b'COMMUITYShow-Ups: An Invitation to ActionBy Sharon Battle tinue, we feel a call to action.On Thursday, November 14, at 6:00 O n Thursday November 14th fromp.m., you are invited to participate in 6:00-7:30 at Shorter AME Church,a large multi-faith public meeting on we are gathering community members,racial justice at Shorter AME Church faithleaders,lawenforcement,andinParkHill.Thisgatheringistak-elected/appointedofficialstoaddressingplacetobuildabridgebetween atroublingpolicingprocedurethatcommunitiesofcolorandthepolice criminalizesblack,brown,andpoorbyaskinglocalandstateofficialsto people disproportionately. Our hope issupport legislation and modify specific to collaborate with our elected officialspolicies designed to keep our commu-for meaningful criminal justice reform.nitiessafe.Themeetingwillparticu-MynameisSharon,Iworkwithlarlyfocusonendingthepracticeof Together Colorado as a volunteer orga- show-upidentifications,inwhicha nizer and core leader. In May 2018 mysuspect is presented singly to a crime 17 year old son was detained and wasvictim.Show-upsdisproportionately arrested at gunpoint in Montbello. Heaffectcommunitiesofcolorandfre-was, and is innocent. Arrested becausequentlyleadtomisidentificationand he was walking while black. When awrongfulconvictionofsuspects.Our show-upwasconductedonhim,thegoal is to have 1,000 community mem-witness misidentified him within 4 andbers in attendance at this event. a half seconds from 50 feet away. HePlease join me at this event. Can I wasjailedandfacedfelonychargescount on you as part of our commu-that could result in a punishment ofnity to hold our city officials account-2-6 years in prison. ableandworkwithourcommunity Fortunately,throughthehelpofmembers,faithleaders,lawenforce-someofthemembersofthisFaithment,andelected/appointedofficials LeaderCaucusandothermembersto address this troubling policing pro-ofTogetherColorado,chargeswerecedure. Our hope is to collaborate with droppedafterthepre-trialhearingourelectedofficialsformeaningful justbeforehiscasewenttotrial.criminal justice reform. We need you. Our family and friends celebrated! WeBelow is a brief summary of a Show- thankGodandourFaithpartners.Up identification, and its challenges.My family is still traumatized! My sonPleaseRSVPyourattendancefor was severely traumatized. We are con- 11/14 to Sharon via email, battleswin@cerned that this procedure continuesgmail.com. Or 720-495-6892. Join us, to be practiced by Denver Police andThursdayevening,November14th departmentsacrossthenation.Wefrom 6:00-7:30 at Shorter Community feelthatshow-upsareaviolationofAMEChurch,3100RichardAllen our values and a threat to our BelovedCT. Denver, CO 80205. Organized by Communities. Because show-ups con- Together Colorado. What\'s a Show-Up? tions increases. This is called the A Show-Up (field identification) is anCross Race Effect and is particu-identification procedure used when alarly significant when the suspect suspect has been detained, soon afteris black. This effect has been stud-the commission of an offense, becauseied and validated many timeshe/sheresemblesthedescriptionof MassIncarceration-Whenshow-the perpetrator provided by an eyewit- ups are combined with the tenden-ness.cy for prosecutors to plea bargain, Theeyewitnessisthenallowedtothere is a likelihood of an innocent view the suspect so that a positive orperson taking the plea deal rather negative identification can be made. than plead their innocence in court believing the showup identification Whats wrong with SHOW-UPS? isirrefutable.Also,manyclientsShow-Ups are unreliable- The U.S.do not have the financial resources SupremeCourthassaidprac- to go to court.tice of showing suspects singly to Investigationsofthecrimestop- persons for the purpose of identi- Whenamisidentificationoccurs, fication, and not as part of a line- thecrimeisoftenconsidered up, has been widely condemned."solved leaving the actual perpetra-(Stovallv.Denno,388U.S.293tor free to commit more crimes.(1967).) Showups can easily bias a witness-JOIN US IN PROTESTAs a criminal defense attorney putThursdayevening,November itNothing,shortoftellingthe14thfrom6pm-7:30pmatShorter witness who committed the crime,CommunityAMEChurch,3100 couldbemoresuggestivethanRichard Allen CT. Denver, CO 80205presentingasingle,in-custody personforidentification.Further,T o g e t h e r regardlessofwhatpoliceofficersColorado is a non-say, an unsure witness might feelpartisan,multi-pressure to point the finger at theracial,multi-faith person on display. WrongfulConviction-Thecommunityorga-Innocence Projects estimates thatnizationcom-70%exonerationsthroughDNAprisedof220 involvederroneouseyewitnesscongregations, identifications.Ofalleyewitnessschools,clergy identificationprocedures(lineup,and faith leaders photoarray+showups),showupsacrossthestate are the least reliable. and a member of Faith in Action withRacialbias-Whentheraceof1,000religiouscongregationsinmore the victim and suspect differ, thethan 200 cities and towns through its occurrence of mistaken identifica- 45 local and state federationsBODY OF CHRIST NEWS NOVEMBER 2019 13'