Justice for a 7 year old who was arrested by the Baltimore City Police Department

To view a news video of the story click on the following link: http://wjz.com/video/?id=25869@wjz.dayport.com

Justice for Little Gerard Mungo

Baltimore, Maryland - Monday, March 19, 2007


On Monday March 19th join community advocates as they demand answers and justice for little Gerard Mungo.

Where:

City Hall
100 Holliday St, Baltimore, 21202
Time: 4 PM

For more information contact Bro. Daren Muhammad @ 410.878.5298 or by email @ bromuhammad@earthlink.net

What Else Can You Do:

Send an email or letter of concern to the Mayor, the President of the Baltimore City Council, and the Baltimore City Police Commissioner. Here are their addresses:

Mayor Sheila Dixon

mayor@baltimorecity.gov

Fax (410) 576-9425

City Hall, Room 250

100 N. Holliday Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Council President Stephanie Rawlings Blake

CouncilPresident@baltimorecity.gov

Fax: (410) 539-0647

City Hall 100 North Holliday Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Police Commissioner Leonard Hamm

The Baltimore Police Department Mailing Adress is :
c/o 242 W. 29th St.

Baltimore, Maryland 21211-2908

SAMPLE TEXT FOR LETTER

DEAR Honorable ____________________________________,

I am horrified and disheartened by the recent decision of the Baltimore City Police Department to arrest a seven year old for sitting on a kid sized dirt bike on the sidewalk in front of his house in the presence of his Mother. This type of behavior by the Baltimore City Police Department highlights the lack of care and concern by adults for the youth of this city.

In a city where mistrust and fear shadow the integrity of the Baltimore City Police Department in the eyes of youth and the general public at-large, this type of behavior by the Baltimore City Police Department is inappropriate and unnecessary. Many youth in this city already feel that the adults in authority, especially police officers, do not care about them. The actions that the Baltimore City Police Department took against little Gerard Mungo validate these concerns.

This incident points to a much larger problem in this City that needs to be addressed immediately. I would like to recommend the following:

(1) the termination of the officers involved in this incident;

(2) the creation of a community-led taskforce (composed of community activists, police officers, and reps from the Mayor's Office) to investigate the tactics used by the Baltimore City Police Department in local Baltimore neighborhoods, especially in neighborhoods in East Baltimore; and
(3) mandatory youth development training for Baltimore City Police Department employees.

Sincerely,

Your Name