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Date: 8/10/2020
EASTHAMPTON – While a recent rally and protest was said to have been generally well-run, the conduct of law enforcement officials was called into question by organizers. Meanwhile, concerns regarding anti-police graffiti and public safety protocols at the event were raised.
The protest seeking systemic change in law enforcement, hosted by the local organization A Knee Is Not Enough (AKINE), gathered at Pulaski Park at the rotary and, using vehicles as an escort, blocked traffic as approximately 200 people marched from the park down Union Street to the police station on Payson Avenue. After the gathering at the police station, the group made its way back to the park.
Police Chief Robert Alberti said in many ways the protest was what he would hope to see from residents exercising their rights.
“People have the right to protest. They have the right to exercise their first amendment rights. We prefer it to be peaceful, meaningful and thoughtful,” he said. “From our department’s standpoint, we want to make sure that public safety is paramount. We’re big fans of peace. That one went off without a hitch.”
During the Aug. 5 City Council meeting, Councilor Lindsey Rothschild called it an excellent, well-organized event with “a great energy.”
“It was peaceful, it was respectful, it asked demands of our city that I think are reasonable and a good way to bring us forward. I welcome this activism,” she said.
City Council President Peg Conniff added that while she not in attendance, she was able to view a portion of the protest via Facebook Live and called it “fabulous.”
“What I heard was really, really good and I wish I could have seen more of it, but I appreciate everything that was done,” she said. “It was really well done and the speakers were great.”
However, AKINE and other participants have since issued complaints to the Police Department, stating two active members of the police force and third retired officer were part of a group that shouted obscenities as the group marched down Union Street.
“During our peaceful march, our group experienced racist and sexist actions by men that were gathered as a group at the Pascommuck Club in Easthampton. Among these men were two current police officers and one recently retired officer,” AKINE’s BIPOC Caucus stated in written response to Reminder Publishing’s inquiry. “While these actions were despicable and a violation of the Code of Ethics the Easthampton police purport to uphold, these actions also speak to the larger systemic racism and sexism within city government that we are trying to combat. Further, given the makeup of the crowd, which included families, children, and people of all gender presentations and sexual orientations, these tactics of racist and sexist aggression demonstrate a failure of the diversity and anti-bias training these officers have already undertaken.”
AKINE also alleged a jeep was prominently positioned at the club, bearing a logo of the comic book character ‘The Punisher,’ a violent vigilante, with a thin blue line, which the group said “is widely accepted as being a symbol that promotes police violence.”
Alberti did not respond to a request for additional comment on AKINE’s allegations. Mayor Nicole LaChapelle confirmed that complaints were received by the Police Department and her office.
“In the event of complaints, I go to the department head and ask for an internal investigation, the Police Department through their union contract have a well-established internal affairs investigation process,” LaChapelle said, further explaining after the procedure is followed, the results would additionally be reviewed by her and with the city attorney’s guidance, a recommendation would be made.
AKINE indicated that during a meeting with LaChapelle and Alberti, the chief said in the past he had “verbally reprimanded, written up, suspended, and moved to terminate” officers who violated the department’s Code of Ethics.
“He indicated that if ‘officers were there’ he would take similar actions to complaints. It is our hope that the chief, after receiving complaints about this incident from numerous rally attendees, volunteers, and AKINE members, will be true to his word and follow policy regarding justifiable complaints from his community,” the BIPOC Caucus said. “How can they claim to stand for the rights of all as they allow for their peers to mistreat, ridicule, and attempt to intimidate us? How can they expect brown and black people to feel that they are afforded the same respect and safety as their white counterparts when in the presence of racism and intimidation they refuse to act? This is what we are fighting against and this is why we need to transform the police.”
The BIPOC Caucus indicated as of Aug. 9, “Those that filed complaints continue to patiently [await] acknowledgement and response by the EPD and/or responsible municipal officials,” adding the expectation was the complaints would be investigated and disciplined in accordance with the department’s policies.
When asked if there had been any incidents related to the event and if any of a violent nature, Alberti said there were two incidences of vandalism that were found by police sometime during the overnight shift from the evening of Aug. 1 to the morning of Aug. 2. The protest took place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 1.
In one incident, the phrase “cops rape” was spraypainted on a wayfinder sign. In another, “40% of cops abuse their spouses and kids” was spraypainted on the sidewalk on Union Street. When asked if they were related to the protest, Alberti said the taggings were still being investigated.
“As for whether these were violent, the language kind of speaks for itself, doesn’t it?” Alberti said.
AKINE denied responsibility for the vandalism, stating, “There were no destructive acts by attendees at any time during the public event. AKINE does not condone or support destruction of public or private property.”
The chief also noted, citing the group’s Facebook event page, that the original plan was to march on the sidewalk, indicating the blocking of traffic and marching in the street presented safety risks.
“Their own Facebook page said there would be a car parade and they were going to be marching on the sidewalk, so that was a bit misleading from a public safety perspective,” he said.
The Facebook event did encourage marchers to stay on the sidewalk. A press release provided by AKINE indicated the protest would be “headed off by a car parade for the accessibility of folks attending the protest.” At the event, marchers were guided onto the street. Organizers gave those gathered verbal cues that would instruct them to move to the sidewalks or into the roadway.
LaChapelle said she observed a portion of the protest from the Nashawannuck Pond boardwalk where she was emptying trash and was “surprised” to see the crowd in the streets.
“It was our understanding that folks would be on the sidewalk. We routinely have groups march on the sidewalks in like efforts,” she said, pointing to an Aug. 9 event commemorating the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as an example.
AKINE said in response, “No communication was received by the group from Chief Alberti or the mayor in acknowledgement of our advance communication about the event and no concerns for safety were expressed to the group prior to or after the event. The press release stated the nature of the event and they (mayor and Chief) were fully briefed. No correspondence or requests for clarification about the event was sought by any mentioned party above (EPD or mayor).”
Alberti added he was unsure as to whether a permit had been obtained from the Parks and Recreation Department. John Mason, director of Parks and Recreation said there was no permit issued.
“No, they didn't obtain a permit for the event,” Mason said. “However, they did reach out to our department to ask if a small group of about 20 could hold signs on the rotary. We don't require a permit for less than 25.”
When asked about permitting and the size of the turnout, AKINE’s BIPOC Caucus said, “It was a phenomenal response showing a clear outcry from our community for things to change. In our initial meeting with Mayor LaChapelle on June 29, 2020, AKINE members stated our intention to host a public event and inquired how to obtain an event permit. Mayor LaChapelle indicated that there were no permits being issued. She stated her satisfaction for giving her an advance notice/heads-up about the event for purposes of logistical preparation (ie., having an ambulance available and potential traffic control). This ask – of hosting a public event – was recognized and granted.”
LaChapelle stated her opinion that being “heavy-handed with permits” was not in the public’s best interest, noting, “There’s a lot of honor system stuff.”
Alberti said the Police Department “have had a dialogue and will continue to have a dialogue with” AKINE.
“The conversations we are having with them are the same conversations we have had with other groups in the city on the regular,” he said.
LaChapelle noted she and the Police Department “are committed to meeting weekly with AKINE,” adding the city would begin making those discussions public via Zoom.
“It’s been made very clear that the work of AKINE has created a greater conversation in our community and members of the public have expressed a desire to be part of that discussion,” she said.