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Covering the Margins, Part III: Racial Normalization in Buffalo
By Kali Villarosa
In the third installment of her Covering the Margins project, supported by a fellowship from the NY6 Upstate-Global Collective, Kali Villarosa takes a close look at news coverage of problems affecting African American communities on Buffalo's East Side. She finds a significant difference between the coverage provided by the city's two most influential news outlets (WBFO and The Buffalo News, respectively), on the one hand, and the city's African American newspaper (The Challenger Community News), on the other. The latter outlet, she argues, "stands as the guide for what should be incorporated into the more mainstream outlets and also points us toward the realization that individuals themselves must question their news sources, their content, and the impact of these coverage patterns on their city."
Interweaving: Gene Grabiner on Police Reform in Buffalo and Beyond
By Steve Peraza
In the latest installment of our ongoing Interweaving series of in-depth conversations, Weave News reporter Steve Peraza speaks with Dr. Gene Grabiner, a SUNY distinguished service professor emeritus whose work addresses issues of social justice and social class. Their discussion focused on policing and the possibilities for meaningful police reform, particularly in Buffalo, NY.
Buffalo PBA VP Blog Post Threatens Cop Violence Against Civilians
By Gene Grabiner
In a July 2016 blog post that he refused to take down, Buffalo Police Benevolent Association (PBA) vice president John Evans said of civilian demonstrators: “Comply with our orders and you won't get yourself killed. Enough!!!” It’s not enough that demonstrators’ First Amendment rights have already been eroded and circumscribed with the creation of ‘Free Speech Zones.’ Now, exercise of First Amendment rights may be met with police deadly force. Is this a terroristic threat?
Jim Crow on Campus, Episode 3: “Dashawn and Andre”
By Erin Corbine
Investigative reporter Erin Corbine uncovers the story of Dashawn and Andre in episode 3 of Jim Crow on Campus. In the episode, rising sophomore Dashawn and SUNY Canton alum/former employee Andre, recount an experience with University Police that started with a haircut, but ended with two young men of color in handcuffs.
Rally for Justice: February 9, 2017, Buffalo, NY
By Steve Peraza
Follow-up to our earlier report from Steve Peraza: On Thursday evening, community leaders shut down traffic in downtown Buffalo at a rally protesting the death of Wardel “Meech” Davis, an unarmed black man who died in police custody the night of February 7th. Here are some of the sights and sounds.
Buffalo: Blood on Your Hands
By Steve Peraza
My name is Steve Peraza, and I am an unarmed black man who lives in Buffalo, New York. Until recently city leaders promised that I had nothing to fear from police. The proof? No one had died in police custody. All that changed on Tuesday night.
Jim Crow on Campus, Episode 2: "Ashley"
By Erin Corbine
In this episode of Jim Crow on Campus, reporter Erin Corbine sits down with “Ashley.” Ashley, who’s using an alias out of fear of retaliation from police and the administration, is a senior at SUNY Canton. She sheds light on her experiences involving University Police. In this episode, we gain insight into the officers’ strategic circumvention of the Fourth Amendment - the freedom from unreasonable search and seizure.
Jim Crow on Campus, Episode 1: "Tyreek"
By Christian Exoo
In the first episode of the new Jim Crow on Campus podcast series, reporter Erin Corbine talks to student Tyreek Alicea about his experiences with the SUNY Canton police. We learn what additional powers SUNY Canton police have over students, how they use them, what a “module” is, and Tyreek’s tips for not attracting the attention of the cops.
The Pledge of Resistance in Buffalo, NY
By Steve Peraza
This article is the first contribution to Beyond Broken Windows, a new Weave News project that explores the impacts of the “broken windows” style of policing, which encourages police officers to use arrests and citations to regulate outward signs of disorder (like broken windows). The project will also examine reform initiatives and issue campaigns nationwide that seek to implement alternative styles of policing.