares to believe what Jesus would teach if He could teach only one thing? And the Mayor’s preface, “This is not the time . . .” Just when is the time?

Just reread Breena Holland’s post. She was very eloquent.

Latest in a series of posts on the George Floyd killing

Michele Downing is a Social Worker and RN, a grandmother of two, interested in social and environmental justice, a resident of the Lehigh Valley for fifteen years, the last six years a resident of West Bethlehem.

Thank you [Breena Holland] for this thoughtful reply which echoes most of my same concerns with the Mayor’s letter.

It continues to be normalized in city government to drown out black and brown voices and centering only the white experiences.

We have an obligation to black and brown neighbors to learn the skills to avoid doing that.

A strong example in leadership would be helpful, and there are a number of community leaders who would willingly step up and do that if we got out of the way.

Racism exists because it is enabled by white silence.

Michele Downing

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Peter Crownfield is officially retired but spends most of his time working with students in his role as internship coordinator for the Alliance for Sustainable Communities–Lehigh Valley.

Very well put, Breena!

I am very glad that the Bethlehem Police Department modeled a calm attitude and, for the most part, ensured that protesters could have their say. However, that is not enough.

The current crisis presented a great opportunity for both the Mayor and the Police Chief to note that Bethlehem does have some racial problems and that they are not new — and to describe what they have done to improve policing and city efforts. Both the Mayor and the Police Chief could have referred to the incidents you mentioned and earlier incidents described back in 2018, when Bethlehem held a forum on racial justice. After the pleasant, reassuring words from the panelists, several members of the audience described several incidents of racial profiling and worse. At that time, both the mayor and the police chief seemed very surprised to learn this was going on. (‘Bethlehem forum on race calls for training, respect’, Express-Times, 23 August 2018).

If you want a ‘powerful statement’, I recommend Tamika Mallory’s statement in Minneapolis! The following link begins with her statement and also includes a deeper interview. [www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI7uvc8-e7g]

Peter

Latest in a series of posts on the George Floyd killing

Breena Holland is an Associate Professor at Lehigh University in the Department of Political Science and the Environmental Initiative. She is a past director of Lehigh University’s South Side Initiative.

Gadfly,

With all due respect to Mayor Donchez, I do not share your enthusiasm for his “powerful statement.” Powerful words are easy to come by this week, as many leaders are speaking out about racial justice and police violence. The mayor did not use these particular words, which reflect that the relevant problem is bigger than just some cops behaving badly. But even so, the words the mayor did use are not that meaningful unless they get turned into action that goes beyond condemning a single instance of police violence. So my question for the mayor is: What does it mean for a mayor and the people he oversees to not “turn our backs on racism,” to not “accept innocent lives being taken from us,” to not “think that you can’t be part of the solution and the change needed for this to stop”? Surely it must mean more than merely saying we should not do these things.

I believe the mayor can do a bit more. For example, the mayor can start by admitting that the problem is not out there, in some universe other than Bethlehem. Just earlier this year we had an incidence of racial bias in policing, which was raised by two local judges who went public with the information after receiving no response from the chief of police. In his response, the mayor demonstrated he neither understood nor had an interest in doing something about the problem. I recall his statement at city council, which asserted he had investigated the issue and found no problematic behavior, so he would not be commenting on it further—case closed.

Does the mayor really think there are no problems with how our police department is dealing with people of color? What is he doing to stop the double standard that allows Lehigh University students to benefit from the local marijuana ordinance while his police department pretends the ordinance does not exist for others who are found with marijuana? What is he doing to make sure that the police department is not operating and acting on the assumption that black and brown people are likely to be criminals? Is he aware of obvious racial bias in the ways that city police officers respond to and interact with people of color whom they suspect are breaking the law?

The Bethlehem police may not be killing people, but that does not mean that they treat black and brown people the same way they treat white people. Racism that is not overt and does not result in a person’s death is still racism. The mayor and police chief can pretend it does not exist locally and condemn what happened to George Floyd for the brutal inhumanity it displayed, but if that is all they do, then they are part of the problem.

Leadership requires hearing what people are saying about double standards and unequal treatment that operate through our own political institutions at the local level to undermine the experience, well-being, and security of people of color. Once this is understood, leadership then involves doing something about it. If the mayor and police chief can’t even see the structural nature of the problem and its pervasiveness right here at home, then they are the wrong leaders for this time.

Breena