NAN’s Statement Regard the Armory Square Arrest of Uniyah Chatman
The culture of policing must be considered. What is going on that causes the police to react to a young woman with such brute force that have a press conference by the Syracuse Police and the first statement is a comparison of what happened to Uniyah Chatman to the state of affairs in Memphis? The National Action Network, Syracuse Chapter admonishes that observation of the law be observed, and should an infraction to law take place, an appearance ticket should be issued or an arrest. A young woman experienced the trauma of not only being arrested but now is healing from what is being minimalized a wound to her head, a “wound” that resulted in more than 50 stitches, a Severe concussion and muscle trauma to her neck. There is so much more to be considered than what is being shown in the segmented footage shown. However in this matter Uniyah Chatman cannot be demonized in the court of public opinion when a full and transparent disclosure of all information regarding excessive force. This incident is a clarion call that something must be done. There are several things that must be addressed! The lack of body worn cameras by all of the officers, especially the officer in question, how can an officer be involved in such an egregious act without immediate repercussions. How is it that 15 officers were dispatched to a petty larceny call? That alone seems like excessive force. For one person? Should one break the law, there is a protocol to resolution yet, when there is over the top excessive force what then is to be done within the department to bring about a change of actions and public accountability.
