Come join Safe Streets on August 26th at 6:00pm

Monthly General Membership Meeting

SSSC General Membership Meetings are held on the 4th Wednesday of each month. Visitors are always welcome. For information on location and other details call: Safe Streets/Strong Communities at (504) 522-3949

CUC City Hall Demonstration (Police Superintendent Serpas)

On May 13, 2010 at 11:00 am

Safe Streets/Strong Communities turned out as part of a coalition formed to express disapproval of Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s appointment of Ronal Serpas as Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department. While we acknowledge the Mayor’s prerogative to appoint whomever he chooses as Police Chief, we are disappointed that he either did not hear or chose to ignore a very clear message from a large sector of the New Orleans Community that former officers and commanders of N.O.P.D. should not be considered for appointment because, unless they were whistle blowers while they were serving with N.O.P.D, at the very least, their silence made them complicit in the department’s past corruption and lawlessness.

End Police Violence Demonstration

May 13th, 2010

On the morning of Tuesday, April 20, Safe Streets Strong/Communities joined a coalition of more than 50 New Orleans residents in a demonstration for the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana and the United States Department of Justice to broaden and extend the federal investigation of murders, beatings, framings and other excesses and misconduct by the New Orleans Police Department.

While the organizing coalition, called Communities United for Change, is a new entity, its member organizations and leaders, including Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana, Voice of the Ex-Offender (VOTE), Safe Streets/Strong Communities, STAND with Dignity, Black Men United for Change, The New Orleans Chapter of NAACP and the Louisiana Justice Institute, have been working to change the culture of NOPD for years. This morning’s demonstration and press conference is the coalition’s first step in a long journey toward police accountability and justice for victims of NOPD. Dozens of demonstrators marched in front of the 600 Poydras Street entrance to the federal court building carrying white T-shirts outstretched aloft, each one symbolizing a New Orleans resident killed by officers of the New Orleans Police Department. Following the demonstration, a wide array of community leaders and stake-holders spoke at a press conference attended by virtually all major local news outlets.

The Reverend Dwight Clay offered a moment of meditation and W.C. Johnson, host of the NOA-TV program “Our Story,” gave opening remarks explaining the purpose of the demonstration. Tamar McFarland of STAND, read the demands on behalf of the community. Robert Goodman of Safe Streets/Strong Communities then spoke on behalf of deceased victims of police violence and their surviving families. New Orleans police officers killed Goodman’s brother in 2006. Sess 4-5, a local Hip Hop artist and youth organizer spoke about the impact on the youth of New Orleans. Ali Shabazz of STAND then announced the Public Hearing organized by the coalition to be held at St James African Methodist Church (219 N. Derbigny) this Thursday, April 22, at 6pm. The hearing provides an opportunity for NOPD’s victims and their families to add their stories to the ongoing community effort to hold NOPD accountable.

Communities United for Change look forward to a continuation of today’s efforts at Thursday’s Public Hearing, and encourage community members to come forward with their stories. The ongoing federal investigations into NOPD offer the potential of police accountability, but New Orleans will not see a change in the culture of the department unless many more residents join the growing call for justice.

Sankofa Remembering Storms of the Past Building a Brighter Future

August 29, 2008

Join hundreds of New Orleanians for an afternoon of remembrance, celebration and uprising to mark the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Second-line celebration featuring music from the Rebirth Brass Band, residents raising their voices on critical issues and community artists telling our stories of triumph.

We will shine a spotlight on:

Housing & Homelessness
Labor & Immigrant Rights
Public Education & Youth Development
Policing & Prison Reform
Healthcare & Environmental Justice
Second-line followed by Community Festival at the Tremé
Community Center

Time: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Date: August 29, 2008
What: Second-line ending with a Rally and Community Festival
Parade Route: Step off from Galvez and Martin Luther King Blvd. through downtown End at Tremé Community Center

Important City Council Vote TODAY on Police Oversight!

June 5, 2008

WHEN: Thursday June 5th around NOON
WHERE: City Council Chambers, 1300 Perdido Street
WHAT: Come out to City Council. Wear Orange. Call City Council. Say YES to public safety and police accountability!

Safe Streets will FINALLY see a city council vote on an Independent Monitor for New Orleans Police Department. New Orleans needs your support!

On Thursday June 5, 2008 New Orleans City Council (NOCC) will be voting on an issue integral to public safety and good government. NOCC will be voting on whether or not to place the Independent Police Monitor into the City Charter.

Safe Streets has been working for two years to see this project come to fruition and our allies have been working on this as far back as the 80’s. Safe Streets’ members are the people of New Orleans most directly impacted by violence - street violence, domestic violence and violence against the people from the state. We know best how to end the violence and our research shows this Independent Monitor is a huge step forward in our fight for a police department that protects and serves everyone, regardless of race or economic status.

An Independent Monitor will oversee the police complaints and complaint investigation processes to ensure better performance from the Public Integrity Bureau of NOPD and a better relationship between the people and NOPD by ensuring that NOPD’s policies and procedures are appropriate, are followed, and are public information. The Monitor will issue public reports about NOPD’s policies, procedures, exemplary officers and problems with misconduct. There will finally be an entity that is responsible for looking into every death or incident of injurious violence coming out of NOPD.

Safe Streets members are extremely committed to seeing this years-long process finally come to fruition and we ask that you join us in supporting all legislation for the Independent Monitor. Please come out and join us at City Council on Thursday June 5th. Wear your orange t-shirts and arm bands so that everyone in city council knows that we are a strong and unified community demanding greater accountability from our government officials and police officers. Call or Write your council people and let them know that the community is behind them in improving our NOPD and that we will remain vigilant in making sure they fulfill their promises.