Topic: 08-05-07-05 Fundraiser for Dru (check it)
- Jul 27, 2005 12:46am by NRG - livin the art that is life !
www.64111clinic.com fam
www.nrginmotion.com massage
www.myspace.com/nrginmotion world community Location: havenhouse KCK/ 64111 Clinic 4 Life
just got this message... know anything about it?
_________
CALL TO ARTISTS/MUSICIANS/PERFORMERS:
(and all my wonderful talented friends out there, you
know who you are!)
A hip hop artist has been targeted by the KCPD and
become a victim of racial profiling. Some of you may
know Dru as the MC who won the 2004 Slam Bush
competition and he has participated in numerous local
MC battles. Dru was arrested on July 6 on fabricated
charges. (Please ask Dru for his statement recounting the details.) He was accused of being a mastermind
behind a protest that he didn't even participate in,
all because of the color of his skin and the uniquness
of his given name, Badru Akeem Gardner.
A movement on police accountablility is being
organized around Dru's situation and other victims of
police injustice. This is the chance for the hip hop
prescence in Kansas City and Lawrence to step up and
take action. We need unity in the scene for our voices
to be heard. This is a call to artists to start by
volunteering your to show your skills, whatever
element of hip hop you can contribute, to a fundraiser
for Dru's legal expenses. This is short notice for a
show being organized in KC for the weekend of Aug 5-7.
The location is tentativley Case Park and/or Jilly's.
ACT NOW by contacting Dru at 913-226-1314
or [email protected]
iN Solidarity,
Nikki
- Jul 27, 2005 02:50am by spits_at_mirrors Location: Kansas Shitty, MO
Yes, I wrote the email above. Artists and performers: please ACT NOW by contacting Dru at 913-226-1314 or [email protected] !!! More info for people who want to attend later, first we need performers.
~ Nikki
[b:f823cdb676]Local Emcee Victim of KCPD Racial Profiling [/b:f823cdb676]
Statement Detailing the Events of July 6, 2005
Badru Akeem Gardner
On July 6, 2005, at approximately 5:30 pm, I was informed by a former roommate that a protest decrying our government’s foreign policy would assemble at the statues located at the intersection of Westport Road and Broadway. My girlfriend’s younger brother, Michael, and I resolved to go as independent observers, detached from the crowd, unwilling to be anything more than a concerned citizen. We arrived at the scene when the demonstrators reached the sloped park area near 42nd Street. Several squad cars and a police van were already present. As I was standing on the opposite side of the street, I witness the police mace the crowd, strike a few of the demonstrators and arrest two youth. Still on the opposite side of the street, standing on the sidewalk, I attempted to ask every police officer for their names and badge numbers. They all refused. One called me “yard bird†and asked me if I wanted to step into the street and teach him the law. I stood silently thereafter until the situation calmed. As the police began to leave, a woman, Nikki, called out to me from the opposite side of the street. Nikki is an acquaintance I made through performing at a few open-mic competitions. I made it over to her by way of the crosswalk at the intersection of 43rd and J.C. Nichols Parkway, passing directly in front of a squad car stopped at the red light. Of the two officers in the car, one of their nametags read “Fletcher†and I recognized him to be the only officer who smoked cigarettes openly during the entire ordeal. I briefly spoke to Nikki, and she invited me to participate with her and the demonstrators as they marched further, their goal being to reach the Kansas City Board of Trade Building in a response to the G8 meetings. I told her that was their thing, and that I preferred to watch rather than get directly involved. She moved along Southbound to catch up with the demonstrators who had already proceeded on towards the Plaza. I maintained at least a 20-foot distance from the crowd throughout the entire demonstration. The marchers dispersed upon reaching their intended location, agreeing that they should reassemble at 12th Street and Locust to protest the arrests. At this point I decided to go home, so I turned around and headed Northbound towards my residence at 39th Street and Central.
Michael accompanied me during most of this time. His sister and I agreed that to view this march was a rare opportunity for him to get a real live lesson in civics. Upon reaching 39th Street and Broadway, both he and I were stopped by the police. We were told to put our hands on the hood of the car, and we were searched. An officer asked me my name, address, phone number and Social Security Number, also inquiring as to whether I had any warrants. I gave him my information and responded that I had no warrants. He asked my relation to Michael and I told him. He said I was contributing to his delinquency. He asked me why the demonstrators were protesting and I told him to the best of my knowledge. He asked me who organized the protest, and I said I didn’t know. I told him how I came to learn of the demonstration and how the public was informed through word of mouth, the Internet and posted bills. He said he knew something was going to happen tomorrow night, and wanted to know what information I could provide concerning it. I told him that I had no idea what he was talking about. He then asked why I was there, and I told him that I resolved to go as an independent observer, detached from the crowd, unwilling to be anything more than a concerned citizen. He said he didn’t believe me and that I was under arrest while handcuffing me. I asked him why, and he said it was because I was coming into this country to stir up trouble. I said, “What are you talking about? I’m from here.†He then said I was being arrested for leading and organizing the protest. I said, “But I was behind the crowd the whole time.†He said “Exactly.†As they loaded me into the van, I asked another officer why they were doing this, and he said I had the right to remain silent, so to be quiet. While sitting in the open van, the original arresting officer came to me and asked, “So, your name’s ‘BO-DREW’, huh?†I said, “Yes sir, my name is ‘BAH-DREW.’ He said, “Well then ‘BO-DREW,’ why are they calling you Michael?†He was referring to my girlfriend who had just arrived at the scene. I told him that Michael was the name of the young man with me. He then asked me if I was Arabic. I told him that I’m Black and White. He then sneeringly laughed at me and asked if it was a made-up name I’d adopted. I told him it was my birth name. He asked if I’d ever been arrested before, and I responded “No.†He said, “Well, you are now.†I asked him what the charge was and he said my arresting officer downtown would tell me and they proceed to take me to the police station.
In the elevator on the way to the booking area, they finally told me what the charges were: not using the sidewalk and not complying with the orders of an officer. My bail was set at $2000. I was released after my friends found a bondsman for me. I’ve tried to obtain a copy of the police report on the incident, but I was told at the police station that no such report exists. The officers issued me tickets, but never wrote out an actual report on the circumstances. This is not surprising to me, considering the charges against me were fabricated.
I’m currently organizing a Hip Hop fundraiser to help pay for a lawyer. I can be contacted at 913-226-1314, if you’d like to help in any way. Since the incident, I’ve had to create a new email address, because my original account has been suspiciously rendered inactive or shut down for unknown reasons. If anyone reading this could email or forward this statement to everyone you know, I’d greatly appreciate it. The officer’s name on my tickets is Huth, his Serial Number is 4755 and his Unit Number is 185. On my tickets he described my ethnicity to be White, disregarding what I told him, (possibly doing this to avoid being held accountable for the obvious racial profiling that occurred.)
- Jul 29, 2005 07:12pm by spits_at_mirrors Location: Kansas Shitty, MO
MARK YOUR CALENDARS JUL 31 and AUG 9
Here's some additional info from Dru:
This Sunday, Alan is going to turn the Peanut's usual spinning spree into a fundraiser for my legal defense fund. I think it's on 9th St. just off of Broadway. The event that I've got to throw, though, is going to be @ Jilly's on August 9th, Tuesday night. I have to work the next morning too, so don't trip. I thought it could go DJ-MC-DJ-MC on 20 to 30 minute sets from 8:00p to 1:30a. Whoever's down, call me at 913.226.1314. If I saw all 4 elements there, that would make my orphan heart sing. All dough at the door would go to a retainer for an attorney. Someone told me about setting up a PAY PAL account so folks could help donate, that should be done by Monday. This has been really awkward and stressfull time for me, ya'll, so I appreciate all the love ya'll have been showin.
Other stuff besides acts: passing out flyers, constantly alerting the MEDIA, contacting an attorney who's willing to tackle this and not bleed me dry, GETTING LAWRENCE KIDS TO ROLL DOWN HERE FOR A CHANGE, folks to work security, peeps with crafts to sell, food getters and cookers, basically, ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP SHOW THE POLICE THAT THEY ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW.
peAce, dru
