Police department in South Florida makes video calling for non-violence post-Zimmerman verdict

[Blue Bike]

Nice message. I believe the idea was from the Broward County police department. Officers, young teenagers and athletes united in this call for harmonious discussion.

It's called "Raise your voice, not your hands."

[Raine1967]

1. How is this a post Z-verdict message? Foxnewstest on youtube said so?

I agree, it is a good message, but is there a link to the Broward sheriffs office that declares this as such?

ETA: I googled "Broward county Sheriff video pre zimmerman verdict" and these were the first few results:

Broward County Sheriff's Office Prepares Zimmerman Verdict Riot Plan
www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/.../Broward-county-sheriff-riots?
2 days ago - On Monday, the Broward County Sheriff's Office released a video calling on the public not to riot in the wake of the George Zimmerman verdict, ...

Broward County Sheriff's Office "Don't Riot" Zimmerman Verdict Video
www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3040903/posts
1 day ago - Can I ask when in the entire history of this country, has law enforcement ever had to put out a “don't riot” video for white people, not to riot?

Broward County Sheriff's Office released Video Asking the Public ...
scaredmonkeys.com/.../broward-county-sheriffs-office-released-video-as...?
1 day ago - The Broward County Sheriff's Office has released a video asking the public not to riot in the wake of the George Zimmerman murder verdict in ...

Broward County Sheriff's Office Releases Zimmerman Verdict Riot ...
www.allvoices.com/.../14958849-broward-county-sheriffs-office-releases-z...
READ MORE: riots, zimmerman verdict, Sanford Police Department, office released, Broward County Sheriffs Office, riots plan, los angeles, Broward County ...

George Zimmerman trial: Florida police video on violence after ...
www.orlandosentinel.com › Your Local News › George Zimmerman trial
3 hours ago - George Zimmerman trial: Florida police release a video on possible ... George Zimmerman: Florida deputies release PSA about violence after verdict. print ..... Reporter Rene Stutzman on latest George Zimmerman pre-trial hearings. .... The Broward County Sheriff's Office website says deputies have been ...


I hope you see why I am asking.

[Blue Bike]

2. CNN: 'Raise your voice, not your hands,' cops urge as Zimmerman verdict looms

Anticipating that the outcome of the very public, and racially-tinged, case is likely to disappoint one swath of the population or another, law enforcement agencies have set up a response plan.

"Part of it is a public service announcement that the Broward County Sheriff's Office released this week.":

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/10/justice/florida-zimmerman-backlash/

[Blue Bike]

3. From the Broward's Sheriff's office

" Date: July 8, 2013

PIO Number: 13-7-9

The Broward Sheriff’s Office, working closely with the Sanford Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies, has coordinated a response plan in anticipation of the verdict.


Freedom of expression is a constitutional right. While raising your voice is encouraged, using your hands is not. BSO has created a public service announcement with the help of kids from the Jason Taylor Foundation, H.A.N.D.Y. (Helping Abused, Neglected, Disadvantaged Youth) and basketball star James Jones of the championship Miami Heat team urging young people not to let their emotions get the best of them."

http://www.sheriff.org/posts/post.cfm?id=bf1326e0-d238-0577-7446-a3a4ca5438d3

[Raine1967]

4. There appears to be some confusion:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/trayvon-martin/os-george-zimmerman-trial-psa-20130710,0,4800176.story

Deputies from South Florida have released a public-service announcement urging possible protesters to remain peaceful after the jury decides whether George Zimmerman is guilty of murder in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin.

The Broward County Sheriff's Office website says deputies have been "working closely with the Sanford Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies" to create a "coordinated a response plan in anticipation of the verdict."

Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith, however, said his agency didn't know about the video and has not coordinated response plans with Broward.

"We...have had really no contact with Broward County in regards to setting up plans and structures in response to anything," Smith said.

Broward Sheriff's officials did not return calls from the Sentinel Wednesday seeking comment about the lack of coordination between the agencies.

Sanford police have worked closely with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office to develop plans on how to respond to various incidents, Smith said, adding that he is doubtful violence will occur in Sanford — regardless of the verdict.

Maybe they are anticipating things, but it just seems a little oogy to me that it took a trial like this for law enforcement to reach out and ask for nonviolence. It's almost like they are expecting violence and expecting and acquittal to cause violence. I get the message, but where was this message when people were asking for Zimmerman to be charged? I don't remember riots then.

[Demo_Chris]

5. They have our back? The cops decided not to properly investigate this crime...

They gave Zimmerman a pass, and now they want everyone else to calmly accept injustice.

I don't want to see anyone else hurt over this, and I do not encourage violence, but I understand that some might very well consider it necessary. NECESSARY, and the only way that their cries for justice will be heard. If Zimmerman walks the message will be clear: that it is okay to hunt and kill black children, and that racism is not only the cause of violence but the legal excuse for it.

[Raine1967]

8. Sanford PD f*cked this case up. I don;t know why Broward county has involved themselves.

It does appear that preemptively a County Sheriff Dept -- one that is nowhere near Sanford or it's county (seminole) is telling people to sit and accept. I don't know if I like this.

If Z walks they are literally asking for people to raise voices.. what? What are they supposed to sing gospel songs?

I'm not advocating violence, but it appears they are really afraid of something.

[Demo_Chris]

10. Yeah, who knows. nt

[William769]

17. Trayvon Martin is from South Florida.

Thats probably why Broward & Dade are involved.

[Raine1967]

18. ahh. Thanks for that information.

I hadn't thought about that. It makes a lot more sense to me now.

[Bjorn Against]

6. I also call for non-violence, including non-violence from the police

Protest may be necessary and I call for peaceful protest from all who participate, I also call on police to respect the right to protest and refrain from harrassing or using force against peaceful protesters. As anyone like me who has been involved in protests before knows, the police are well known for using violence against protesters and they have every bit as much of an obligation to refrain from violence as the protesters do.

[Raine1967]

9. YES.

This is possibly what is bothering me about this video.

The Police need to take thier own advice.

[KurtNYC]

13. They also left out rejected police-wanna-be's and that is how this thing started

A neighborhood that had a few burglaries became a neighborhood where parents are afraid to let their children play in the common areas because they could get shot.

Jamie Meyers, 26, and her two preschoolers walked through the neighborhood to place silk violets on the teenager's memorial. She and her husband moved here two years ago to be behind a gate, to be surrounded by other families with kids. "We're thinking about moving now," said Meyers, who teaches middle school. "We don't want to stay here, in a place something like this could happen."

http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/trayvon-martins-killing-shatters-safety-within-retreat-at-twin-lakes-in/1221799

[displacedtexan]

16. OMG! That's the best article I've read about this whole tragedy.

So much information, including the fact that crime increased there AFTER George Zimmerman moved in. Plus, he started calling 911 as soon as he moved in. I wonder now if he did that where he lived before he moved into the gated community.

And in the comments, one guy blamed renters for the crime there. Had he read the article, he would have noted that GZ was a renter.

Thanks for posting the link!

[KurtNYC]

19. I agree -- a lot of background information that I hadn't seen elsewhere

RTL was built to be $250K condos in a gated community. Built and sold during the real estate bubble. Many of the first buyers wound up renting the units out because the values dropped and they couldn't afford to sell (under water mortgages).

And many units were vacant which probably also contributed to an uptick in burglaries. Nationwide, people steal from vacant house and constructions sites -- tools, big appliances, copper pipes. It is not uncommon for other contractors to steal some of these things and then sell them to their clients who have no idea that they didn't come from Home Depot. Where else can a thief get full retail price for stolen goods with no suspicion, no questions asked.

Thanks to GZ a neighborhood that had had a few burglaries and some stolen bikes became a neighborhood where innocent people get shot for being outside at 7PM.

[NOLALady]

7. I guess they do not want a repeat

of the response to the acquittal in the Amadou Diallo shooting.

[ellenfl]

11. this from the law enforcement people who shot people with rubber bullets,

for the crime of peacefully protesting dubya's trade talks a few years back. there was a video out at the time showing a young female attorney in her business suit and heels being shot with rubber bullets by broward and/or miami-dade law enforcement.

didn't broward county just recently make the news after an investigation that concluded they had too many incidents involving excessive force? not sure if it was bpd or sheriff or if it was miami-dade but south florida does not have a very good rep. this whole country is becoming (has become?) a police state. too many bullies joining the force?

[JustAnotherGen]

12. No white kids?

Seriously - if Zimmerman gets so much as a slap on the hand it's IndieTeaPublican white men (like the Governor down there) with guns and a chip on their shoulder we need to worry about.

Well -maybe I do. I'm black in America so I look at things differently.

[Dash87]

14. There won't be violence post verdict

I'm not sure where this rumor is coming from. Some loon on the radio yesterday was bragging about how many guns Florida had, and how 'ready' they were (translation: ready to shoot black people).

Was this rumor ever founded, or just more paranoid 'race war' gun fantasies by America's gun nuts?

[Tx4obama]

15. Kick n/t

[MrScorpio]

20. Where are the drunken frat boys, drunken sports nuts and cops decked out in full riot regalia?

Since those guys are usually the ones causing riots in this country at any old time?