People's Tribunal on Police Brutality video part 15

People's Tribunal on Police Brutality video part 15

Alice Ragland introduces Marva Patterson, who gives testimony (Robert Starks III, Rebecca Whitby, excessive force, excessive punishment).

Puncture the Silence

2015-04-11

CLE.001.019

.mp4

English

Cleveland, Ohio, USA

9 minutes, 14 seconds

Alice Ragland--"Marva...Patterson?"

Marva Patterson--"Well, good evening. (Audience: "Good Evening.") You know that this is a great thing that we are all here, and this event is taking place. We truly need to hear these stories, and understand these stories, and know exactly what's going on. And it is corruption. It's corruption in the judiciaries; it's corruption all the way to the top. And, I am here today to speak on 2 cases, and I will try to get through as quickly as possible. There's a case, Robert Starks III. How many of you know who he is? (Audience: Silence) That's a problem. Robert Starks III in 2010 was arrested, convicted. The grand jury found him guilty of assault on a minor, (it was a 10-year old case.) assault on a minor, kidnapping. Robert Starks III served 30 years; I'm sorry, 30 days in jail for a crime he did not commit. Because of a lot of complaints, activists stepping up to the plate, and our refusal to stop supporting Robert Starks, and the fact that he was at one point able to get an attorney, he was released. But 30 days in jail for a crime that this man did not commit. The grand jury knew. There was evidence to prove within the report. There were two Robert Starks. They added this Robert Starks onto the case, just to close it, because they couldn't find the other Robert Starks. The name was synonymous. Robert Starks III and Robert Starks. So, what I am saying is that if a grand jury can find an innocent man guilty, what can happen? What else? So, we need to attack the system. We need to move towards some kind of force, some type of a judicial force, to force these judiciaries to do the right thing. This is Robert Stark's story. And I do have, uh, it's one sheet, and I would like for the panel to also receive the sheet. The second case is Rebecca Whitby, daughter, 23 years old, college student, and Rebecca Whitby, mother. She was, the mother worked for an insurance company. The daughter, Rebecca Whitby, in 2009, was arrested. We're tryin' to figure out, ok, why did Rebecca get arrested? Anyone know the case? (Audience: Silence) Again, a problem. In 2009, Rebecca Whitby was a college student; she attended Tri-C. It was finals. She was just about, to just celebrate her life, a beginning of a young, beautiful life. Rebecca Whitby had gone out to dinner with a friend. She had a little too much to drink. She went home that evening. Her parents didn't want her to drive after she decided she wanted to leave, because she was embarrassed, that her 2-year old nephew witnessed her being intoxicated, because the household is not one that tolerates alcohol within the home. Which all of us have that right. After a beautiful dinner date... Her dad decides to call 911 and ask for a mediator. The police did send officers to the house, 2 brutal cops. The officers approached the house, knocked on the door. The father answered the door. He said everything was ok. The officers wanted to see Rebecca Whitby. The dad just said, ‘Well, she's upstairs in the bathroom with her mom.’ They were just talking about things. The cops brushed past the dad, went up to the second floor, knocked on the door once. The mother answered. She said everything was fine. The officers knocked a second time. She opened the door. They said, 'We're goin' to arrest Rebecca.' What's the charge, people? Anyone have an answer? What's the arrest for? So, if you don't have an answer, we're in 2009. Come 2011, 2 years later, there was still no answer, why they arrested Rebecca. So, the bottom line, that night, those officers struck Rebecca, beat her, threw her to the ground, punched her repeatedly. Rebecca had an asthma attack. Had had asthma since she was a child. Her mother, fearing for her daughter, decided to lay her body on her daughter. Officer said, ‘Get back, or we'll punch you.’ The mother and daughter, can you imagine this in the household? What was going on? Blood was everywhere. But when these officers were beating Rebecca, vomit came out of Rebecca onto the officer's clothing. He's very upset. Needless to say, I will roll through this. They eventually put the handcuffs on her, dragged her down her stairs, threw her onto her porch, where 12 other Caucasian officers were. How did these officers arrive on this house? At this house? No one to today can really say. They stomped her; they threw her on her porch, as her father said, 'like a sack of potatoes.' Witnesses saw this. The neighbors came out. They stomped Rebecca. Then they took her, threw her into a cruiser, where someone tased her. She's kicking; she don't know why she's kicking. Electricity was going through her body; she was afraid. They put the mother in the cruiser, threatening to arrest her, put handcuffs on the mother while she's in her nightgown, with no shoes. And, the father's standing there, helpless with his 2-year old grandson. While she's in the cruiser, the officer's tryin' to close her legs up in the cruiser, slamming the door. He couldn't do it. So he just pushed them in. After that, they put the mom in the cruiser. The officer started shining lights, calling them everything but the child of God. And I cannot say the names that they called these 2 women. The father begged the officer to please take the mom out of the car. He said, ‘No, she's goin' to jail too.’ For what? Finally the officer did. He changed his mind. After that, they let me get her some clothing. They took the mom out o’ the cruiser, took the handcuffs off. Meantime, they are begging me to take the daughter to the hospital. The officer said, ‘She's a nigga. Oh, she'll be alright.’ And the other officer say, you know, 'Take her around the corner so I can kick her teeth in.' These are statements from witnesses. I don't say that word. This is the second time in my life I have used that word. Once was to the Office of Professional Standards, who called me to try and find out what's goin' on with the case, and 2 is tonight. I don't choose to use that word again. Rebecca's life was turned upside down because of these, these officers. And what I do have here, and I will hand to the panelists, is reports to show Rebecca was issued a 'no bill'. This is the bottom page of page 4 in the packet that I will be giving you. When she filed her report, her complaint, they issued a warrant for her arrest, stating she was armed and dangerous. Said she robbed them, she abused them. Went to court; the judge stated, 'You're goin' to jail because this is your punishment.' We all entered that date the hearing was held; that jury found her 'not guilty' of all charges. They levied over 11 charges against these 2. Thank you.” (Applause)