Editor’s note: Because the meeting finished late Monday evening, officials from the DeKalb Police Department were unable to be reached about concerns brought up at the NAACP meeting.

Monday night’s NAACP meeting addressed concerns about community police operations, both during Homecoming Weekend and in general.

NIU’s NAACP president, Mitchell Gaddis, presented four witnesses, making it clear beforehand that the NAACP was “not accusing” the police, but merely giving a voice to people.

“We’re only dealing with the facts,” Gaddis said.

Witness 1: Tywon Green

Green, a senior sociology major, spoke about an incident regarding his uncle, DeMeatrius Walker, 32. Walker walks every day from Hillcrest Drive to his job with Nestle, where he works 60 to 70 hours per week to support his family, Green said.

Green said Walker was assaulted on Oct. 5 by a man asking for cigarettes, and a group of men came out of hiding and chased him. Walker received scars and a fractured back that nearly left him paralyzed for life, Green said. Green said the police found Walker unconscious and brought him to the hospital, but he has not seen a police report regarding the incident.

Witness 2: Warren C. Jackson

Jackson, co-owner of J ‘N’ J Taxi in DeKalb, gave testimony about complaints he has had with the police for years, including discussing a lawsuit he filed with the City of Sycamore and its police department in June 2006.

Jackson claimed he has seen harassment since 2005, including interrogation of his passengers and frequent alteration of ordinances that he claims cost him $10,000, as well as a charge of disorderly conduct.

“They change the ordinance to counteract whatever I do,” he said.

Witness 3: Michael Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald, owner of Java 101, 901 Lucinda Ave., appeared over a video recording, speaking about a dance party his coffee house hosted the night of Oct. 13, a night which had no activities sponsored by NIU.

Fitzgerald said he had over 200 people inside and outside of his establishment, and that he had everything under control until around 1 a.m. Oct. 14, when an “army” of state and local officers came to investigate the gathering.

He said the officers asked him if they could look around, to which he refused, because he felt letting a team of armed officers in would lead to problems.

“I didn’t want anyone to get hurt,” he said. “My mother always told me if you are looking for trouble, you’re going to find it.”

Fitzgerald said he later saw the police after he closed his shop, as they began to motion the crowd to leave. Several small fights broke out, including one on Lucinda Avenue.

In that incident, Keno R. Burton, 18 of Rockford was arrested and charged with aggravated assault. According to the police report, Burton raised his hands in an aggressive manner after five or six armed officers came to stop the fight.

“There was no illegal activity until the police came,” Fitzgerald said.

Witness 4: Carolyn Little

Little, a junior business major, was at The House Cafe, 263 E. Lincoln Highway, the night of Oct. 12 when police showed up in uniform with dogs to investigate the crowd.

Little claims police were pushing people and that this became a domino effect that pushed her into a police dog, prompting the dog to bite her arm. She says a police report was filed, but that she has been denied access to it. She also said it was strange to see such a show of force when there was no crime happening.

Gaddis concluded the discussion by calling DeKalb city police “stormtroopers” who have “no regard for the lives of black people.”

Gaddis said he invited city police officers to the meeting, although none were present.

“[DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen] is a public servant. He has not been to one NAACP meeting; how does he expect to have a working relationship with us?” Gaddis said. “We’re not here to accuse the police of being racist, but it pretty much looks that way to us.”

Gaddis said he also invited University Police and other university officials, none of whom were present.