Donovan Jackson-Chavis Justice Committee on Sat 7/13

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
3 1 0 - 9 7 0 - 0 0 3 2

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 ..."