Police brutality isn’t just an issue for big cities. There is a long history of police violence right here in Geneva. For too long, the Geneva Police Department (GPD) has successfully swept this pattern of abuse under the rug, allowing the officers involved to remain in the GPD’s employ and continuing to put the residents of Geneva at risk.
Of course, the prime example of this is the case of Corey Jackson. In 2011, Jackson was killed by the GPD during a traffic stop. No one was fired. No one was arrested. Jackson’s family never got justice. The cop who shot Jackson retired more than two years later, having received his full salary in the interim.
Today, nearly a decade later, we are asking for justice in yet another case of police brutality here in Geneva. Last July, Officer Jack Montesanto strangled a woman in his custody. His body camera was on. They were in the Public Safety Building. And yet, none of this seems to matter. Montesanto is still employed by the GPD. He is currently facing a misdemeanor charge of criminal obstruction of breathing, and even if he is convicted he will likely face no jail time.
Montesanto isn’t simply a bad apple—he is a product of decades of violent malpractice by the Geneva Police Department. Clearly, the Community Compact we built is not enough. Nothing has changed.
It is our responsibility to ask GPD to take steps to end this pattern of police violence. To ask, for example:
— When will the GPD become more transparent in its relations with the public?
— When will the GPD cease harassment of young Black and brown Genevans?
— When will the GPD restructure its budget toward programs that actually reduce crime: poverty, housing, and healthcare?
— When will the GPD dispose of its military grade equipment and tear gas?
— When will the GPD reduce the size of its force to one appropriate to the size of our city?
— When will the GPD actually do its job to preserve and protect ALL the people of Geneva?
Our answer to these questions? Time is up. We will not wait for the next violent assault by the police. We need a police department that is accountable to the people of Geneva. And we need it now.
Now is the time to support the young activists who are in the street, from Geneva to Minneapolis, as they call for transformational change to our local police department and the justice system at large. Whether you can march through town or chant from your stoop as the protesters pass, whether you feel comfortable speaking during the city council’s public comment at tomorrow’s meeting or you’d rather talk with the councillors one-on-one, now is the time to find your own way to show our city government that we want a police department that is more accountable to the people of this city.
Resources for Action:
— Visit BLM Geneva: The People’s Peaceful Protest and check out their events page. You can find out when the next march is or see what new speakers are coming out to address the community.
— Contact city clerk Lori Guinan (lguinan@geneva.ny.us / 315-789-2603) to get on the agenda for the public comment section of the city council meeting on Wednesday July 1 at 7pm.
— Visit http://cityofgenevany.com/city-council/ to see the contact information for every member of the Geneva City Council. They would love to hear from you!
— Sign the petition created by The People’s Peaceful Protest at https://www.change.org/p/geneva-city-council-reform-geneva-… to support their demands for police reform.