Rebecca Whitby, police brutality victim, freed
By
Workers World Cleveland bureau
Published May 6, 2011 9:09 PM
On April 27, family and supporters of Rebecca Whitby cheered and celebrated on
the steps of the Justice Center, the site of nearly two years of rallies, as
they waited for 25-year-old Rebecca Whitby to be released. Following a brutal,
unprovoked beating by two Cleveland police officers in April 2009, Whitby
refused to take a plea deal to false charges. Her courageous, principled stand
inspired a high-spirited campaign.
“This shows the power of unity,” Tim Walker, Whitby’s father,
declared to WW.
Whitby’s mother, also named Rebecca Whitby, was radiant with excitement
at her daughter’s return. “This is a huge relief. Rebecca’s
baby needs her. She’s been real sick,” she told WW.
Judge Daniel Gaul sent Whitby to Ohio Reformatory for Women on March 8, telling
her that she needed to come out of “la-la land” and confess to the
police version of the events on the night of the beating. On the day of the
release, however, Gaul asked Whitby simply, “Do you have anything to
say?” To which she replied, “No.”
Between those two hearings, Whitby’s attorney filed a motion that
provided the official basis for her release. In addition, Whitby supporters,
including WW readers, contacted a high-ranking official in the Ohio Department
of Rehabilitation and Correction requesting Whitby’s release.
Moreover, on April 8, a grievance was filed against Gaul at the Office of
Disciplinary Counsel in Columbus, Ohio, for numerous judicial improprieties in
the Whitby case.
Sharon Danann, organizer with the Lucasville Uprising Freedom Network in Ohio,
told WW: “The combined impact was the power of the people. Rebecca stood
strong, and we are so proud of her. She demonstrated that police brutality does
not have to be tolerated.”
As conditions of release, Gaul imposed two years of probation and a requirement
for psychological counseling for Whitby.
Whitby’s aunt and uncle, Marva and Dave Patterson, stated to WW:
“We all suffered while Rebecca was incarcerated and were extremely
concerned for her safety. All of us must continue to fight injustices wherever
we find them. We can no longer allow innocent people to be abused by an
unscrupulous judicial system.”
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