[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 17822-17823]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     POLICE BRUTALITY; PROSTITUTION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BERNARD SANDERS

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 26, 1999

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to have printed in the Record 
statements by high school students from my home State of Vermont, who 
were speaking at my recent town meeting on issues facing young people 
today. I am asking that you please insert these statements in the 
Congressional Record as I believe that the views of these young persons 
will benefit my colleagues.

                            Police Brutality

 (On behalf of Chris Callahan, Ingrid O'Reilly, Chris Lancaster, Reah 
                         Greico and Andy Weber)

       Ingrid O'Reilly: To serve, honor and protect. It's a phrase 
     that is supposed to be a representation of police forces all 
     over America. They serve the American people, but do they 
     really honor and protect them? By definition, honor means to 
     regard or to treat with respect. But it seems that the police 
     officers that harassed Officer Aaron Campbell of Florida were 
     not respecting him, never mind honoring him.
       Then there is the question of protect. Americans depend on 
     officers in the time of danger, but for Amadou Diallo, he 
     lost his life when four New York City officers emptied their 
     entire rounds on him because he looked suspicious. Is our law 
     enforcement system covered by a blue curtain and our officers 
     put on a pedestal, or is the law enforcement just getting a 
     bad reputation for a few mistakes?
       Chris Callahan: Aaron Campbell, a 26-year veteran of the 
     Miami Dade Police Department, was pulled over and charged 
     with a traffic violation. Campbell didn't believe that he was 
     pulled over because of any traffic violation, but was a 
     victim of racial profiling. Campbell resisted arrest, and 
     later was accused of assaulting a police officer.
       Campbell was successful in convincing the jury that racial 
     profiling is an everyday occurrence. He was later acquitted 
     of all charges, except for resisting arrest. The fact that 
     Campbell was a police officer helped his case significantly. 
     Imagine the victims who are not professionally affiliated 
     with the legal system, and the difficulty that they have 
     proving their innocence.
       Reah Greico: On February 4, 1999, Amadou Diallo, a 22-year-
     old African immigrant, was shot and killed by four white 
     policemen. Officers pleaded not guilty to the murder, 
     believing that Diallo looked like a sketch of a serial 
     rapist, and that he was reaching for a gun. The four officers 
     were indicted for second-degree murder.
       While the murder of Amadou Diallo is not believed to have 
     been an intentional case of police brutality, it shows how 
     susceptible minorities are to police prejudices and 
     brutalities.
       Andy Weber: Since police enforcement began, there has 
     always been some form of brutality or misuse of power. While 
     there is no one solution to end brutality, many organizations 
     and plans have been adopted to control this problem. Many 
     precincts are waging heavier fines, longer suspensions, and 
     even dismissals for officers convicted of brutality.
       However, these actions should not even be happening. 
     Therefore, many ideas have brought forth on how to prevent 
     the brutality. The most popular of these ideas is community 
     policing. Recently, the Los Angeles Police Department 
     instituted a community policing program, which a report 
     explains by the following: The catalyst for moving the 
     department away from the faceless militaristic organization, 
     toward a 21st century model that is more compatible and 
     interactive with local communities.
       Lastly, one of the most important ways to end police 
     brutality is the destruction of the blue curtain. Though this 
     is the easiest solution, it is also the hardest to actually 
     carry out.
       Chris Lancaster: Both brutality and corruption among law 
     enforcement agencies have always been problems. Fortunately, 
     today, it has been acknowledged that these problems exist, 
     and this is the first step towards any possible resolution. 
     These are problems that cannot be solved by any one policy or 
     program, and programs such as the Los Angeles Community 
     Policing Program are simply the beginning.
       As for the blue curtain, it is time to realize that, while 
     such a code may strengthen the bonds and camaraderie among 
     police officers, it is no excuse to withhold the truth. 
     Taking a definitive stance on eliminating the blue curtain 
     will end a large percentage of corruption among police, and 
     will lead to a more productive, constructive relationship 
     between the police and the public.
       Congressman Sanders: Good job.


       
                                  ____
                              Prostitution

(On behalf of Lynn Clough, Angela DeBlasio, Kayla Gildersleeve and Tess 
                                Grossi)

       Lynn Clough: Prostitution is a major concern and a policy 
     issue for many countries, including the United States. 
     Prostitution is defined as a relatively indiscriminate 
     sexually exchange made for material gain. Persons prostitute 
     themselves when they grant sexual access for money, gifts or 
     other forms of payment, and in doing so, use their bodies as 
     a commodity. In legal terms, the world ``prostitute'' refers 
     only to those who engage frequently and overtly in such 
     sexual economic exchanges.
       Prostitution is now illegal for most of the United States. 
     Prostitution is wrong. It spreads deadly diseases such as 
     AIDS, promotes violence and cruelty, and minorities are 
     involved for the easy way out. The violence is terrible and 
     inhumane, but the prostitutes have to deal with it. 
     Currently, if a prostitute is murdered, the police wouldn't 
     make a big priority of it, but it really needs to be.
       The government has to realize that prostitution is still 
     happening and is not going to ever stop. Wise governments 
     will accept that

[[Page 17823]]

     paid sex is ineradicable and concentrate on keeping the 
     business clean, safe and inconspicuous. Prostitution is not 
     going to go away and it needs to be taken care of.
       Angela DeBlasio: Many people know that prostitution is 
     illegal, but they find that they have sexual needs. They know 
     they can't get a prostitute, so they try and pick up fellow 
     workers, which brings up sexual harassment. The United States 
     holds a huge sexual harassment problem. Sexual harassment is 
     one of the fastest expanding areas of American law.
       The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which handles 
     sexual harassment complaints, in 1991 handled over 6,000 
     cases, and in 1997 close to 16,000. If prostitution was legal 
     and open for business, would there be any reason for sexual 
     harassment cases?
       Kayla Gildersleeve: One would wonder, if prostitution is 
     going on anyway, why legalize it? The answer is simple. If 
     prostitution is legalized, then the government would be in 
     charge, and there would be great protection from diseases and 
     violence. Also, there wouldn't be any unprotected prostitutes 
     on the streets, and they would get paid, not the pimps.
       Tess Grossi: Prostitution has been a part of life 
     throughout history, and what would make the government think 
     that making it illegal will stop it? The sex industry is 
     exposed to many of the forces that normal businesses must 
     contend with, but will it ever become a normal and respected 
     part of society? History suggests that it might. Throughout 
     history, there have been all forms of prostitution, including 
     legal prostitution.
       Again, prostitution causes deadly diseases to spread more 
     rapidly, and there is great violence and inhumanity involved. 
     All of these problems can be eradicated if the government 
     would legalize it. The government is the only answer to 
     solving the problem. Prostitution will never go away. 
     Therefore, the government should legalize prostitution.
       Lynn Clough: The people and the prostitutes are afraid to 
     go to the government for help, and so the government needs to 
     go to them.
       Thank you.

       

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