“The Call for the 18th National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation is to bring forward the united, powerful, visual coalition of families victimized by police terrorism and to reach into all parts of our community. May our unity bring the change that our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren so rightfully deserve – freedom, justice, equality, humanity, respect, and a right to take BART [Bay Area Rapid Transit] and a right to walk to 7-11 for Skittles and ice tea without being executed.”
- Cephus “Uncle Bobby” Johnson, the uncle of Oscar Grant
Cassandra Feuerstein, 47, was arrested for a DUI on March 10, 2013, by SPD. She was, apparently, intoxicated, but pulled over on the side of the road. She was arrested and taken to the police station where the surveillance footage caught the horrendous event on tape. She was compliant for her search and mugshot. The video shows no signs of any resistance. After she is taken out for the mugshot, one of the officers, Michael Hart is seen shoving her into the cell room. Feuerstein is flung head-first into the concrete bench. The video shows that she sustained a head injury and bled on the cell room floor. The officers did assist her afterwards by holding her head and cleaning the blood on her face from her nose. Officer Hart maintains that Feuerstein was resisting when he was walking her back to the cell. Apparently, it isn't illegal to treat DUI offenders like an abused animal, since Hart still has a job with the Skokie Police Department. The video is graphic, but at least she has the evidence needed to go forward with her suit against the officer and/or department. The injuries were so bad that she needed reconstructive surgery.
This story is just one of the thousands of reported assaults by Police Officers who abuse their strength and power as civil servants of "we, the people." They are supposed to protect and serve, yet what we see some of the time, is the brute force of the department over regular citizens like you and me. These stories need to be seen for us to realize that one day it could be you that is suing them or worse yet, die by their misuse of power. Mind you, not all police officers are unjust or abusive. There are many kind and just officers who treat people like human beings and not stray animals.However, it only takes a few bad apples to spoil the bunch.
