Reuben Simmons Speaks Out On Racial Identification In Elementary School; Mixed Race; Seeing Racial Inequality From Within Beacon

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This speaker is sharing during the 3rd protest march on Beacon that happened on June 6, 2020. The march started at Pohill Park, wound all the way down Wolcott, taking a right toward the river, over the bridge above the train track, and ending at the land stage at Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park.

To bring this story out of the video and into words for more to access, A Little Beacon Blog has transcribed this story as best we can, as close to the spoken word as possible. To give you context, we indicate where different actions took place, like applause or movement. We highly encourage you to watch this spoken in the video, so that you can feel the moment and the words and remember it forever as it helps you make future decisions. You can listen and watch this story in our Instagram here.

BEGIN

Good afternoon, everybody.

Malcolm X said: “My accomplishments will outweigh all my personal and human weaknesses.” Please keep that in mind as I speak to you.

I feel obligated to share my story. My name is Reuben Simmons, known by most people in this community as Yogi. Coach Yogi. I coach Beacon Pop Warner. I coach Beacon Hoops. I see some of my players out here. I went to South Avenue, Rombout, and graduated from the OLD High School. I got my Associates degree from Dutchess Community College in Criminal Justice. I got my Bachelors Degree in Sociology from the Catholic University of America located in Washington DC.

I wanna thank the organizers for the protest on Monday and this protest today. Two peaceful protests that I’m proud to have in my city. I didn’t see pictures of looting or any broken windows or anything that caused any destruction.

I also wanna give a thanks to all the police officers. I see the City of Beacon, I see possibly state troopers, and I see also the Town of Fishkill. They helped block the roads for us to have that peaceful march and I know that we’re having this battle with the officers. It’s not all officers so I would like to thank them also.

I wanna share a story with you. Which means I’m gonna have to get real with you. Everything I announced, that all sounds good. I got kicked out of Beacon Hoops. I had a bad attitude. I went to Albany for a semester. Just like my brother Ali talked about. Albany wasn’t a place for people who came from Beacon. Beacon was a great place.

Beacon was so unique and I always say that. Albany taught me something that I was taught at South Avenue that I just didn’t know. I am mixed race. My mom is Italian-Irish and my dad is Black. South Avenue, they wanted to send me to a school called Beta, and I wanted to go. I fought every day. They said that’s what you can do at Beta. It was Mr. Vorbach (crowd sourced spell check needed), my principal. A white man. An older white man, who said: “He’s not goin’. And I was upset. I thank him.

In 1st grade, we had the school staff come in each classroom and count every kid by their race. Miss Kim Faison, she saunters in my classroom. Everybody feared Kim Faison…Great lady. She asked all the white kids to stand up. I go to stand up. But I’m halfway standing up. She looks at me and says “Not you.” She asked all the black kids to stand up, then she looks at me and said, “Now you.”

I didn’t pay attention to these two lessons in elementary school but it caught up to me when I went to Albany. I was walking with one of my best friends, a white guy. He was drinking a beer. I wasn’t into beer then, not drinking. Cops pull over. Tell us to stop. I ain’t doin’ nothin’. I keep walking. He’s talking to me and my friend. My friend tells the officer, “Oh officer, I apologize.” He said, “I’m not taking to you.” Grabs me by the back, puts a baton to me.

Now I knew I had something illegal in my pocket, so I knew I shoulda ran, but I wasn’t doing anything. Whatever, I’ll take the consequences. I get to the station. They asked me “What’s your name?” Reuben Simmons. “Where you from?” I’m from Beacon. “What’s your race?” I studied criminal justice. I knew white people get lesser charges. And I am white. I’m just as white as I am black. I’m white. That officer tells me, HE tells ME, “You’re either Black or Hispanic.” I said, ‘What does that mean?’ He said, “Don’t tell me you’re white.”

I grew up in a single parent household. My mother. How you gonna tell me I ain’t white, besides the fact that I’m labeled that way in society? In a community that I wasn’t even accepted in the black community. I wasn’t accepted in a white community. By the time I got to high school, I had to find my own lane. And it just so happens DMX dropped that same year, so, self explanatory. So I’m a let anyone who’s mixed race in here, in the eyes of the law, in the eyes of society, you ain’t white. You black. And that is wrong. That’s why I’m proud to be here today and see this mixture of races here today. Because I know different races go through it, and different religions go through it.

I started an organization called I AM BEACON. Today it’s a 501-c3 non-profit organization established in the state of New York. One of my biggest supporters is the Key Food grocery store. And they get the same thing because they’re Muslim. It hurts my heart to speak to you at this time because of the circumstances that brought us all together. People who did not have to die. But this will be an opportunity that I think that we should not fold or let stop. That’s why I keep thanking the organizers of this protest because they’re young. I was young. Relatively still am.

I was labeled a leader in the community and in a union. I was blackballed Colin Kaepernick’d out of my union because I’m young and I got my own mind and my own vision. Because older people wanna tell you what to do, when to do it and how to do it and that’s not gonna happen, not in the generation of the new millennium. So the only thing I wanna offer to the young is to share my experience, to share my story, and just together put everything in a collaborative effort.

My parents, they were raised in the racial riots in this city. The 50s, 60s, and the race riots in 1970. If you were born and raised up in the mountains, you didn’t mess with the Blacks down in the city. As this city had started to grow, I started to see where the problem was. it wasn’t old Beacon and new Beacon. it was certain people in Beacon who were upset that they weren’t getting the way that they had for the last 10, 20, 30, 40 damn years.
— Reuben Simmons

I’m gonna wrap it up. I was born in Beacon before the hospital closed. I was raised in Beacon in the 80s and the 90s when nobody wanted to be IN Beacon. I worked for this city, so I see the racial inequality from within. I already told you I was a union leader. I served 18 months as a Superintendent in the Highway [Department]. Union management. And for the last 3 years, I’ve been taking on a personal battle that I’m not gonna give up on. Because it’s affecting me. I see it affecting other people. I wanted to stand up for other people but one thing you can’t do, you can’t fight for other people that don’t want to fight for themselves.

I’ve seen white workers bring guns into the workplace, knowing that we have racial tension and nothin’ get done. I seen white workers get upset about supervisor referring to the black workers as “the nigger” and they get transferred and put in another department to where they feel comfortable. I’ve been in meetings with the city, with 100% of the black workers there telling them their issues, and nothing getting done but more harassment, more retaliation, and more disciplines in their goddamn file.

I ain’t putting up with it no more. And as I look out in this crowd, if the support is there for what’s going on in this city, I’ll stand with you and I’ll stand with any organizers who’s willing to fight that battle.

Another thing I’m gonna take this opportunity to clear up: when I started I AM BEACON, there was all this hoopla on “Well I’m from Beacon because I’ve lived here.” “You’re not from Beacon, you’re from Brooklyn, you just moved here.” Understand my philosophy for I AM BEACON. The Why and the I is self accountability and self responsibility. I don’t care who you are, where you’re from, what you do, if you’re in this city, if you’re in this community, if you wanna volunteer, if you wanna get involved, I AM BEACON’s doors is open to you.

There’s “Coffee With Cops,” there’s workshops. We wanna talk with cops. We wanna build a community relations. I’m glad that conversation is coming up because I was there 4 years ago. I AM BEACON had a separate committee called BEACON SPEAKS OUT when Trayvon Martin and the Ferguson rallies were going on. We did it. We sent the recommendations in to the police.

The #1: Community Policing. Get the out the goddamn car and start walking these streets. It barely happened. So no, I’m not interested in sitting down again. I’m a man of action. So if we’re gonna do it again, let’s just make sure our voices are really heard but that we hold them accountable.
— Reuben Simmons

Last 3 years, the fights that I’ve been having internally, it ain’t from people who just got to Beacon. Let me give you a little bit of history. I was born in the 80s and 90s. Hip hop culture. Sex money and drugs. My parents, they were raised in the racial riots in this city. The 50s, 60s, and the race riots in 1970. If you were born and raised up in the mountains, you didn’t mess with the Blacks down in the city.

As this city had started to grow, I started to see where the problem was. it wasn’t old Beacon and new Beacon. it was certain people in Beacon who were upset that they weren’t getting the way that they had for the last 10, 20, 30, 40 damn years. And I don’t see a different Beacon. I see a built up Beacon, but I don’t see a different Beacon. Maybe I changed with the times. There is no old Beacon, new Beacon. There’s only one Beacon. For the action steps. Mayor Lee Kyriacou is here today. Somewhere…there he is. Monday night, he’s gonna have a council workshop talking about police policies. Tune in. Give them recommendations.

If there’s one thing that is a must, it’s a must, especially if you think you’re gonna get down with I AM BEACON. It’s action. Don’t tell somebody else what they need to be doin’. Stand right there next to them and do it with them. Second, register to vote. There’s people here that are gonna help you with that. And I stress it because that night in Albany, I lost my right to vote. So I never thought I could vote. It wasn’t till I got involved with the union. It wasn’t until I educated myself. My first time voting wasn’t until 2009 because I came through a generation of ‘my vote don’t matter.’ Oh, now that I’ve got a criminal record, I can’t vote. So now that’s my scapegoat.

You can vote, as long as you ain’t on papers. I don’t care what your past is because I got the same past as some of you. So I’m the example. I can vote now, and I do. and don’t get me wrong, sometimes I put in a blank ballot but I’m showing up.

Three: I heard at the last protest and I’m sure I’m gonna hear it today. There’s “Coffee With Cops,” there’s workshops. We wanna talk with cops. We wanna build a community relations. I’m glad that conversation is coming up because I was there 4 years ago. I AM BEACON had a separate committee called BEACON SPEAKS OUT when Trayvon Martin and the Ferguson rallies were going on. We did it. We sent the recommendations in to the police.

I’m a believer it starts on the local level. Once you have your foundation, you can build from there. Are you guys ready to build? (Crowd cheers) Are you guys ready to build? (Crowd cheers) I’ll stand for anybody who’s willing to put in the footwork.
— Reuben Simmons

The #1: Community Policing. Get the out the goddamn car and start walking these streets. It barely happened. So no, I’m not interested in sitting down again. I’m a man of action. So if we’re gonna do it again, let’s just make sure our voices are really heard but that we hold them accountable.

I’ve seen a lot. I’ve learned a lot. I went through the process. I’m willing to be a resource. As I look at the council, there are new faces that I’ve never seen before, that I’ve never talked to before. This will be that opportunity. ‘Cuz too many times people just pass judgement on what the hell they read on Facebook and that is bullshit. I know we come to a generation of social media and social gangsters and ‘say whatever you want and you don’t get touched.’ That wasn’t my era. That’s why people didn’t talk the way they talk in the 80s and 90s.

But I understand. We gotta grow from that. This is a different style, it’s a different fight. When I came into the union, my street mentality was like ‘yeah, I need the numbers. I slap you, you come out your face.’ You can’t do that in politics, are you crazy, kid? But the philosophy the same, ‘where’s your numbers at?’ Your right to vote - that’s your handgun. Goin’ to the polls is what’s pulling the trigger. But nobody wants to go to the polls because they wanna stay online for new iPhones and Jordans, c’mon man, ya gotta say with me on this.

(interruption)

I wanted to meet with the organizers in private. But I couldn’t let you guys leave without letting you know what’s going on. I’m a big believer we can make change. I’m a believer it starts on the local level. Once you have your foundation, you can build from there. Are you guys ready to build? (Crowd cheers) Are you guys ready to build? (Crowd cheers) I’ll stand for anybody who’s willing to put in the footwork. Thank you. Once again, my name is Reuben Simmons, they call me Yogi.

Speaker Speaking Out At Protest: "I Need Us To Tear Down These Walls Of Separation That Have Been Built In This Country For Almost 500 Years"

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This speaker is sharing during the 3rd protest march on Beacon that happened on June 6, 2020. The march started at Pohill Park, wound all the way down Wolcott, taking a right toward the river, over the bridge above the train track, and ending at the land stage at Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park.

To bring this story out of the video and into words for more to access, A Little Beacon Blog has transcribed this story as best we can, as close to the spoken word as possible. To give you context, we indicate where different actions took place, like applause or movement. We highly encourage you to watch this spoken in the video, so that you can feel the moment and the words and remember it forever as it helps you make future decisions. You can listen and watch this story in our Instagram here.

We do not know this person’s name. If this is you and you want to be identified, please let us know and we will add your name.

BEGIN

Hello Beacon! Hey Beacon!

First of all, I want to give honor to my ancestors, for walking with us today. Yes.

My white brothers and sisters, and yes, I’m using the words “brothers and sisters.” The reason why is because I need us to tear down these walls of separation that have been built in this country for almost 500 years that causes you to look at me as “less than.” That causes me to look at you and be afraid.

Secondly, I want to thank you for all for coming out and standing for this cause. This is something that is near and dear to my heart. Not just because I’m a Black woman in America, not just because I’m a Black mother in America, but for four of my five children you see standing right here today.

And thank you to my sister who just spoke, thank you for sharing some - you said it so eloquently, so beautifully. But I want to say something else, too. My white brothers and sisters, and yes, I’m using the words “brothers and sisters.” The reason why is because I need us to tear down these walls of separation that have been built in this country for almost 500 years that causes you to look at me as “less than.” That causes me to look at you and be afraid.

Because believe it or not, as a black woman in this country, when I walk down the street, I see a group of white people, sorry, but I feel scared. You know why I’m scared? Because I know that SOME, not ALL, SOME white people don’t see me as the human being, as the beautiful person I am. It doesn’t matter how many degrees I have, it doesn’t matter how many businesses I’ve started, it doesn’t matter how many people I have helped, it doesn’t matter the character and the depth of my heart and my soul. Some people literally cannot get past this skin suit that I am wearing. And their head is filed with biases that have been passed down, taught and caught. Right? Because we have biases that are caught by people.

Posting up black squares on Instagram and Facebook? Okay, that’s cute. That’s good, that’s cute. That’s cute. But have you addressed your family members that make racist jokes? You might have the uncomfortable laughter but do you address them? Do you tell them “Not on my watch?”

Your parents may not tell you, “Oh, she’s Black, she’s less than.” “He’s Black. Be scared of him.” But their actions show it, and we catch it. And Imma challenge you today, my brothers and my sisters, to let go of any of those biases that you may have caught. And don’t be afraid to admit it! It’s absolutely okay, because you grew up in this country, to hold up a mirror, and I mean that hypothetically speaking, to hold up a mirror, and to get uncomfortable, and to inconvenience yourself and say “You know what? I have privilege.”

And you know why it’s okay to say that? Because once you address and uncover and acknowledge what is really there? That’s the only time you can change it. And your having privilege doesn’t make you less than of a human being, right? Your privilege doesn’t make you less than. What is the issue, is when you have that privilege and you’re so comfortable in it, that you’re fine with superficial signs of support rather than taking the action.

Posting up black squares on Instagram and Facebook? Okay, that’s cute. That’s good, that’s cute. That’s cute. But have you addressed your family members that make racist jokes? You might have the uncomfortable laughter but do you address them? Do you tell them “Not on my watch?” Do you tell them it’s not funny? Do you educate them on the true history of this country?

And if you have not done that, this is the time to start, now. And it’s not just about you holding a sign “it stops with the cops.” Right? That’s only concerning police brutality. But it also stops in your homes. It stops in the schools. Because a racist is a racist no matter what uniform they’re wearing.

So I wanna leave you with this, because yes, Black lives matter. And I had some conversations this week. They don’t like to hear “Black Lives Matter.” They wanna say all lives matter. But if all lives matter, then it shouldn’t be a problem with you saying what?

(Crowd: BLACK LIVES MATTER!)

I don’t wanna be scared when my children are 16, 17, 18. And I don’t have the joy that you might share in buying my children their first car because I’m scared they’re not gonna come home. Not from car accidents. I’m scared they’re not gonna come home cause someone won’t see them as a human being driving a vehicle.

Exactly. So I just wanna challenge everyone here, again, if you don’t look like me, thank you for your love, thank you for your support. But I wanna let you know, how you can support us is by getting uncomfortable, inconveniencing yourself, taking the lid off the white washed Eurocentric history that’s taught in this country and get to the truth. Because the truth, indeed, will not only set you free. The truth, indeed, I’m sorry, it makes me angry, but with that anger comes action, with action, comes change. (applause)

I don’t wanna be scared when my children are 16, 17, 18. And I don’t have the joy that you might share in buying my children their first car because I’m scared they’re not gonna come home. Not from car accidents. I’m scared they’re not gonna come home cause someone won’t see them as a human being driving a vehicle. So that’s the change that I’m looking for. It starts in our schools. It starts in our homes. It starts with your neighbors. It starts with your family. So stand up, stand tall, get uncomfortable, get inconvenienced, but again, anger from the truth brings action, and action brings? (Crowd CHANGE!).

Action brings? (Crowd CHANGE!)

Action brings? (Crowd CHANGE!)

Don’t let it stop here, y’all.

Beacon Police Chief, Lieutenant, and Captain Participate In City Council Meeting To Answer Questions About Policy - But Avoids Racism

After receiving inquiries from the public about police policy, the City of Beacon’s City Council hosted the Beacon Police Department during their weekly Monday night City Council Meeting this week. The meeting happened to be a Workshop, which means that by rule, members of the public cannot speak or submit comments, as they can during the other type of City Council Meeting, which is when members of the public can speak within one of two Public Comment sessions.

Attending and participating were Chief Kevin Junjulas, Lieutenant Figlia and Captain Fredericks. The video of the meeting has been published here in this article. Scroll down and press Play.

Brief Recap Of The Presentation

Mayor Kyriacou started the meeting by reminding the council and video viewers about the Department of Justice’s investigation into the Beacon Police Department that started at least in 2010, and concluded in the summer of 2016. The City’s attorney recalled that the Beacon Police Department went through an audit of the department, and a review of policy. It was not stated if there were personnel changes after the audit, or what was learned from the audit.

The Chief read a statement about training the police department receives, and acknowledged that he was open to “perhaps identify some things that we can seek to improve in the future, to offer the best level of service possible.”

Speaking To #8Can’tWait - Which Does Not Address Systemic Racism

Mayor Kyriacou asked the officers to go speak to their methods as they compare to “8 Can’t Wait,” which is a campaign from Campaign Zero to reduce police violence. However, that campaign does not address systemic racism, and focuses on physical actions of law enforcement. Additionally, Campaign Zero issued a statement and apology, which they published on their “8 Can’t Wait” website: “And while we are proud of the impact we were able to make, we at Campaign Zero acknowledge that, even with the best of intentions, the #8CANTWAIT campaign unintentionally detracted from efforts of fellow organizers invested in paradigmatic shifts that are newly possible in this moment. For this we apologize wholeheartedly, and without reservation.”

Racism was not discussed in this meeting. Some nitty-gritty types of violence were, like that a choke hold is not “banned” because it may be needed if nothing else is available, or that pointing a weapon is considered a “use of force.”

Complaints Against An Officer

The Council wanted to know about how complaints come in. The Chief answered that for 2019, of the 13,000 calls made for service, 5 personnel complaints came in. In 2020, so far 4,000 calls for service have come in, and 3 personnel complaints have been generated.

When asked about how to complain, the Chief answered that during the federal investigation, the Department of Justice required that the Beacon Police make a complaint system available. The Chief said: “People can do it through a number of ways….I don’t have them right in front of me, but they are on the website I believe.”

One complaint link is on the City’s website in the Police Department section, which is here. The form to file a complaint is here. However, there are no directions on the form or the website as to how to file the form. There also does not seem to be a list of police officer’s names on the website. During the meeting, it was stated the complaint makes its way to the Captain who conducts an investigation. The Captain conducts an interview with the officer and the person who made the complaint. The Captain then makes a decision as to if the complaint is Unfounded or not.

Requirement Of 60 College Credits

One item that the Captain wanted changed was to open up the qualifications to be a police officer in Dutchess County, which currently requires 60 college credits. This is not the same for every county. The Captain did not feel that attending college “in an un-related police subject” was useful to hiring a police officer. He also doesn’t think it fair to kids who can’t afford to go to college. On another hand, sometimes employers pay for an employee’s continuing education while they are working, like in the Army or in the corporate world.

Diversity In The Police Department

When asked about how many white officers were in the Beacon Police Department, the Captain did not know how many “off the top of my head, I’d have to go out there and count.” The Chief responded that out of 36 officers, he thinks that 5 officers are Hispanic, 2 Black and 2 Female White officers. The female officers, he said, are white, so they would “need to subtract from that.”

In Conclusion: Community

The meeting concluded with Councilperson Amber Grant suggesting that more issues be raised and that the conversation continue about the community relationship with the Police Department. Councilperson Terry Nelson suggested conducing community forums. Councilperson Jodi Grant recalled the “Coffee and a Cop” concept, and liked that.

Dan Aymar-Blair noted that he heard “powerful and painful” stories at the protest last Saturday, and had 50 and 60 emails about policing in Beacon, with very few having to do with #8CantWait. He mentioned that “training wasn’t the problem with George Floyd’s or Eric Garner’s murders.” He wished to garner the conversation from the 3rd protest in Beacon last Saturday.

A discussion continued about how a community forum could be put together. The Mayor suggested that Beacon’s Human Relations Commission “be leveraged’ to do this, and serve as an anonymous destination to talk. Dan disagreed, saying that there were 1,000 people at the protest, and that he wanted the City Council to take the lead on it. Jodi recalled her time serving on the Human Relations Commission, and said that the commission had been unprepared to handle the scope of what was required when it was handed something the first time. From the meeting, it was unclear which instance in time she was referring to. A Little Beacon Blog can follow up.

A community forum did get put together towards the end of the Department of Justice investigation of Beacon’s Police Department in 2015/2016, which you can read about in depth here.

The 2015 Community Response To Federally Investigated Beacon Police Was "Beacon Speaks Out" (Now Dormant) - City of Beacon Silent About Reopening It - Seeks New Initiative

In 2015, when Beacon’s police department was under an investigation by the Justice Department that started in or before 2010, and ended in 2016, Beacon community members got together to form a community-based line of communications with Beacon’s Police Department called “Beacon Speaks Out.”

To describe the police investigation, a press release was issued on December 21, 2010 by the United States Department of Justice: “The Justice Department announced today an agreement with the Beacon, N.Y., Police Department (BPD) to resolve the department’s investigation of the BPD, in accordance with the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. That law authorizes the attorney general to file suit to reform police departments that may be engaging in a pattern or practice of violating citizens’ federal rights.”

Who Was Behind “Beacon Speaks Out?”

The group “Beacon Speaks Out” met more than once and conducted a process that was co-facilitated by Rabbi Brent Spodek of Better Together: The Beacon Interfaith Clergy Association, and Brooke Simmons of I Am Beacon, and citizens of Beacon, including my former building landlord, Deborah Bigelow, who first made me aware of the group. A Little Beacon Blog later wrote about an upcoming meeting they were having back in 2016.

For context, Brooke Simmons is the sister of Reuben Simmons, the Founder and President of I Am Beacon, and a one-time Highway Superintendent for the City of Beacon. After holding that position for a year in a half, Reuben was changed to Working Supervisor for just over a year and a half, and is currently a Maintenance Worker for the City of Beacon. If that job title timeline looks backwards to you, it is. This professional descension was confusing when I went to quote Reuben for an article about the event he created to raise awareness for mental health: Rock Out For Mental Health. I served on the Planning Committee with him and other agency heads for this awareness effort.

Reuben was also the Union President of the City of Beacon’s Unit of CSEA Local 1000, where he dealt with contract negations, representing employees in grievances and disciplinary matters, campaign planning, among other responsibilities.

The original agenda of Beacon Speaks Out is below. But first, a question:

“Beacon Speaks Out” Sounds Like A Good Idea. Should It Be Reignited?

Groups and committees are formed all of the time in Beacon. Many of them do work that you didn’t know was happening around you, but feel the effects of. This was one such group. Not many people knew about it. Eventually, it stopped meeting. The Chief of Police, Doug Solomon, who participated in the group, abruptly left Beacon’s force to take the Chief job in Newburgh (which he also just resigned from after a riot incident in March, 2020). He was succeeded in Beacon by current Chief Kevin Junjulas, who was promoted from his position of Captain.

When the protests against police brutality and institutional, systemic racism started in Minneapolis after George Floyd’s murder, and the protests spread to New York, A Little Beacon Blog reached out to Beacon’s new Mayor Lee Kyriacou, for comment as to whether he thought the band of “Beacon Speaks Out” should be brought back together, to start communications between the community and the police. Mayor Kyriacou is a new mayor to Beacon, but has served on the City Council for 9 terms beginning in the 1990s.

Mayor Kyriacou has not answered A Little Beacon Blog’s question about if Beacon Speaks Out should be called upon again. We have asked him twice, and received no response.

Since that time, Beacon’s Police Department and City Council have received numerous questions about the policies of the Beacon Police. The City Council invited the Chief of Police to attend last week’s public Workshop meeting to give an overview of what their textbook says. During this meeting, it was suggested that a forum with a moderator be created to hear from the public, and the council agreed. They were going to think about who the moderator would be, and the setting for the forum in this social distanced time. Watch the hour-long sit-down with the police and get a recap here.

The Mayor suggested that the Human Relations committee take responsibility for this. Currently there are 5 members of the Human Relations Committee. The City’s web page says that there can be 15 members, but the city Committee Vacancy page lists that 1 position is vacant. Current Councilmembers including Dan Aymar-Blair and Amber Grant disagreed with that delegation, stating that the committee was over-worked and inexperienced to deal with this issue.

The Original Community-Based Agenda Of “Beacon Speaks Out”

A Little Beacon Blog reached out to Brooke Simmons, original member of “Beacon Speaks Out,” to revisit the history on how the group started and what it wanted. This is what she provided:

“The city was involved and in fact, the “Beacon Speaks Out” initiative was born out of a meeting called on and facilitated by Mayor Randy Casale. [Then] Mayor Casale, City Administrator Anthony Ruggerio, and former Police Chief Soloman attended numerous meetings providing insight, dialogue and updates to the committee. “Beacon Speaks Out” presented the outlined initiatives to City Council (see below).

Broad Ambitions for Police/Community Relations in Beacon, NY

Through the beginning of 2015, residents of Beacon, NY had been meeting to discuss their hopes and ambitions for police/community relations in their city. What emerged was a clear desire for closer ties between the police and the community they serve and protect.

As the result of Beacon Speaks Out a process co-facilitated by Rabbi Brent Spodek of Better Together: The Beacon Interfaith Clergy Association and Brooke Simmons of I Am Beacon, the citizens of Beacon can articulate the following 8 broad ambitions for policing in our community. Following each ambition is a composite quote based on approximately 150 community conversations.

Strengthen Connections to the Broader Community

1. We’d like the police/community relationship to move from a place of intimidation, suspicion, and superiority to a place of kindness, calm and respect.
Conversation Example: The police don’t seem to practice restraint in heightened situations.... we’d love for them to have training on how to de-escalate incidents rather than intensifying them.

2. We’d like for the police to develop positive relations with the youth of Beacon.
Conversation Example: I would like to see some sort of program that allows the cops to interact with or even mentor the at-risk youth in Beacon so officers can be seen by young people as helpers, not adversaries.

3. We’d like for the police to have more face-to-face contact with the community.
Conversation Example: I want to know my police force... I miss our Main St. bike cop! When they are always in cars, they don’t get to know community members. I want the officers to KNOW and care about the community they serve.

Adopt best practices to improve community safety

4. We’d like for the police to be better equipped to deal with Beacon’s diverse populations.
Conversation Example: The police need to be able to deal with people who have mental health issues, who are not the same race or gender or sexuality as the cops, they need to be able to deal with senior and elderly issues.

5. We’d like a more diverse police force.
Conversation Example: We need a force that looks like Beacon to serve Beacon. We need more women, more people of color.

6. We’d like for the police to work together with the community to develop a progressive strategy for dealing with Beacon’s drug problem, especially heroin.
Conversation Example: I found needles and drug paraphernalia by my home. I took it to Police Station but got no response or follow up. Something needs to be done about the Heroin epidemic.

More and better community communication

7. We’d like data on crimes reported, arrests, and convictions to be publicized, as well as police policies and procedures.
Conversation Example: We need more information and more transparency about what the police are doing.

8. We’d like for the Human Relations Committee to be publicized and strengthened.
Conversation Example: I didn’t even know there was a civilian complaint hotline. It should be plastered everywhere. Do they have the power to do anything?

Details on what this new community forum will look like, who will attend, and who will moderate will come as the City Council decides what it wants to do.

Governor Cuomo Reverses Course On Summer School - Encouraged By County Executive Molinaro

After Governor Cuomo announced that school would be closed for the rest of the year, County Executive Marcus Molinaro responded on May 1, 2020 with a letter to the governor, agreeing with the decision, but urging the Governor to reconsider for children with special needs for the upcoming summer. County Executive Marcus Molinaro has a child with Autism, and responded by sending a letter to the Governor, Chancellor Rosa, and Interim Commissioner Tahoe, by stressing an urgency to keep summer school programs open to in-person learning interactions for children with special needs.

An excerpt of his letter, which was distributed to the media via press release, is below:

 

Throughout this process, so many of our schools and teachers have gone above and beyond to provide quality education during these difficult times. Many students with special needs have adapted well to the new paradigm of remote learning and are finding success utilizing Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and other platforms. Other students are struggling with the hands-on attention of teachers and specialists. For many special education students, the most daunting challenge is overcoming the stress of change and inconsistency. That is why a careful and student-centric approach is paramount as we move forward.

Since schools were closed, parents have played an even greater role in their education. This was a challenge for all parents, however, for parents of special needs students, the task could be even more daunting. The technology we all relied on to make remote learning possible, needed modifications and innovative adaptions to make them more accessible. Not all platforms are compatible with critical assistive technologies, nor are they always conductive to educating students with very specific needs. Parents and teachers have been asked to do a lot of heavy lifting to ensure their children and students are receiving a high-quality education.

Special education students must have access to services throughout the summer. These services will help support students and their families bridge the gap until schools are once again able to provide a more conventional education. Not all special education students will want to take advantage of services throughout the summer, however, for those who do, they must be available.

 

Stepping out just a minute here…

Stepping out of my role as a reporter for this article for a moment, and into that of a parent who is doing Distance Learning for two children ages 8 and 10 (this doesn’t count the 3yo toddler who is constantly disrupting and needing to go potty), I can tell you that Distance Learning is extremely difficult. Extremely. A large part of a child’s life is social interaction, and the interaction they get with their teacher (assuming they have a good relationship). Not having that has been sorely missed by my children. Completing “simple” assignments, like 7 math problems on two pages, takes 1 hour. One painful hour of bodies collapsing onto the floor, throwing pencils, hating parents. I have resisted writing about it, so as to not offend our teachers and administration who are trying so hard and are equally traumatized, some of whom are teaching and preparing curriculum with their own children at home, doing their own Distance Learnings.

Ok, back into reporter mode.

On May 21, 2020, while the new children’s risk of COVID-19 (Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS) similar to Kawasaki Disease) was being discussed, Governor Cuomo decided to close in-person teaching opportunities for summer school, stating: “Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced summer school will be conducted through distance learning this year to help reduce the risk of spread.”

On may 22, 2020, Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro wrote a second letter in response to the announcement of summer school closure:

 

Dear Governor Cuomo: (crossed out to hand-written in blue marker to address “Andrew”),

As plans to reopen and re-imagine New York State's schools and summer distance-learning services are contemplated and developed, it is of utmost importance that the needs of special education students and their families are thoughtfully and carefully considered. Efforts underway by your office, as well as those of the Board of Regents, New York State Education Department, and our 700 public school districts, must incorporate input from special education teachers and parents of students with special needs. Although you recently announced that in-person summer school will not go on, it remains critical to offer needed services to special education students throughout the summer.

I expressed my concerns related to this issue in a letter sent on the first of this month to Chancellor Rosa, Interim Commissioner Tahoe, and your office. Since then, many others have voiced similar concerns and have yet to be addressed.

 

The letter continued to repeat the first letter. On June 8th, the Dutchess Business Notification Network reported that Governor Cuomo signed an Executive Order to allow summer school to continue in person: “Notwithstanding any prior Executive Order to the contrary, special education services and instruction required under Federal, state or local laws, rules, or regulations, may be provided in person for the summer term in school districts. Any district providing such services in person must follow State and Federal guidance.

County Executive Molinaro’s response sent via press release was: “Access to in-person special education services throughout the summer is critical to so many with disabilities and their families, this year more than ever. The school year has been wrought with stress, anxiety and disruption caused by Coronavirus and special education students have felt the impact most profoundly. Access to in-person services will provide the needed support to overcome those challenges, smoothing the transition to a new school year in the fall. I’m grateful Governor Cuomo has taken this important step and I am happy to have worked with Jim Malatras and his staff to make this a reality. This is indeed good news for so many families across Dutchess County and New York State. There is little question we can make a real difference in the lives of these young people, when we work together and ThinkDIFFERENTLY!”

Places of Worship Can Reopen In Phase 2 at 25% Capacity

As reported by Dutchess Business Notification Network today, A new Executive Order has been signed that allows places of worship to reopen in Phase 2, which starts today (Tuesday, June 9th) at a 25% capacity basis, with social distancing precautions in place.

Guidance on how to clean and disinfect houses of worship can be found HERE. The Executive Order can be found HERE. If you’re not yet a subscriber to Dutchess Business Notification Network, you are missing out! It’s a must-read during a pandemic. When local legislation changes every single day.

County Executive Marcus Molinaro had petitioned for this legislative change, stating in a press release: “Our churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of faith need to be available for neighbors, leaders and community to come together. The personal interaction that occurs in faith communities can prove invaluable. We fought for this. It is an important step and powerful message at the right moment in New York. It’s an important time to humble ourselves, pray for peace and work for healing.”

In an email sent to Governor Cuomo asking for the change, County Executive Molinaro signed it with this:

“Open the doors to our houses of faith - if only with limited capacity - to help us heal.”

Stay safe. Be well.
We are all in this together.

Marc Molinaro, Dutchess
Steve Neuhaus, Orange
Pat Ryan, Ulster
Ed Day, Rockland
Mary Ellen O’Dell, Putnam

Rob Rolison, Poughkeepsie
Steve Noble, Kingston
Lee Kyriacou, Beacon
Torrance Harvey, Newburgh
Kelly Decker, Port Jervis

School Budget And Library Vote Extended 6/16 - But Aquiring A Ballot Is Not - Last Day Tuesday 6/9 - Beacon Experienced Ballot Production Delay

According to Beacon’s Superintendent Matthew Landauhl, Governor Cuomo issued a press release on June 7th, saying he was extending the school budget vote until Tuesday, June 16 at 5pm, which means ballots by mail will be accepted until June 16. Ballot drop boxes are still allowed until Tuesday, June 9 at 5pm.

There was a vendor-based delay in Beacon, where the company that provides the ballots experienced a shortage in supplies. Many Beaconites got their ballots on Friday in the mail, but several did not.

The person to contact about a missing ballot is the board clerk Kelly Pologe at pologe.k@beaconk12.org. Tuesday June 9th is the last day to get a ballot.

TONIGHT (Monday): Beacon's Chief Of Police, Kevin Junjulas, Joins City Council Meeting To Discuss Training

On Monday night, June 8th, the City of Beacon Police Chief Kevin Junjulas will join the City Council for a conversation on best practices and training for the Beacon Police Department. As a reminder, all City Council meetings are being held virtually on Zoom right now.

If you wish to listen in on conversation, the invitation to the virtual meeting below.

Also please see this link to a video from June 1st  of City Council members commenting on the protests https://vimeo.com/425223009

How To Watch On YouTube:

Click this link. Be sure to subscribe for easy access next time.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvPpigGwZDeR7WYmw-SuDxg

How To Watch Or Call In On Zoom:

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82201559958?pwd=eHdHNjlNTXM1S0xueWRZYWRESmJyQT09

Password: 027050

 Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +19292056099,,82201559958#,,1#,027050# 

or +13017158592,,82201559958#,,1#,027050#

Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):

US: +1 929 205 6099  or +1 301 715 8592  or +1 312 626 6799  or +1 253 215 8782  or +1 346 248 7799  or +1 669 900 6833

Webinar ID: 822 0155 9958
Password: 027050

Does Beacon Have Blue Line Flag Decals On Vehicles? What Is City's Position?

After learning about the blue line flag decal on police vehicles in Cold Spring, A Little Beacon Blog reached out to Chief Junjulas, Mayor Kyriacou, and City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero, to find out if Beacon had dealt with this symbolic issue.

Questions asked, and who answered them:

ALBB: "Do Beacon police vehicles have this decal on it?
Chief Junjulas: “We do not.”

ALBB: If not, was it ever discussed?
City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero: “No, it was never discussed.”

ALBB: Chief, Mayor, Anthony: What are each of your opinions on this sticker?
There has been no response on this question yet.

Cold Spring Residents Resist Blue Line Flag Decal On Police Cars - Citing White Supremacy Association

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In an article published at the Highlands Current, a Cold Spring resident spoke out against the decal that was placed on police vehicles last year. The decal (sticker) is a black flag with a thin blue line running through it. The symbol is a display of support for fallen and living police officers, and has been created by the Blue Live Matters movement, which has become known as an anti Black Lives Matter movement. According to the article, the resident is concerned that the symbol has racist overtones.

The article brings up the violent, Unite the Right march in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, where “the flag was raised by white supremacists alongside the Confederate flag.” The Confederate flag has 13 stars for the original colonies. The current United States flag has 13 stripes, and 50 stars for all of the states. One blue line is a stripe in the Blue Lives Matter flag. The Blue Lives Matter sells hoodies and sweatshirts for their movement.

The Highlands Current article pointed out: “Last year, the police department in Germantown, Maryland, removed a donated thin-blue-line flag after a public outcry. In December, flags appeared outside two police stations in New York City, prompting similar protests. And on May 31, in Hamilton County, Ohio, the sheriff’s department flew the flag following days of unrest in Cincinnati, prompting a rebuke from the county commissioner, who said, ‘I know I am not alone in my view that flying the flag was provocative and inappropriate, especially in the context of this weekend’s events.’”

The board members in Cold Spring debated the topic while on a Zoom meeting (which is how most public town meetings are happening now, including Beacon’s), with most of them wanting the decals removed. One board member, Trustee Lynn Miller, pointed out that altering the flag is against flag code. One board member disagreed with removing them, in favor of showing support for police.

Trustee Steve Voloto acknowledged that police departments fly the flag “to show support for the men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect us. That’s why our guys have them on their cars.” But he also added: “Did they not know the history? Did they have it before and the [white supremacists] used it as their symbol? It doesn’t belong on our cars with what’s going on in the world. If the stupid bumper sticker pisses people off, take it off the cars. Why are we even talking about it? Pick a sticker that has more positive meaning.”

To recall Beacon and Cold Spring’s recent documented run-ins with white supremacy, in October 2018, white supremacist flyers were posted to churches and public poles in Beacon along Main Street. From that article:

“In October 2018, a swastika was sprayed onto the home that is owned by a Jewish man in Nelsonville. So far, three teenagers have been arrested for that crime. One teenager is a male who is 18, and is a graduate of Haldane High School in Cold Spring. He was arrested in February 2019, and just appeared in court last week. The other two were arrested in December 2018, one from Philipstown and the other from an unspecified location. They are 18 and 17 years old.”'

It should be noted: LinkedIn has made the editorial decision to not display the blue line flag on its platform when an article is being shared.

Does Beacon have a position on this? We asked to find out…

Dutchess County Makes It Easier For Restaurants To Use Public Spaces Outside On June 9

According to a press release by Dutchess County, the County Executive Marcus Molinaro cut red tape to make it easier for restaurants to go around regulations to serve outside by signing this Executive Order today. Recently, that has been confusing for business owners and patrons, as public space was available to anyone to use (such as a picnic table in a park), but private property was not (such as a patio behind or adjacent to a restaurant). According to a business briefing last Tuesday by Beacon’s retained law firm, Keane & Beane, restaurants could use public spaces such as sidewalks, but not private property yet.

The press release:

“To help facilitate outdoor dining, which can begin tomorrow, Tuesday, June 9th in Dutchess County as part of Phase II, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro today signed a local Emergency Order waiving local regulations and requirements that could cause a potential burden or delay for local establishments to expand outdoor dining space. The executive order will also aid in the local efforts to provide access to municipal-owned land, including sidewalks, streets, etc. contiguous to a licensed establishment in coordination with the local municipality.

”County Executive Molinaro said, “By partnering with our twenty towns, eight villages and two cities we are working to remove every obstacle possible to support our small businesses and Open Main Street. As you can, with what you can, please support our neighborhood businesses as we reignite our economy and restart Dutchess.”

Catching Up: Newburgh's Police Chief Doug Solomon (formerly Beacon's Chief) Resigned After Riot Incident (Pre-Protest Era)

Back on March 27, 2020, a fatal shooting of a black man happened in Newburgh. According to reporting, the man had a gun, and the police had walked up to him to ask about a shooting that allegedly happened the day before. They got into an altercation, he was shot, and later died at the hospital. An officer was also shot and wounded. The shooting is under investigation by the District Attorney, and will be completed in 4-6 months. At this point, the man’s name for identification has not appeared in news stories.

After that shooting, a riot broke out on First Street and Carpenter Avenue. Back in Beacon, it was a regular Friday afternoon, and those who work in Newburgh came home after work to tell the story as they knew it.

After the work day ended, trash burned in the street long into the night. According to News12, the city brought in mutual aid from the state and county police. Many pictures of the night from photojournalist Allyse Pulliam were published for the Record Online.

The next day, Saturday, The Mayor of Newburgh, Mayor Torrance Harvey, called a press conference to ask for peace, saying: “I’m asking for peace in the streets and calm in our community. I know there is a lot of grief and anger,” as reported in the Record Online. Neighbors who were cleaning up the debris the next day did not want to talk, according to the Record Online.

One week later, Newburgh’s Police Chief, Doug Solomon, was suspended “after allegedly failing to report for duty during last week's riots,” according to News12.

One month later, on April 30, 2020, Chief Solomon resigned. According to the Poughkeepsie Journal, Mayor Harvey “could not share details of the resignation because it is a personnel issue.” Lt. Kevin Lahar remains the “officer in charge” of the department.

Fast forward to last weekend in Beacon during the 3rd anti-police brutality protest in Beacon, the Newburgh shooting was alluded to by protest participants, with protestors bitterly mentioning that they knew of an “incident” about the shooting, but so far, no details have emerged.

Meanwhile in Newburgh, Lt. Kevin Lahar participated in the police brutality protest, and kneeled with protesters. You can read more about that, and see photos here at Record Online.

Chief Doug Solomon’s History With Beacon

Chief Solomon was the Chief of Police for Beacon, before leaving to take the position in Newburgh. At the time, then Mayor Randy Casale had no prior news of the departure, and learned about it on the radio, he said during a public City Council meeting. At the time of accepting the job in Newburgh, Chief Solomon had also been the Mayor of the Village of Monticello. He later resigned from the position of Mayor, citing time conflicts and being over-committed. He had previously served as the Police Chief for Monticello, according to the Record Online.

Then Captain Kevin Junjulas for Beacon was promoted by Mayor Casale to be Chief of Police for Beacon. The transition was dramatic, and you can read about the announcement of that appointment here in the Highlands Current. According to the article, Chief Junjulas was a then 23-year veteran of the police department, and resides in Cold Spring.

Chief Solomon was on the original committee for Beacon Speaks Out a community-based group that “was born out of a meeting called on and facilitated by Mayor Casale,” recalls Brooke Simmons, co-founder of the non-profit Beacon Speaks Out. According to Brooke, through the beginning of 2015, residents of Beacon, NY had been “meeting to discuss their hopes and ambitions for police/community relations in their city. What emerged is a clear desire for closer ties between the police and the community they serve and protect.”

Beacon's School and Library Absentee Ballots Arrive Friday - Ballot Collection Box Locations - Tuesday Deadline

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The Vote By Mail initiative for Beacon’s 2020-2021 School Budget has arrived today in the mail. Beacon’s Superintendent, Dr. Matthew Landahl emailed district parents and posted to the district website that ballots should be arriving in the mail this (Friday) afternoon. Details about a delay the district was experiencing in getting the ballots out to the public is described below the schedule published here.

Read the Beacon City School District’s Budget Presentation here. Quick Links to the budget are on the district’s website.

You are encouraged to drop your ballot off in a Ballot Drop Box. The schedule is below.

All ballots must be received by mail or dropbox by 5:00pm Tuesday, June 9th.

Ballot Drop Box Locations and Hours

Friday, June 5
Beacon High School 11-5
Glenham Elementary 11-5
District Administration Building 11-5

Saturday, June 6

District Administration Building 12-4

Sunday, June 7
District Administration Building 12-4

Monday, June 8
Beacon High School 8-5
Glenham Elementary 8-5
District Administration Building 8-5

Tuesday, June 9
Beacon High School 6am-5
Glenham Elementary 6am-5
District Administration Building 6am-5

Ballots are due Tuesday, June 9 by 5:00pm.

The Delay In Absentee Ballots

On May 31, 2020, Dr. Landahl emailed the district about an expected delay in the ballots. The Howland Public Library also emailed their subscribe list with the news. Dr. Landahl explained:

“We contracted with a company named NTS Data to print and mail our absentee ballots to all of our registered voters. NTS Data is a company we have worked with on our elections for several years and many districts in New York State and the area have as well.

”On Friday, May 29, 2020, NTS Data informed us that they were having trouble with our ballot mailing due to an envelope shortage and supply chain issue. This is an issue that about 50 districts in New York are also having with NTS Data.”

This (Friday) morning, Dr. Landahl emailed again to let the public know that we should be receiving a ballot by this afternoon. For this writer, the ballots came. For some of our readers, they are reporting that they have not received it yet, but did receive the promotional postcard about voting. Keep looking in your junk mail. And cross your fingers.

Interview With Terry Nelson, City Councilperson Ward 1, About His Police Experience And Emotions During Protests

Terry Nelson and his daughter marching in the protest in Beacon against police brutality and racial injustice. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Terry Nelson and his daughter marching in the protest in Beacon against police brutality and racial injustice.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Terry Nelson was at the student led protest in Beacon on Monday early with his daughter. She came with a sign, as she wanted to elevate her participation out of her Instagram and into the street with other supporters. Terry came with his mask and his phone to what he later realized was the brightest moment of the past two months of quarantine.

He didn’t care that he wasn’t socially distancing. Later that night at the regularly scheduled City Council Meeting, Terry confessed he had “trouble making it through” the meeting, as he choked on his words, took a breath and looked at the ceiling. Earlier that day, he had been chanting “I Can’t Breath” with the protesters, and on this usual Monday night, he shared with his fellow councilpersons and members of the public listening about the time when he was 17 years old, walking in NYC, and had a gun put to his face by a member of the NYPD.

The hearts of black and brown people have been heavy this week (well, quite a bit heavier). The day after Blackout Tuesday, a social media movement to take a pause to go silent and reflect (but not go silent on news impacting black lives), many black and brown friends expressed sadness and extreme tiredness. On the business side of things, many black business owners sent emails to their customers, sharing their personal stories of growing up black in America.

On Blackout Tuesday, Terry called me to tell his story. I had emailed him to confirm that his daughter was in the photo. He responded with a phone call. This is his story of being black in America, in New York City, growing up on West 112th between Broadway and Amsterdam, in a community he loved.

ALBB: Terry, I would ask you how you are, but I was listening to the City Council Meeting last night and heard how you are. But how are you?
”Whenever I see someone - a story where someone gets stopped by the police or killed by the police, it definitely makes me think about my experience. I feel grateful that nothing bad happened, and that I was able to live a pretty decent life for the next 38 years. The last 3.5 years have broken me, because we've allowed racism to be normalized. Even more a part of the system. I'm sad more than angry. They kind of alternate.”

ALBB: I really want to ask you…but I know you recounted your experience at the meeting last night. So I can re-listen and type it up, as I don’t want you to have to recount it. But…
”Katie, I called you. I will share my story. I was 17 years old. I wasn't even driving. I was walking with some friends, hanging out late, down by the Bowery. And I got stopped. Out of nowhere. A member of the NYPD put a gun in my face and I was told that I fit the description of a robbery suspect. When you're in New York, you're used to hearing sirens and police cars. We just didn't think that one of us would be a part of it.”

ALBB: Where did you grow up in NYC?
”I grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and 112th between Broadway and Amsterdam. Near Tom’s Diner from Seinfeld.”
Editor’s Note: This area is near Columbia University and is known as Morningside Heights.

ALBB: How was that block?
”It was great. My neighbors never had a problem. The Dominicans lived one one side and the Puerto Ricans lived on another side. We played stick ball across the street together. It was during a different time when you could sit on people’s cars. It was great experience.”

ALBB: The protests all over are so large. It’s hard to social distance. Did you care?
”No. It didn't matter to me because racism is a much more prevalent, more difficult disease to get rid of. I've been basically indoors this whole time. I'll take a walk around the block and come back. It's been that way for the past 12 weeks. Yesterday (Monday) it didn't matter to me.

“My daughter wanted to come with me. She felt like putting up messages on her Instagram and talking to her friends wasn't enough.

“I had my reservations, I've been telling people social distance and put your mask on. There I was, not doing that. What happened yesterday was really important.

“I wanted to show why it was important that I be there. God bless those kids for doing that. It was the best thing that happened since the shut down. Ironically. This is me the atheist saying God Bless.

ALBB: What are things you see now that can bring out a life change?
”When people say All Lives Matter - I want them to know that when someone says Black Lives Matter - it doesn't degrade anyone's life. It is evident that black lives clearly do not matter. In what we have seen in the last 30 years. If you want me to go down a list I can. People who say All Lives Matter are not taking into consideration what we are trying to say. The chances of me being stopped vs a white person and are greater.

”Someone said to me: “That's a myth. My parents were immigrants and they made a better life for themselves.” And that is a clear lack of understanding of our history.

”I would like to see more of my white friends, allies, friends, neighbors, call out racism when they see it. If Uncle John makes a racist remark at the dinner table, you have to stamp it out right away. If you say: "Oh that's just him, it's a different time," that won’t work. That time has passed.”

ALBB: Does the tone matter? When white people are speaking?
”It does matter. I've heard it enough to know when there is malice behind it. I can tell when the other person saying it to me, they have no interest in why that offends me. Even great people that I know don’t understand why that offends me. I don't think you can ever fully explain to a white person what it's like. What it's like to get in your car, and say: "I hope I don't get stopped if I'm on the highway." It's an ongoing dawn to dusk siege that we can never fully explain or tell them about.”

ALBB: Should a white person not try?
”No. I say try by all means. Try! And don't be afraid if you get something wrong. I would rather correct the mistake, than have them compound it. Than making it worse. It cannot be left up to black people to fix this issue. This is an issue that we never started. It has to come from my white friends and my white sisters.”

ALBB: Is your wife white?
”Yes. We have been married 15 years (as a couple, together 17 years). It's been an ongoing learning process. The amazing thing about my wife is that she is very intelligent. This is not finite. You are going to learn something new all of the time. I'm learning something new all of the time about racism.

“Fortunately, early on in our relationship, we were pulled over in the car. One cop talked to me, one cop talked to her. "Where are you going to?" They asked us the same questions to see if we had the same answers. And we did. I've been only pulled over in a car once. Luckily there is a PBA sticker for state troopers in my window that my friend gave me. The trooper asked me "Who do you know?" I told him my friend’s name. It turns out they work in the same unit. He said "Oh, OK. Please slow down next time."

“That's why I make such a concerted effort to have people go the speed limit.”
Editor’s Note: If you follow City Council Meetings, you’ll hear Terry repeatedly ask for people to follow the speed limit.

Editor’s Note: Terry’s wife, Alison Chi, contributed her side of the experience:
“I’d just like to add to Terry's story about us being pulled over together. The only fortunate things about it were that we emerged unharmed and that it was when the first threads of the mask that had blinded me to understanding how my white skin protected me in the world were torn abruptly off. Understanding the impact of racism and what it is like to live in this world as a person of color is a continuous journey which I will never fully complete - because I am not black. My my loved ones are. Fear is an underlying constant. So for them, for the world around us, I will always point out racism when I see it. And will always talk to anyone about it - it's what I can do.”

Terry continues:
”This experience has changed me. And how I approach things. I will have to be more blunt with people. And not be so concerned about not seeming like a nice person. I think the time has come for honest talk across the board from everyone.”

Monday March In Beacon Against Police Brutality & Racism - Video, Photos and March Experience

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Word about this march floated through Instastories, passed from friend to friend, that a march down Main Street was planned in Beacon to speak and chant and kneel against police brutality and racism. One mom heard about it from her teenager. Organized by a student who is black and wanted to not use his name in the initial organizing, citing fear of being targeted as others have in other cities. Lineup was at 2:45pm at Chase Bank, and by 2:30pm, dozens of students - black and brown and white - young and old and with canes and knee braces - were walking down Main Street towards the mountain to start at the beginning - the parking lot of Chase Bank - before marching down Main Street.

White youths who carry tennis racquets in backpacks. Maybe there’s a round-robin after the march? After the march, as people gathered at Pohill Park, the speakers conjured Martin Luther King in their inspiration.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

One white youth carried 3 tennis racquets in his back pack, while his 2 friends each carried at least one racquet while another eagerly passed out water bottles. When offered the water bottles, several march participants declined. Water bottles have come to be symbolic as they are hurdled at police cars in other cities across the country. There was no police presence around Chase during the warm-up of the crowd as more and more people gathered. People held signs and left the drive-way open at Chase for bank customers to drive out after doing transactions at the window.

One protestor’s sign asks: “Beacon Police: How are you speaking out?”
This photo taken while marchers were chanting: “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot”
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Participants kneeling for George Floyd against police brutality.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Before the march began, two students rallied the crowd. In the crowd was one of Beacon’s City Council members Terry Nelson of Ward 1, who attended with his daughter (see ALBB’s full interview with Terry here). One student who is brown circled around in the group, breathing phrases into everyone’s lungs, as he encouraged people to shout: “I Can’t Breath,” “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” and “Say My Name: George Floyd.” Everyone put their hands up as they shouted “Don’t Shoot.” At other times, the march leader told everyone to take a knee against police brutality, which they did. A young woman with caramel skin got up on his shoulders and thanked the people for coming, getting choked up as she looked at the variety of faces who were there to show support. “This means everything right now. Everything. To see all of you out here. Every skin color…This is real and it’s happening everywhere!” After the march, she encouraged participants to educate their white friends.

One of the organizers, thanking the participants for showing up, and stressing the importance of why they were there.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Signs read: “Skin color is not reasonable suspicion,” and “No Justice No Peace Black Lives Matter”
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

The march began down Main Street, headed away from the mountain and to the Hudson River and Pohill Park, the traditional meeting spot for rallies, protests, and celebrations. Shortly after the people began marching in a sea of signs, a police presence appeared up ahead. At least 3 police cars spaced themselves out in front of march in a moving street closure, where they drive with the marchers by escorting in front. Today it was providing protection for the marchers, who by now had grown to a quarter mile long. Main Street is one mile long.

Beacon Police created a moving street closure for the march. The street closure lasted until Wolcott Avenue, where traffic was stopped both ways to create a safe space on Wolcott for when the crowd arrived at Pohill Park.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

After The March, The Speeches

The people filed in at Pohill Park, with the overflow people people going up South Avenue and Main Street. Police blocked off Wolcott Avenue from Rombout Avenue to West Main Street (the street that takes you to the train). Police officers were gathered in the middle of that intersection, with one directing traffic and the others discussing among themselves. A few people from the march approached the group of officers to say: “Join us!” The officers discussed, and later, after two speeches by the organizers, one officer, whose face many regular attendees would recognize from City Council Meetings as he weighs in on questions about enforcement regulations, emerged from crowd.

During the speeches, the two organizers continued to lead the attendees in chanting, while still more new people joined the group. One grandmother standing on the sidewalk nodded her head. Ali T. Muhammad spoke after the student organizers spoke. Ali is a former Beacon City Council person for Ward 4, and ran for Mayor of Newburgh last year. He pushed for the next steps and asked the rhetorical question of why everyone had gathered and participated, emphasizing that after all this, things must change. He implored people to register to vote, and to show up to vote.

A third speaker described his experience with the police. He described how dangerous it is for him to raise his hands from the steering wheel, reminding the crowd of black people who get shot during traffic stops. “Don’t reach for the keys, don’t reach for anything, except your phone. Turn it on. Turn on your camera, or go live on your Instagram.” His message was of driving in fear - constant fear of being pulled over and how that can end in death.

If you are a white person reading that sentence, and if you think it is exaggerated, simply recall your own story of being pulled over. Think about how it might have funny moments. How you sweated it out while digging through your glove compartment, trying to find your insurance card. Then ask your black or brown or South American friends about their experiences being pulled over, and you will hear very different stories. Stories of them sweating it out as they insist to an officer that they don’t have drugs in the car, as they drive home from a babysitting job and had a break light out.

Beacon’s Chief of Police Responds To ALBB’s Questions About Protest

A Little Beacon Blog reached out to Beacon’s Chief of Police, Kevin Junjulas, to hear his reaction to the march. Chief Junjulas was formerly Captain in Beacon, and was promoted to Chief after Beacon’s at the time current Chief, Doug Solomon, had left the Beacon Police force. At that time, according to then Mayor Randy Casale during a City Council meeting, Mayor Casale heard about the departure from a radio report.

Solomon left to join the Newburgh Police Department, a department he had served on prior. He was also Mayor of Monticello, until he resigned from that as well in May 2018 in order to be Newburgh’s Police Chief. On March 27th, 2020, in Newburgh, a fatal shooting of a black man happened, and riots broke out. Organizers of that are unknown. Solomon went on leave shortly after that. In May 2020, Solomon resigned.

After his resignation, Newburgh has an Officer in Charge, Lt. Kevin Lahar. On Tuesday, June 2, 2020, Newburgh held a peaceful protest against police brutality and racism. Officer in Charge Lt. Kevin Lahar took a knee with protesters, shook hands and hugged a protester.

Back to Beacon’s current Chief of Police, Kevin Junjulas, who was promoted into the position with high aclaim by then Mayor Casale, and has been involved with community events when they are organized in order to contribute dialogue. Here are Chief Junjulas’ answers to ALBB’s questions:

ALBB: Was the Beacon Police Department alerted to the march in advance?
We were aware of the event and were monitoring social media to anticipate crowd size and to try to identify an organizer. We were able to identify the organizer and had conversation with him prior to the event in order to coordinate how best to facilitate a safe protest for all involved.”

ALBB: Some people from the march asked the officers at the intersection at the end of the march who were directing traffic form Main Street to join them. Did any Beacon Police officers join the protesters?
”Obviously patrol officers assigned to the detail are tasked with certain duties to assure the safety of the protestors and the public, it would not have been feasible or appropriate for them to join in. I assigned Lt Figlia and Lt Frost to the detail as the highest ranking detail supervisors.

ALBB: Do you have a statement about the march? About why the people feel the need to have one? And how that makes you feel as the leader of the police force? At today’s march, there were black and white students as well as black and white grandparents and parents with strollers.
”Like all reasonable people, we are outraged by the actions of the officers in the killing of George Floyd and strongly condemn their actions. We also support the first amendment and the right to peacefully protest.”

Beacon’s City Council Responds To Police Brutality and Racial Injustice

Every time I hear about another black person getting stopped or killed by the police, it’s a trigger for me. It is taking every ounce of courage for me to get through this meeting, and get through this week.
— Terry Nelson, Beacon City Council Member, Ward 1

Every Monday night, Beacon’s City Council holds a meeting. During the Reports section of tonight’s meeting, when the City Council members bring anything on their minds to the table, council people delivered. On this night, several council members gave comment. Mayor Kyriacou, who was on a scheduled trip on the day, said: “I can speak for the entire council and city when I say that we are shocked at the precipitating death of Mr. Floyd, and fully supportive of peaceful protest. I thank the community for speaking up in the non-violent tradition of Gandhi, King and Mandela, and the Police Chief and department for honoring and protecting our community.“

Dan Aymar-Blair estimated that 450 people attended the march. He thanked the protesters for “putting themselves out there.” Amber Grant encouraged people to register for an upcoming climate event, and then fell into an emotional grip as she acknowledged the pain of everyone now, and proceeded to have trouble speaking. Amber proposed to explore what Beacon can do at the municipal level.

Air Rhodes stood “in solidarity” and shared anger and encouraged people to reach out with what they need help with. Jodi McCredo said she stands with the protestors and would never want to tell someone how to protest, but encouraged social distancing, and to be aware of dissenters and to tell the difference between a protester and someone else,

Terry Nelson, who walked this march, calling it the one bright spot in his month, also had trouble finding his voice as he told the viewers and his fellow council members of the time when he was younger, he was walking at night in NYC with his friends when he was 17 years old, and was “stopped by a member of the NYPD and I had a gun in my face and I was told that I fit the description of a robbery suspect.” He said he is a 55 year old man now, and 38 years later, it resonates with him. “Every time I hear about another black person getting stopped or killed by the police, it’s a trigger for me. It is taking every ounce of courage for me to get through this meeting, and get through this week…We really need allies to be on our side right now. We need each other. We cannot do this alone.”

See A Little Beacon Blog’s interview with Terry here: “Interview With Terry Nelson, City Councilperson Ward 1, About His Police Experience And Emotions During Protests”

EDITORIAL NOTE: A Little Beacon Blog has reached out to Beacon’s Chief of Police, Kevin Junjulas, and Mayor Lee Kyriacou for comment for this article. Replies come in, and this article was updated.