Representatives of groups pledge to work together to raise awareness
About 60 people attended an NAACP-called meeting Thursday evening at Hopps Memorial CME Church in Syracuse on recent deaths at the Onondaga County Justice Center.The meeting, called by the local chapter of the NAACP, was attended by representatives from a number of rights groups.
There were calls to shut down the jail, calls for outside, independent oversight of the jail and calls for a special prosecutor to be called in when an investigation is needed.
“No justice, no peace,” rang out again and again, as speakers denounced the jail and the justice system in general in Central New York.
On Aug. 13, a similar meeting drew 30 people to ArtRage gallery on Hawley Avenue.
Thursday’s meeting included a flip chart with to-do items including lobbying county legislators, registering people to vote and collecting stories about those who have been mistreated at the Justice Center.
Chuniece Patterson died in the jail in November from an ectopic pregnancy. Raul Pinet died Aug. 6 at the Justice Center after being arrested by Syracuse police.
Barrie Gewanter, director of the New York Civil Liberties Union Central New York Chapter, spoke about those two and other cases where those being held were injured.
Walter Dixie, local leader for National Action Network, said the way the people who work in the Justice Center think has to change.
“They know white folks aren’t going to show up over this, a bunch of poor folks,” he said.
“Let’s get this place shut down and get this place oversight,” he said.
“We’re fed up with this nonsense,” said Preston Fagan, head of the local NAACP chapter.
Former City Councilor Mike Atkins said a lack of “human decency” was “killing our community.” He said anger was growing and “a lot of our kids and adults are walking time bombs.”
“I think everyone is fed up,” said Fagan after the meeting. He said the groups that came together would have to work together and put their egos aside because, “everyone realizes there are too many deaths at the Justice Center.”
Contact Charles McChesney at cmcchesney@syracuse.com.