Dear Friends,

(Please share this with your friends and concerned citizens!)

As many of you may have heard, the owners of YEMA, a black owned clothing store in downtown Tiburon, were racially profiled and harassed by working late in their store on Saturday night by Tiburon and Belvedere police officers.  This, in combination with the racist statement that Tiburon Police Chief Cronin issued against Marin City and Black Live Matters protests has caused much outrage in Tiburon, Belvedere and Marin County.  Here is a short KTVU news video and The Ark news article, both of which provide the background of the police harassment.

The most interesting fact that The Ark turned up was that the Tiburon officer involved in the incident, Michael Blasi, hired a year ago, was involved in an arrest that resulted in death by the arresting officers.  This is who our police chief hired to serve and protect our community.    I did a simple google search to find this.

We need to demand background searches that will reveal violence and racism before entrusting our residents and visitors to police officers with guns and unmitigated power.  It makes me question what else is in the backgrounds of our other officers and Police Chief. 

We need to hold our town council accountable for hiring police officers without a violent or racist past, to setting the culture of respect in our police force, and to providing training to help our officers work in very difficult situations without racism and violence.   

CALL TO ACTION!

PLEASE HELP US ENSURE A SAFE AND UNBIASED POLICE FORCE

1. Attend the Tiburon Town Hall Zoom to Tiburon Town Council & Belvedere City Council Virtual Town Hall & Community Forum.   

WE NEED A BIG TURNOUT!

The Town Council of Tiburon and City Council of Belvedere will conduct a special virtual Town Hall-Community Forum on Thursday, August 27, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. Staff will provide a brief update on actions taken subsequent to an incident involving police officers from Tiburon and Belvedere and the owners of Yema, a black-owned business in downtown Tiburon. The meeting will then provide an opportunity for members of the community to comment and provide constructive ideas as part of an effort to develop actionable steps that allow us to learn from this experience and create a community that is more inclusive, equitable and welcoming to all. The meeting will be held on Zoom. To join, click the link or use the call-in number below. Audio/Video Webinar: https://zoom.us/j/95644043303 Webinar ID: 956 4404 3303 Call-in Number: +1 669 900 6833 Access Code: 956 4404 3303 Members of the public may submit comments to the Councils in advance of the meeting by sending an email to comments@townoftiburon.org.

2. Join A Black Lives Matter Peaceful Protest on Saturday, led by my dear friend Paul Austin from Marin City.  We will begin at NOON AT THE REED SCHOOL in Tiburon and walk to the police department and let them know that policing policies and procedures do matter in Tiburon!  Let’s then walk to downtown Tiburon and show Yema and the other Tiburon stores and restaurants our support. Flyer attached.

 3. Write a letter to The Ark Editor, Kevin Hessel, editor@thearknewspaper.com and/or the town council.  We need to be heard. Due noon on this Friday or next!  The town council members emails are on the Town of Tiburon website.

 4. Shop at Yema!  They have fabulous, unique clothes, and amazing T-shirts with Tiburon love and that support immigrants.   

Please let me know if you have questions, and pass to your friends.  It is easy to attend a Zoom!

 Sending love and peace,

 Laura