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Greetings NOCOP friends and supporters,
We hope that this newsletter finds you well! These first few months of the year we have been fast at work - reaching the end of our No to Sustainment campaign with the ruling on the consent decree, continuing our family work, and relentlessly fighting back against Trump's racist agenda. We have continued to grow a broad united front, strengthening our relationships with organizations such as NOUF and Union Migrante by fighting alongside them in our campaign work. With the NOPD moving into a sustainment period and the rolling out of racist policies under the Trump administration, our fight for community oversight of the police is far from over!
Upcoming events/meetups- we would love to see you!
March 22 @1pm at Congo Square: March to Defend Federal And Public Sector Workers!
MLK Day March
In light of Trump's inauguration falling on MLK Day, we - alongside 19 other orgs- gathered at Al Davis Park to unite and resist Trump's nightmare, and fight for MLK’s dream. Even with near freezing weather we took the streets, marched on South Claiborne avenue to the MLK memorial where we rallied. We gathered more signatures for our petition for a Civilian Police Accountability Council and brought in new members. We are ready to build a united front against Trump, and look forward to working with allies against his racist administration. Big thanks to all the organizations who participated, stay tuned to the NOCOP page for further updates on actions against Trump!
The Consent Decree Ruling
We have continued to show the communities disapproval of moving into a sustainment period. Working in coalition with organizations like Union Migrante, New Orleans United Front (NOUF), and Eyes on Surveillance. Through our campaign to protect the consent decree, we were successful in submitting over 200 public comments to Judge Morgan, the Federal Judge overseeing the case. During the Dec 17th Fairness Hearing, people in our coalition packed the courts for two hours of public comment, and we brought forth data that further exposed NOPD’s racist police practices and noncompliance under the consent decree.
On January 13, the day of the Motion Hearing, our coalition came together to picket outside and to pack the court. As we circled in front of the courthouse steps, NOPD, DOJ and city lawyers had to walk through our signs demanding an end to racist policing. Inside the court, both the city and the Department of Justice (DOJ) agreed that the NOPD is not in full compliance with the consent decree. Despite this and community disapproval, Judge Morgan still ruled in favor of NOPD entering into a “sustainment” period. We condemn this ruling as NOPD repeatedly falls short of constitutional benchmarks. Our police need more oversight, NOT less. We will continue to organize for community control over NOPD alongside our allies. This is not the end, just the beginning, and we are building strong ties of solidarity through struggle against criminal cops. To learn more, read our statement on instagram!
No to Sustainment Panel
We held a No to Sustainment panel on February 15th where we discussed how we built a united front and uplifted community voices by engaging in teach-ins, press conferences, protests, and canvassing throughout our campaign.
Super Bowl March
After hearing news that Trump would be visiting New Orleans during the Super Bowl, we quickly called a rally at Armstrong Park. Hundreds of people gathered to protest Trump and his recent policies. Even with heavy rainfall, the people took to the streets, and marched up to the Superdome’s security perimeter, chanting “Rain will not take us down! Trump out of NOLA now!” And while there was an incredibly strong police presence throughout the entirety of the protest due to the Super Bowl, because of a well coordinated security plan the march concluded with no arrests, injuries, or major disruptions.
Family and Defense Work
Dr. Jaime Johnston has been fighting to protect her son Jrue after he bravely disclosed ongoing sexual abuse by his father. Since Jrue’s disclosure, Jaime has repeatedly gone to NOPD for help, and has been arrested each time. She, alongside her mother and father, are battling felony kidnapping charges and need the community to continue to show up to their court dates wearing blue to show support for Jrue. You can find more on Jaime’s cases and her story on fightback news.
Khalifaziz, a Tulane graduate student, was found not guilty after facing trumped up felony charges for defending the Tulane/Loyola student encampment last spring. When giving the not guilty verdict, the Judge commented that Khalifaziz should not have been arrested in the first place for practicing their first amendment right.
Stay Tuned / Going Forward
We have spent the first quarter of the year finishing our No to Sustainment campaign and fighting back against Trump's racist agenda. Throughout our campaign we have worked alongside other organizations and learned how police repression affects every part of our city, building strong ties of solidarity through struggle. We have learned the strength of a united front and will continue to fight as a united front for community control and against Trump’s agenda.
If you want to take part in this work, please reach out to us via social media––@NOCOP on Facebook and @n.o.cop on Instagram––or email us at neworleanscpac@gmail.com. We host open meetings and perform outreach on a regular basis and would love to have you there.
Yours in Struggle,
New Orleans for Community Oversight of the Police
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