The Stop LAPD Spying Coalition will visit the LA Human Relations Commission this Thursday and ask they hold public hearings.
On Thursday, September 5th, at 9:30am, the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition will be attending the L.A. Human Relations Commission (HRC) meeting to demand public hearings on LAPD Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) – Special Order (SO) 1 and iWATCH – program!
The Los Angeles HRC is a city-wide body whose stated purpose is to be the “eyes and ears” of City government: The Commission gathers information and research from both government agencies and community-based organizations so it can advise the decision-makers.
The Commission holds hearings, sponsors public events, and does research with the goal of advising the Mayor and the City Council on Public Policy. As its name suggests, the Commission is centered on creating good Human Relations amongst the residents of Los Angeles.
Special Order 1 and iWATCH program negatively effect human relations in Los Angeles by breaking down trust, creating a culture of fear and suspicion, and wasting resources which could be used on helping–not watching–our communities.
The Human Relations Commission must hold hearings on LAPD SO 1 and iWATCH: as a point of entry for marginalized and underrepresented peoples, the Human Relations Commission has a duty to listen to us. The Stop LAPD Spying Coalition had a public forum in January with over 200 attendants.
Now it’s time for the city to provide a forum and hold open public hearing.
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Special Order 1+iWatch harm Human Relations: The HRC’s core mission is to serve marginalized and underrepresented communities. Records show SO 1 profiles people of color and the poor–our privacy is violated and innocent behaviors are now suspect, and subject to investigation. Neighbors are encouraged to inform on each other—this reinforces conscious and unconscious biases, racial profiling, and harms human relations by creating a culture of fear which weakens social ties and community engagement.
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Public Safety: Since Human Relations Commission is committed to public safety, it’s important that community members have a say in defining what Public Safety means. For the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, public safety does not mean more surveillance, more suspicion, and more resources wasted on ineffective and unnecessary programs like Special Order 1 and iWATCH.
Meet at City Hall East at the corner of Main and First Street at 9:30am on
Thursday, September 5th to speak out and be heard!