[Mitai-announce] MIT police officer D'Amelio attacks and again arrests Aimee Smith

[peace-request@MIT.EDU]

August 27, 2004

MIT police officer, Joseph D'Amelio, attacks and again arrests 
Aimee Smith after taunting her about arresting her once before


The same MIT police officer who falsely arrested Aimee Smith 
for handing out leaflets before Commencement on June 4, 2004, 
attacked and then arrested her this past Wednesday in front of the 
MIT student center.

Around 1:00 PM on Wednesday Aug 25, while heading to a lunch 
appointment, Aimee was speaking with MIT police officers outside 
the student center about First Amendment rights. One of the 
officers, Joseph D'Amelio, asked Aimee whether she remembered 
him from their last encounter on Commencement day. At last 
June's MIT commencement ceremony, D'Amelio arrested Aimee on 
Memorial drive for handing out flyers. MIT dropped the absurd 
charges used in that arrest and President Vest acknowledged that 
MIT had no policy prohibiting distribution of leaflets. This past
Wednesday, Officer D'Amelio attempted to intimidate Aimee by 
taunting her about the fact that he had arrested her before.

While walking away from the three officers, D'Amelio told 
Aimee: "I should arrest you again". Aimee responded by asking 
whether this was a threat designed to intimidate her and then 
expressed her view of police officers who make such threats. 
In response, D'Amelio lost his temper and lunged at Aimee and 
pulled her shirt collar around her throat, choking her in the 
process. Aimee was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting 
arrest. 

This second flagrant abuse of power and use of excessive force by 
this same MIT police officer is unacceptable. Officer Joseph 
D'Amelio, has now shown a pattern of rogue behavior and is clearly 
targeting Aimee Smith. People who cannot control their anger 
cannot be trusted to carry deadly weapons. 

Please write to demand that President Vest drop these new false 
charges against Aimee Smith and that Joseph D'Amelio's employment 
with the MIT police department be terminated. Furthermore, insist 
that the record of both false arrests be expunged from police/court 
records. Despite the previous charges being officially dropped, 
that incident was cited yesterday by the prosecutor in an attempt 
to "legitimize" the current charges. 

Also ask president Vest:

~ Is it MIT policy to arrest someone for discussing First 
  Amendment rights with MIT police officers?

~ Is it MIT policy to allow MIT police to arrest someone because 
  they don't like what they're saying or because they have a personal 
  dislike for them?

~ Why wasn't D'Amelio removed from the MIT police force the first 
  time he abused his authority. 

~ How long will the MIT administration continue to allow female 
  members of its community to be threatened, bullied, harassed, 
  and physically assaulted by a predominantly male campus police 
  force?

To learn more about the previous assault on the 1st amendment
rights of the four leafleters on Commencement Day, go to 
http://web.mit.edu/justice

___________________________________________  
Contact info

President Charles Vest
e-mail:   cmvest at mit.edu
phone:    (617) 253-0148
address:  77 Mass Ave, Rm. 3-208
          Cambridge MA, 02139
FAX:      (617) 253-0036
[Goes to the Vice President's office across the hall. Label 
with "Please deliver immediately to president Charles Vest" 
and it should get to him.
    
President's House on Memorial Drive contact info:
FAX: (617) 253-3100

Provost Robert Brown
e-mail:   rab at mit.edu
phone:    (617) 253-4500
address:  77 Mass Ave, Rm. 3-208
          Cambridge MA, 02139
FAX:      (617) 253-8812

Chancellor Phillip Clay
e-mail:   plclay at mit.edu
phone:    (617) 253-6164
address:  77 Mass Ave, Rm 10-200
          Cambridge MA, 02139
FAX:      (617) 258-6261

Special assistant to the president
Kirk Kolenbrander
e-mail:   kdk at mit.edu
phone:    (617)-253-3365
address:  77 Mass Ave, Rm 10-205
          Cambridge MA, 02139
FAX:      (617) 258-6261

Director of Security and Campus Police
John DiFava
e-mail:   jdifava at mit.edu
phone:    (617) 252-1703
address:  77 Mass Ave, W31-114
          Cambridge MA, 02139
FAX:      (617) 253-8822