Sign on and demand that Mayor Warren fire and charge the police officers who violently assaulted and terrorized a 9 year-old Black child in Rochester, NY SIGN NOW

Dear Friend,

TAKE ACTION: The Rochester Police Department must be held accountable. Take action now to demand that Mayor Warren fire and arrest the officers responsible for this violent assault of a Black child.

[Content Warning: We describe the incident in this paragraph.] Last Friday, nine police officers responded to a family’s home in Rochester, New York and violently assaulted a 9 year-old Black child - aggressively throwing her to the ground, twisting her arms behind her as she screamed out in pain, and pepper spraying her in the face while she was handcuffed in the back of a patrol car. [1] This is the latest in a near-constant list of police violence against Black families. [2] 

Video of the assault shows a distressed 9 year-old child, screaming out for her parents, and crying out in pain as the police push her face into the snow, twist her arms around to handcuff her, and then fire pepper spray directly into her face while she is handcuffed in the back of a police car. The video, which was edited by the Rochester Police Department before being published, shows her screaming in fear that the police had threatened to pepper spray her before an officer says, “Just spray her at this point.” [3] The names of the child and family in this incident are being withheld by the press to protect the family’s privacy. [4]

Over the years we have all witnessed countless numbers of Black people assaulted or killed at the hands of the police. Black people whose communities experience excessive policing and rampant police terror are too often left grappling with the devastating and traumatic impacts of having to see or hear about these acts of violence, and never seeing the officers held accountable.   

*SIGN ON WITH US: Demand that Mayor Warren fire and arrest the officers who violently assaulted a child.

Hundreds of protesters in Rochester have been demonstrating to demand justice and action from the Rochester city government. [5] But this is the same city government that attempted to coverup Daniel Prude’s violent murder by police, who died in March after being suffocated. In fact, no officers have been arrested or charged to date for his murder. [6] 

Join us in calling on Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren to fire and arrest the officers responsible for violently assaulting a 9 year-old Black child.

According to court documents filed by the child’s mother, she called 911 about a "vehicle dispute" at her home. After police arrived, her daughter ran outside and the mother requested the help of officers, because the daughter was upset about her parents arguing. [7] The child’s mother requested mental health services for her daughter, but instead police violently threw her to the ground and handcuffed her as she cried out in pain and for her parents. Once the child was placed in the back of the police car - in handcuffs - grown adults fired pepper spray directly into the face of a child. One officer has been suspended and two others put on administrative leave but this is not enough. These adults must be held responsible for their violent assault of a child -- that means they should be fired and charged immediately. 

Sign on to our letter demanding Mayor Warren fire and charge the officers responsible for violently terrorizing a 9 year-old child.

Join us in demanding justice for this child and their family as we work to dismantle policing systems that terrorize and brutalize Black, Indigenous, communities of color.  

Thank you, 

- Amber, Anita, Aryan, Beatriz, Beth, Casey, Christina, Claudia, Diarra, Diana, Donna, dream, Elyssa, Felicia, Gloria, Hanna, Jessica, Jordan, Joy, Julia, Karen, Keisha, Kelle, Kristin, Linda, Lisa, Lucrecer, Maggie, Marysol, Monifa, Nadia, Nancy, Nate, Nina, Rocío, Ruby, Ruth, Sara, Shanette, Sheila, Sili, Sue Anne, Tasmiha, Taylor, Tina, Tola, and Xochitl 

References:

[1] Blavity: 9-Year-Old Black Girl Seen Being Pepper-Sprayed And Handcuffed By Rochester Police
[2] The Grio: School officer body-slams student into concrete 
[3] YouTube: Rochester Police Dept. Body Cam Footage [Content warning: Violence]
[4] Democrat and Chronicle: Mother of 9 year-old who was pepper sprayed by Rochester Police intends to sue 
[5] NBC News: Three officers suspended after police pepper-spray 9 year-old girl
[5] Democrat and Chronicle: Mother of 9 year-old who was pepper sprayed by Rochester Police intends to sue 
[6] NPR: Rochester Mayor fires police chief and seeks federal probe 
[7] Democrat and Chronicle: Mother of 9 year-old who was pepper sprayed by Rochester Police intends to sue 

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