Earlier this year at the US Social Forum and the National Conference on Organized Resistance STAT! led a workshop on Taser abuse called, "Killing Me Softly."
Killing Me Softly: Tasers and Other "Less-Lethal" Weapons
Politicians and law-enforcers argue that shocking somoneone with 50,000 volts is a more humane choice than filling them with lead. But the belief that less-lethal weapons reduce death and violence is pure myth. Tasers have been tied to more than 240 U.S. deaths, and along with other less-lethal weapons they actually increase the use of force and foster torturous abuse by law enforcement. From anti-war protesters in Pittsburgh to university students in Los Angeles, to epileptics in Georgia, police routinely turn to Tasers and other less lethal weapons as a substitute for negotiation and communication in crowd control, "pain compliance," to prevent property destruction, and to resolve minor conflicts. Join us for a timely workshop that will uncover the proliferation and propoganda of less-lethal weapons and their roles in the increasing militarization of police and the criminalization of dissent.
The challenge in organizing on this issue is not a new one: our capitalistic-hungry society dictates she with the most money wins. Taser, Int. is so laden with profits to (attempt to) combat the bad press surrounding them, they outright sue critics from the media and medical community, and fly in private jets around the country to meet with/intimidate critics. The increasting privatization of our police/police functions, military, criminal justice system, etc., means increasing the "market" so profits are increased. That market is the oppression of We, the People. Our goal is to organize sustainably, through community-building, civic participation and agitation - not seeking riches to buy power. The power of this movement will someday ensure that the almighty dollar/Euro/yen can no longer buy out social and economic justice.
The workshop raises public awareness about Taser abuse in the context of the broader systemic problem of police excessive use of force, lack of accountability, and racial profiling. The participants will leave with not only a clearer understanding of tasers and "less-lethal" weapons, but equip local organizers with tools to take action in their own communities to curb law enforcement's use and abuse of such. Such targeted campaigns can, as a result, serve to instill better police accountability policies. Grassroots groups are empowered and gain more footing as they make small gains with the narrow, media-friendly issue of Tasers - lending in a small way towards the bigger prize: the creation of a civil society where civil rights are respected, prisoners are not treated inhumanely, protesters are not subject to violent repression, and police do not respond to everyday conflicts with excessive use of force.
Presenters
Naomi Archer (Asheville, NC) is an award-winning activist who has been a catalyst for social change for over a decade. She helped organize mobilizations and protest actions at 2003 FTAA, 2004 G8, 2004 DNC, and is co-founder of the Save Our Civil Liberties, and the The Possibility Project, a cutting-edge social change collective. Naomi is also founder of the indigenous solidarity organization Four Directions Solidarity Network.
David Meieran (Pittsburgh, PA) has worked on AIDS, queer, antiwar, police violence and globaljustice issues. Recently David has devoted most of energies to counter-recruitment with Pittsburgh Organizing Group and the UPRISE Tour, which toured the Rustbelt with Iraq vets to advance regional counter-recruitment efforts and link the issues of war and military recruitment to corporate globalization. A co-founder of Save Our Civil Liberties, David has researched Taser and other less-weapons abuses and organizes against Taser abuse.
Debbie Russell (Austin, TX) has engaged in many coalition-building efforts — from anti-war to media to water issues — with a variety of communities — from the radical to the "strange bedfellows" — including the Austin Democracy Coalition, Austin Against War & Texans United Against War, the Austin Center for Peace & Justice, the Austin Bill of Rights Defense Committee, the AustinSpokescouncil and CodePink-Austin. Despite her discomfort with titles, has been deemed president of the board of the Central Texas chapter of the ACLU, where she focuses much energy on community organizing around police accountability issues.
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