Thursday, October 23. 1997
The University Daily Kansan
Section A • Page 3
Community forum addresses causes of police brutality
A protester spray paints a shirt in South Park as part of the National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality. Yesterday's protest drew more than 60 supporters. Photo by Tara Bradley/KANSAN.
On-campus talk inspires action
By Rachelle Detweiler
rdetweiler@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Six years ago, Lawrence police officers went to 27-year-old Gregg Sevier's locked bedroom door and picked the lock.
Sevier's parents had called 911 because they feared their son was suicidal. When Sevier stood up with a kitchen knife in his hand, the officers, Ted Bordman and Jim Phillips, repeatedly told him to drop the knife.
The incident ended with Sevier, a Native American, dying from six gun shot wounds.
That was the story that Lance Burr, the attorney representing the Seviar family in the 1991 shooting, told at a community forum on police brutality last night in Green Hall.
Burr said Sevier's appearance may have affected the way police handled the incident.
When police officers respond to calls, Burr said, they may have preconceived ideas based a person's skin color, facial hair, hair length or clothes.
"If we don't stick up for our rights, we lose them," Burr said. "The only thing we can do is be watchdogs to protect our Bill of Rights."
About 25 people attended the forum, which was sponsored by the October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality. Yesterday was a national day of protest against police brutality.
The coalition read aloud the names of 350 victims of police brutality in New York and Chicago since 1989. Sevier's name was one of the small-town names added to the list.
Willie Sevier, Gregg's father, was scheduled to speak but was unable to attend because of a family emergency.
Dick Kurtenbach, executive director of the Kansas branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, spoke about creative methods for making police accountable.
"In this democratic society, the relationship police have with us citizens is based on power," Kurtenbach said. "We have to hold them accountable."
He talked about communities that banded together and responded to police harassing minorities in Prairie Village, Mission and Overland Park.
For example, an officer issued a ticket during the daytime for a broken tail light. Once law enforcement officers learned of the ACLU's involvement in the case, the charges were dropped, Kurtenbach said.
Some audience member scoffed with resentment. Other tittered a nervous laugh. But some showed no surprise after hearing Kurtenbach's and Burr's testimony on
how appearance affects police behavior.
"American Indians are invisible in this society," said Lawrence resident Mike Two Horses. "Killing Indians is still OK in America. That's what they see on the silver screen. That's what they've been brought up to believe."
One upset audience member stood up and said he would start organizing the community tomorrow.
And that was the point of the discussion.
"Get organized and make sure you have a good follow-through on your punch," Burr said. "If you get knocked down, you have to get back up. It helps us channel some of our anger."
ACLU chapter sponsors rally against violence by police
Continued from page 1A
"This isn't just a talk on Lawrence police. Not all police are bad and we know that. But bad things do go on, especially with the Native American and homeless populations in Lawrence, and that needs to stop," said Marissa D. Johnson, Wichita freshman.
As the protest leaders spoke to the crowd and handed out informational brochures, Food Not Bombs handed out soup and bread to audience members.
"We wanted to attend because Food Not Bombs is a nonviolent organization. We want to stop violence and that is what they are interested in doing here," Carolyn Anderson said. Anderson is a junior at Free State High School and a member of Food Not Bombs.
After the speeches, local bands "Free Verse" and "Deraler" entertained the audience. The bands songs were intermixed with other "I was killed. I was brutalized" statements.
To show respect for the victims of police brutality, the group lit a candle to burn in their memory.
Senate committee passes a $2 hike of students' fees
Continued from page 1A
"Sometimes student just give up on Safe Ride," she said. "Students try and find some other way homes and a lot of the time that involves driving drunk."
Although the bill does not mandate where revenues from the fee increase are spent, the committee passed a resolution recommending that the revenues be used primarily on Safe Ride. Another resolution asked the city of Lawrence to allocate money from the city's alcohol tax program to Safe Ride.
This made some committee members wary of the student-wide fee increase.
Senate will vote on the bill Wednesday.
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