Participants in the 100th annual NAACP Convention cheer and hold signs during a speech in New York on Monday.
(Seth Wenig/AP)Photos (1 of 1)
NAACP to use latest technology to fight racism
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has launched a program that lets people use their cell phones to report incidents of police misconduct.
By Associated Press | July 13, 2009 edition
NEW YORK — Combining its century-old mission of fighting for equality with the instantaneous reach of modern-day technology, the NAACP has launched a program that lets people use their cell phones to report incidents of police misconduct.
The “rapid response system” was officially launched Monday as part of the annual convention for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. This year, the organization is marking the centennial of its founding in New York City in 1909.
The system allows people who capture photos or video of incidents of alleged police misconduct on their cell phones to send it through a Web browser to the organization or upload it through a computer. A form will then be transmitted to the sender, who can use it to provide more information about an incident.
“Technology has basically put a video camera in the pocket of every child in this country over the age of 12 and most grown-ups as well,” said Benjamin Jealous, president and CEO of the NAACP.
He said the information gathered would be used in several ways. Some video could be used immediately, to present footage for a situation the organization wants to highlight. Another purpose would be to compile a database of incidents that could show a history of discriminatory patterns and practices in particular law enforcement jurisdictions — information the group could take to the Justice Department.
The head of the Justice Department, Attorney General Eric Holder, praised the NAACP’s dedication to championing equality but acknowledged the work left to be done.
“We must resist the temptation to conclude that our nation has fulfilled its promise of equality based on one moment or on one election,” he said, in reference to Barack Obama being elected president.
“The efforts to harmonize our laws with our best ideals is not yet done,” he said.
Monique Morris, the group’s vice president of advocacy and research, said the ease of reporting an incident will help give a clearer picture of the prevalence of misconduct.
“What this database will provide is a more accurate account in real time of what’s happening in our communities,” she said.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Comments
2. John Smith | 07.14.09
Great idea. Make the police even more wary of getting involved in predominantly black areas, which often have higher incidences of crime (statistically, not casually, speaking). Many officers are already afraid enough of their own Internal Affairs departments, and the very few officers who do harbor racist sentiments will avoid actively engaging in any racist behaviour simply because of the enormous damage it could do to their careers.
This is just one more step in making the police look like the bad guys, and perpetuating an “us vs. them” mentality. Expect problems in the ‘hood to grow worse, not better, as a result of this nonsense. Decent, law-abiding black people need to take a stand and stop protecting the criminal element, simply because they happen to share the same skin color. The police sure aren’t perfect, but they are on your side.
3. walter stewart | 07.14.09
I have a serious problem with this: when a young urban black ‘threatens’ me - and I complain to his boss or other responsible party - and he calls the 1-800 number - where am I?
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1. Megan Fox | 07.13.09
Great move although this should have been implemented earlier.. A few years ago a New Yorker started a website to document acts of sexual harassment made by males against women in public in New York City.
Photos of these johns and perverts were sent in via phone cameras as well… we should definitely expect more websites of these nature to be set up as people realize the power of naming and shaming..