The Geneva Women’s Assembly constituted itself on March 8, International Women’s Day, 2017. On that day, hundreds of Genevans came out to march for women’s liberation from patriarchy, white-supremacy, LGBTQ+ bigotry, and a system that serves profit over people. We occupied Congressman Tom Reed’s office and drafted resolutions for and by the people, because neither Reed nor the system he represents was doing anything to address the needs of working class people in Geneva.
Since the very first Women’s Assembly, GWA has been agitating for Police Accountability: in the streets, in community meetings, in City Council, and in coalition with a variety of organizations. Last month, thanks to the incredible organizing by The People’s Peaceful Protest, the City Council passed a resolution to begin the process of creating a Police Accountability Board in Geneva. This was a huge victory for and by the people.
Now, a minority of City Councilors including the Mayor, with assistance from the City Manager and City Attorney, have refused to honor the PAB Resolution passed in July. Instead, the City attorney is proposing a police review board that has NO investigative or disciplinary power, and runs the risk of leading to *more* power for the police.
At 5pm today there will be a public forum devoted entirely to hearing from community members about what they want in a police accountability board. Make sure that one of the voices they hear is yours! This is your (second) chance to tell the City Council that you support an independent police accountability board with investigative and subpoena powers, the power to discipline, and the power to recommend and review policy. This is our chance to tell the city council exactly what we expect in a police accountability board and why it matters to us!
After the public forum (and a quick 15-minute stretch break!), the City Council meeting begins at 7pm. Despite the fact that community members and the Mayor have called for his resignation, Councilor-at-Large Frank Gaglianese will be in attendance. His videotaped admission that he wished he had been able to kill all the attendees at a community teach-in event (including a number of GWA members and many other community activists and leaders) is unforgivable and reflects the racist ideologies which all too often dominate Geneva’s governance. This is your chance to say white supremacy has no place on our City Council and join the calls for his resignation.
If you’d like to speak at one or both of these meetings (on Zoom), email Lori Guinan at LJG@geneva.ny.us — and don’t forget to be specific about when you want to speak (at the public forum, during the public comment, or both!). Or, if public speaking isn’t your thing, you can submit a written statement to Lori instead and request that it be read into the record for you.
And no matter what happens at City Council tonight, the struggle continues tomorrow. GWA will continue to speak out against our out-of-control police department, the old-boys-club-culture that opposes women’s leadership, and city leaders dead set against change. We must continue to unite and organize for a more just Geneva!