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AADM Justice Reform  

Newsletter

Welcome to the Justice Reform Newsletter!
AADM wants to keep you updated on what's going on in the community and how YOU can get involved in the fight for racial justice and equity.
That's why every second week of the month, we will be publishing a "Justice Reform" newsletter to highlight what is happening in the community, the impact of activism, and the Public Safety Civilian Oversight Board. The Justice Reform committee works hard to compile this information for our readers to gain insight into whats really going on in the Classic City.

"On January 7, 2023, less than three years after George Floyd's death, 29-year-old Tyre Nichols was viciously beaten by five police officers, which caused him to be hospitalized. This incident caused Nichols' death three days later. This was just another example of the failures of our criminal justice system, and we must DEMAND justice for Tyre Nichols and for all the lives lost due to police brutality. "

Join AADM for a rally in remembrance of Tyre Nichols and in support of justice for Black Lives. Bring signs, flowers or candles, and your peers.

Read our full statement here: https://www.aadmovement.org/justice-for-tyre-nichols-and-all-victims-of-police-brutality/

AADM Statement
Link to Survey

What’s Happening in your Community

Fostering Accountability & Transparency in Athens Policing
Updates on the PSCOB

The Public Safety Civilian Oversight Board (PSCOB) met for the first time this year on Wednesday, January 25th, 2023. The PSCOB is a civilian-led Athens-Clarke County Board who will have the ability to review cases of potential misconduct and make recommendations to law enforcement agencies. AADM has been advocating for years to have the community’s voice heard in incidents of potential police abuse of power, and this Board provides an important opportunity to do so. Click here to learn more.

This meeting centered around the interview process for the PSCOB Monitor, a key position in ACCGOV that will work closely with the board to process internal police investigations and complaints. The position is extremely important for the board because processing complaints cannot happen until this position is filled. 

Mayor Girtz and Commissioner Dexter Fisher, the new PSCOB representative on the Government Operations Committee (GOC), were present at the meeting. Despite pressure and persistence from PSCOB, Mayor Girtz refused to allow PSCOB’s presence at the traditionally closed, government-only interview for the Monitor position. After several hours of back and forth between Mayor Girtz and the board, Girtz denied every request from PSCOB to be present at the interview. There is no law nor legal reason as to why PSCOB cannot be at this interview. The board naturally needs to have a say in whom the Monitor will be because of how important this position is for their work.

The most Mayor Girtz was willing to offer for participation in the hiring process was the option for the board to create questions or scenarios for the auditor candidates to respond to during the closed interview. Therefore, for their next meeting, PSCOB decided to start creating questions and scenarios for the interview, and they also began preparing for outreach on social media networks. 

 

AADM Bailout  Story

Our Freedom Fund team has experienced an increase in awareness and publicity within the Athens community. Freedom Fund has been able to smoothly conduct its operations largely due to its phone number becoming more accessible within the Athens justice system and to incarcerated individuals and their families, as well as to the efficiency of the team working on it.Through a recent partnership with Shane Sims of Modern Pathways to Recovery/People Living in Recovery, we were able to help place one of our clients after they were released from incarceration into an inpatient recovery program, where he will have access to resources and guidance to assist him in rebuilding

The work of spreading our information to aid those currently incarcerated should continue.We provide wrap around services pertaining to bailout and probation. We encourage people who are on probation or have volunteered with our community service team to reach out to share their stories and testimonies.

Justice Reform Trivia


Did you know that PSCOB meetings are recorded and available to watch online at: https://www.accgov.com/10285/Public-Safety-Civilian-Oversight-Board

 Find meeting agendas, minutes, and recordings at the ACCGov website above.

Community Meetings
Mayor & Commission Meeting
Date: February 7th
Location: Athens 
City Hall, Room 301B, 301 College Avenue, Athens, GA 30601
Time: 6pm

Government Operations Committee Meeting
Date: February 13th
Location: Athens City Hall, 301 College Avenue, Athens, GA, 30601
Time: 1pm


Public Civilian Oversight Community Meeting 
Date: February 22nd 
Location:
City Hall, Room 301B, 301 College Avenue, Athens, GA 30601
Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm
AADM will be holding two Pop-Ups very soon!!
Join us on February and March 17th at the Triangle Plaza from 2:00pm-5:00pm. This will be a great opportunity to learn about the Public Safety Civilian Oversight Board and the services AADM provides for the community.
Looking forward to seeing y'all there!
Join AADM for our second annual walk in memorial and remembrance of Ahmaud Arbery. Ahmaud was murdered after jogging for 2.23 miles in Brunswick, GA. His death was a result of being racially profiled by a group of three white men, who were later convicted of a hate crime in the murder. Our walk is a reminder that freedom is not guaranteed and that Ahmaud's life mattered. You may bring signs, flowers, candles, or any other items appropriate to honor the life of Ahmaud.
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Freedom Fund
DID YOU KNOW
When you make a donation to AADM, you can choose where you want your money to go?
You can choose the General Fund, Athens Freedom Fund which supports our bail-out & legal fees services, or the Youth Justice Fund, which supports our End School-to-Prison Pipeline program and our Teen Social Justice Club youth apprenticeship program!
Support AADM Here!
Volunteer

Our Justice Reform Committee is looking for new members
If you are interested in dismantling the cycle of systemic racism and oppression the Justice Reform Committee is the place for you. The committee meets every Monday at 6 pm via zoom. 

  • Members must treat each other with love and respect
  • Spread the word about AADM campaigns and programs (by word of mouth or on social media)
  • Pledge to take action and peacefully protest against racial and social injustices
Returning Volunteer
New Volunteer
BECOME A SUBSCRIBED DONOR
From Our Partners
Georgia Conflict Center is hosting a 1-day in-person Restorative Circle Facilitation training, led by one of the nation's leading experts, Janice Jerome.  Participants will first read and work through Ms. Jerome's Simple Restorative Circles Workbook, a prerequisite for participating in this training. Then, participants will participate in a 1-day training to reflect and practice.
RSVP for the Restorative Circle Facilitation
REGISTER FOR COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES FOR SOCIAL CHANGE






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Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement · PO Box 49096 · Athens Ga · Athens, GA 30604-9096 · USA

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