Students and community groups to demand G-20 accountability

October 1, 11:06 AMPittsburgh Grassroots ExaminerMike Boda

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Off all of the mistakes made by whoever was named to be in charge of dispensing millions of dollars in high-tech violence during the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh, their worst move was probably attacking and detaining our annual "out of town troublemakers," the students who live and attend classes in Oakland. Of course, had the greedy university administrators not made the bad decision to remain open during the summit, the police would have no one to attack but anarchists, although their actions in Lawrenceville proved that they were not very good at that either. Of course, both the university administrators and the police are used to having their way with the City, and these developments must have come as quite the shock.

Today's college campus is not the hotbed of radicalism that it once was but the decisions and actions of campus and civil authorities are doing everything they can to reverse that situation. Other than a Facebook group for "right-wing assistant managers of the future," most of the students appear to possess the intelligence to recognize that the "ivory tower" was attacked by the "thin blue line," and that they should not accept this.

Many of the students are also learning that the police do not need a special occasion like the G-20 to behave like this in certain low-income neighborhoods, and are joining together with community groups who are already addressing this disparity. They will unite for a peaceful assembly in Oakland this evening to speak-out about these problems. A press release posted to the G-20 Media Support website announces their plans:

 

 

Students, Community Groups to Hold Speak-Out on G-20 Rights Violations
Sponsored by Pitt ACLU Student Chapter, Pitt Black Action Society, and Community Groups

Media Contacts: Genevieve Redd, 724-263-3245, pittaclupresident@gmail.com
Rayn Very: 412-480-1918, pittacluvicepresident@gmail.com
 

University of Pittsburgh students, the Black Action Society at Pitt, Pitt ACLU, the Thomas Merton Center Anti-War Committee, One HOOD, and Mothers Against Conviction Of The Innocent (M.A.C.O.T.I) will host a peaceful rally this Thursday, Oct. 1st from 5:30-7:00pm at Forbes and Bigelow to speak out about what happened during the occupation of Pitt's campus during the G-20. As students and community members stand in solidarity to support first amendment rights, they will be asked by campus leaders to sign a petition calling for reconciliation actions led by the University of Pittsburgh and the City of Pittsburgh. Students, parents, community activists, and city residents are expected to participate.
 
"As a community in shock, we need to know who gave unconstitutional orders to the police and why. We also need a public forum on-campus to communicate with the University concerning its procedures against wrongfully arrested students; we must ensure that they are not subject to disciplinary action at school as a result of unconstitutional police action," said Pitt ACLU President Genevieve Redd.
 
The rally aims to bring together all those affected by the unlawful mass arrests in Oakland during the G-20 and provide a venue for them to peacefully assemble. The goal is to form peaceful community solidarity by telling their stories, signing petitions for reconciliation, and speaking out about specific civil liberties violations. Some of those violations include: the declaration of a peaceful assembly Friday night as unlawful; the disproportionately large police presence on Pitt's campus after the G-20 Summit had ended; and the excessive and unreasonable use of force by police on students and other community members who were peaceful and who were attempting to comply with police orders to disperse. Many of those arrested were students, and many were not there to protest. In fact, in trying to follow the order to disperse, many were penned in, sprayed with mace and/or OC gas, and shot with rubber bullets. 
 
"We demand a full investigation into how this happened, and that the University of Pittsburgh administration stand fully behind violated students by refraining from pursuing Judicial Board proceedings, and pressuring the city to drop charges against all arrestees not involved in property damage," said Jocelyn Petyak and Anthony Brino, two Pitt Students arrested during the weekend G-20.
 
University of Pittsburgh students and community groups hope to raise awareness about what happened on campus and galvanize public support for students, community groups, and free speech rights in Pittsburgh. The groups plan to urge all those in attendance to contact their local elected officials to demand accountability from the City with regard to the numerous civil liberties violations that took place, specifically in Oakland, during the G-20 Summit.
 
Students have launched a website, www.WhatHappenedAtPitt.com, as a forum and resource for all who were affected to share their stories and be connected with information on their rights. The Pitt ACLU Student Chapter will also be working to direct affected students, community members and others who witnessed the events on campus to contact the ACLU of Pennsylvania with any personal accounts, pictures, video, or other information. 
 
For more information, contact: Genevieve Redd, Pitt ACLU President: 724-263-3245, pittaclupresident@gmail.com