The Donovan Jackson-Chavis Justice Committee will hold a meeting

Saturday, July 13, 2002 at 5:00 pm at

Faith United Methodist Church | 1713 W. 108th Street near Western

This meeting will dispel rumors, educate the public to the truth of

the matter, and build support for Donovan Jackson-Chavis, a victim of

police brutality.

FACT SHEET

On the Beating of Donovan Jackson-Chavis

* On July 6, 2002 around 4:30 pm, Coby Chavis and his 16-year

old son Donovan stopped for gas at a local Thrifty Gas Station at

Century and Freeman Blvds. in the city of Inglewood.

* Coby Chavis had made eye contact with a passing Lennox

Sherrif's car, then proceeded into the gas station to pay the

cashier.

* The Sheriff circled back around, pulled into the gas station

and approached Coby Chavis. The Sheriff asked Coby for his license;

Coby began to explain that his license was suspended.

* As the conversation progressed, Donovan came out of the gas

station's mini mart eating a bag of potato chips. As Donovan

approached his father and the Sheriffs, he was told to put the potato

chips down. After following the instructions he was given, Donovan

was searched. By this time, backup arrived screeching onto the gas

station property. The screeching of police cars, as well as officers

approaching him and surrounding his father, startled him. Donovan

was hit in his face viciously by one of the officers; subsequently,

other officers began to hit Donovan all at once.

* As this was happening, Coby Chavis was being handcuffed and

placed in a squad car. He watched helplessly as his son was struck

over and over again.

* Donovan was not only punched in his face, head and eyes - he

was body-slammed to the ground and choked by a silver chain he was

wearing until he was unconscious.

* At no time was Donovan combative with the police, and at no

time did he resist arrest. WHY? The reason that Donovan had - and

has - such a calm demeanor is because he is a mild-mannered, very

quiet, very shy Special Education student, whose deficits include

auditory processing delays. In other words, Donovan hears and

understands, but has delayed reactions to things.

* The video is a key piece of evidence that cannot be denied by

the police. When viewed in more detail, the video shows that not

only was Donovan beaten while he was handcuffed, but he was

unconscious when he was pulled up from the ground. When Donovan was

slammed onto the hood of the squad car, it awoke him. Naturally, he

was startled and disoriented.

* One of the officers involved referred to Donovan as

a "nigger;" another officer taunted Coby Chavis by telling him,

`You're going to jail and I'm going home."

* Jeremy Morse, the officer beating Donovan on the video tape,

has been accused of police brutality in other incidents in Inglewood.



OUR DEMANDS:

WE DEMAND THAT

* NO CHARGES BE FILED against Donovan or his father Coby

> * AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION be conducted immediately

>

> * CRIMINAL CHARGES be filed against all officers involved in

> the beating, AND SUSPENSION FOR ALL officers and deputies who

> witnessed the beating and failed to stop it

>

> * AN IMMEDIATE END to racial profiling and felony-type stops

> for traffic violations, which lead to an escalation of violence on

> the part of the police

>

> * PUNITIVE DAMAGES be levied against all officers found guilty

> in police abuse cases

>

>

> WHY SHOULD TAXPAYERS PAY FOR POLICE VIOLENCE?



Donovan Jackson-Chavis

Justice Committee

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The family of Donovan Jackson-Chavis

and the Donovan Jackson-Chavis Justice Committee

requests that all community responses and press releases be

channelled through the Justice Committee

in order to achieve maximum exposure and organization.

Thank you.

" Rodney King then ... Donovan Jackson-Chavis now ... and the beat

goes on and on ..."