Defund NPD

04/12/2024

In the Boston Globe story on April 12th regarding the lawsuit of TrailblazHers Run Co against the Newton Police Department and the BAA (WBUR article shared here which is paywall-free), the authors state, "[Chief] Carmichael told the Globe last month that an internal review conducted by the department determined the police “dealt with the situation progressively," with Carmichael stating, "they did exactly what they're trained and expected to do."

We would concur--the behavior observed that day demonstrates what police are trained to do, which is to use tactics of intimidation and force. Not only were the rules of keeping the road clear not equally enforced here, disproportionately affecting BIPOC runners and fans, but also non-police community responders would be much better suited for this task. We see again that if the NPD reviews its own behavior and determines that it follows its own policy and training, they can do no wrong, reinforcing a cycle of unaccountability, one that increasing training cannot fix.

A Black-led running club has filed a lawsuit against Boston Marathon organizers and the Newton Police Department over alleged racial discrimination that took place during last year's race. Lawyers for Civil Rights said in a release that TrailblazHers Run Co. wants to prevent further discrimination a...

02/07/2024

Today, Justice for Juston Root held its 4th Annual Vigil for Juston Root, who was killed by police in Chestnut Hill. Join the Root family in demanding an independent investigation: https://www.change.org/p/help-hold-police-accountable-get-justiceforjustonroot-he-was-on-the-ground-defenseless-while-the-police-shot-at-point-blank-31-bullets/u/3

01/25/2024

JANUARY 24, 2024-- In light of the ongoing NTA strike, we have produced a short new piece of analysis: FY24 NPD/NPS Budget Increase Comparison.

As a reminder, if you wish to share our analysis or revisit any of our past major reports or toolkits, they are available to everyone on our Linktree, https://linktr.ee/defundnpd.

It's a good time to remind ourselves that budgets are reflections of our values. We hope that our analysis prompts our readers to reflect back on the true meaning of community care and public safety.
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https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v8gfuYIT_WWGX3b2mLYAx13mLIQzf-cJ/view

01/10/2024

Revisiting our 1/8/23 response to Mayor Fuller's email "update" regarding the anniversary of Michael Conlon's death

01/06/2024

09/19/2023

09/17/2023

Still no independent investigation regarding the death of at the hands of the police. Sign a letter demanding an independent investigation here:

Semi-comatose on the ground with nothing in his hands, police fired 31 bullets at point-blank, killing Juston Root. He posed NO conceivable THREAT. To date ZERO transparency and ZERO accountability. CAN WE COUNT ON YOU to sign in support of an independent investigation?

09/03/2023

"There was, in her voice, something intuitively pleasant and genuine and good, something that implies happiness or at least the possibility of happiness. When I listened to her music, I felt that I was still part of the world I had left behind."

Her music makes me feel that I’m still part of the world I left behind.

08/29/2023

We also mourn the three people who lives were taken this weekend in Jacksonville by a racially-motivated shooter -- and refuse to turn a blind eye to the political context fueling these moments, from the actions of Ron DeSantis to the white supremacists now building ranks in Maine and even in Woburn, Massachusetts. Now is the time to demand no one forgets that

07/29/2023

Via Fig City News: The City of Newton, The Second Step, and REACH Beyond Via Domestic Violence will jointly host an the forum and ill maintain a safe space for the community to discuss:

-Types of abuse and warning signs
-Addressing misinformation
-Supporting someone you believe is in an unsafe relationship
-Available resources from REACH Beyond Domestic Violence & The Second Step

Speakers will be:

Gabriela Wells, LCSW (She/Her), Director of Prevention, Intervention & Education at The Second Step
Sydney Carter (She/Her), Community Engagement Coordinator at REACH Beyond Domestic Violence

Zoom link here: https://newtonma-gov.zoom.us/j/81092528107

Newton residents were shocked and saddened by the death of Nancy Hanson in a domestic violence incident on July 15. Unfortunately, domestic violence is all too prevalent. 33.9% of Massachusetts women and 31.7% of Massachusetts men will experience physical violence, sexual violence, and/or stalking b...

07/05/2023

Read our full statement submitted to the Fig City News reacting to last month's PS&T discussion of the police response at the Boston Marathon. Full article here: https://figcitynews.com/2023/07/newton-reviews-police-response-at-marathon/

06/05/2023

"Nationally, there has been a growing push to rethink the response to mental health emergencies, one that has increasingly focused on complementing or replacing police with medics and mental health professionals. But Massachusetts police departments continue to primarily send armed officers with little back up from those best equipped to defuse these fraught encounters. A Globe review of more than 50 recent police shootings with fi****ms and tasers found that police here requested law enforcement negotiators or mental health professionals only six times...From 2016 to last year, police in Massachusetts annually killed an average of five people experiencing a mental health crisis, compared to three killings a year during the decade between 2005 and 2015."

and all others who lost their lives in mental health crisis to police in Massachusetts -- our work continues.

A Globe review shows that most people shot by police in Massachusetts are suicidal, mentally ill, or having a breakdown.