** ACTION ALERT**
CANTE TISA – STRONGHEART CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
Contact: Duane Martin Sr. (605) 454-0449 or cante13@goldenwest.net
DEMAND JUSTICE FOR INDIAN FAMILY BRUTALIZED BY OMAHA POLICE
Pekas Family and Neighborhood Minister Violently Beaten, Pepper-Sprayed,
Following Police Abuse of Teenager
Take action now! The police brutality of Indian people must stop!
Contact City of Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey and Chief of Police Thomas Warren
and demand accountability for the violent police action against Diane
Pekas, her children, and local minister Anthony Yates. Insist on a full
investigation by an independent police auditor. (full background of the
incident follows Action items below)
** ACTION ONE **
Call and email Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey at (402) 444-5000 and
mfahey@ci.omaha.ne.us. Demand that all the officers responsible in the
Pekas incident are suspended pending a full investigation by an
independent police auditor. If guilty, all officers must be fired and
tried for their actions. Respectful but firm phone calls are most
effective, then send emails.
** ACTION TWO **
Call Omaha PD Sheriff Thomas Warren at (402) 444-5600. Demand immediate
suspension of all officers involved in the Pekas incident pending a full
and independent investigation by a police auditor. Insist all officers
participate in training on how to effectively work with Omaha’s diverse
communities.
** ACTION THREE **
Contact City of Omaha City Council members and demand the reinstatement of
an independent police auditor position. Be persistent in showing how the
Pekas family incident is the exact reason why an independent law
enforcement review auditor is needed in Omaha.
District 1: Jim Suttle
(402) 444-5527
jsuttle@ci.omaha.ne.us
District 2: Frank Brown
(402) 444-5524
fbrown@ci.omaha.ne.us
District 3: Jim Vokal
(402) 444-5525
jvokal@ci.omaha.ne.us
District 4: Garry Gernandt (Council Vice-President)
(402) 444-5522
ggernandt@ci.omaha.ne.us
District 5: Dan Welch (Council President)
(402) 444-5528
dwelch@ci.omaha.ne.us
District 6: Franklin Thompson
(402) 444-5523
fthompson@ci.omaha.ne.us
District 7: Chuck Sigerson, Jr.
(402) 444-5526
csigerson@ci.omaha.ne.us
BACKGROUND
On October 21st, Cal and Diane Pekas called 911 when they feared their 17
year old teenage son, Dakota, had overdosed on drugs and become suicidal.
Cal Pekas Jr. is social services director at Lincoln Indian Center.
But when the Omaha police arrived, an officer recognized Dakota from a
previous altercation and began beating the youth, including slamming his
head through a wall. The family objected to this violence and an estimated
20 additional officers were called. With the exception of their daughter,
all five members of the Pekas family, including a 13 year old boy, were
physically beaten by the police and the entire family was pepper sprayed
and arrested for suspicion of disorderly conduct and obstructing a police
officer.
Anthony Yates, an African American minister from across the street was
also beaten and arrested when he tried to peacefully intervene as Diane
Pekas was being manhandled on the lawn.
All have since been released. Omaha Police Chief Thomas Warren blames the
family, accuses them of being drunk, and says the officers did nothing
wrong.
The Strongheart Warrior Society of the Oglala Lakota is working with the
Pekas family and local African American and Chicano community
organizations to demand justice and accountability. Take action now to
demand justice for the Pekas family and help end police violence in Omaha,
Nebraska! Take those three simple actions right now!
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