Idriss Stelley Foundation

[eridani]

IDRISS STELLEY FOUNDATION (ISF)

ISF is a nonprofit organization created through the settlement of Idriss Stelley's vs. City &County and SFPD case and its allocation to his mother mesha Monge-Irizarry.

Her only child, 23 African American was killed by SFPD at the Sony
Metreon Theater on June 13, 2001, 48 shots, 9 officers, as he stood alone in an empty theater.

ISF provides free, confidential services to Bay Area biological and extended families whose loved ones have been disabled or killed by law enforcement.



* Know your rights workshop
* Victory oVer Violence (support group)
* Support counseling
* Community altar
* 24-HR Trilingual Spanish/French/English crisis line
* Family outreach training program
* Monitoring of SFPD / input in SFPD trainings
* Police Reform (prop H) implementation
* Police Commission hearing weekly attendance
* Participation in Police Academy Citizen Training
* Volunteer and undergraduate program
* (Pending grant: funeral benefits)
* Free E-mail &Internet access to Families & Youth affected by law misconduct (formerlyNo Pigs in DA Hood")
*Sundays 6 P.M. on 103.3 FM, talk show on law enforcement accountability, Bayview Hunters Point Community Radio, upcoming webcast "BVHP Village Voice".
*Upcoming Webcast "SF Bayview Village Voice"
* Member of Bay Area Network Against Police Brutality
* Bayview Youth Mural Dream Project
* CEDP (Campaign to End the Death Penalty) SF Bayview Chapter
*Save Kevin Cooper and Stan Tookie Williams Campaign member

The primary focus of ISF, justified by casualty statistics is:
To serve the Bay Area African American community and families of color, although no one will be turned down. Home visits can be scheduled if needed.

We are seeking volunteers and interns to staff our upcoming bilingual 24-HR crisis line, teach basic computer skills, provide confidential support counseling, staff special events and help with fundraising as well as outreach &quilt making.

Idriss Stelley Foundation depends on the community in terms of donations

Checks can be made out to:
ISF, 4921 3rd St, SF, CA 94124

For an appointment, leave a message to mesha Monge-Irizarry [phone] / 24-HR Crisis Line iolmisha cs.com


(Nominated "Local Heroes of the Year" Sandra Juanita Cooper, Co-Founder and former Co-Director, and mesha Monge-Irizarry, Grass Root Organizer by the San Francisco Bay Guardian, "Best of 2004" edition, July 28/04)


Justice4JulioAyala Press conference &Protest, The Heat is ON !
(mesha Monge-Irizarry, Idriss Stelley Foundation)

On Wednesday 6-21, the family and friends of Julio Ayala, Latino and Police Accountatibility activists gathered at 8:30 am in front of Redwood City City Hall, holding the October 22 Against Police Brutality Coalition banners, chanting "No justice, No Peace !" and "Justicia para Julio Ayala". The corporate press was at the rendez-vous, City Bay, the Examiner, La Prensa Grafica Salvadorena, Channel 2 & 7.

Julio Ayala, 26 yr. Salvadoreno legal US resident, who lived on Jamestown Avenue in SF Bayview Hill until his tragic fate, died at the hands of 13 police officers at the SF Airport Inn on 6-3-05,
allegedly "stopping to breathe" after being restrained in a body wrap for 15 minutes.

Before stepping into the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Chamber, we were forwarned by a city official that although the board was aware that a group was planning to address them in public comments, no disturbance would be tolerated, "fill out your slips, no more than 2 minutes per comment!".

Reminiscent of the former apathic SF Police Commission before
November 03 Police reform, Supervisors Mark Church, Jerry Hill, Rich Gordon, Adrienne Tissier (all of European descent) and Rose Jacobs Gibson (African American), stood motionless, strictly sticking to the 2
minutes imposed time limit, "Next !", and did not care to ask any questions to Tanya (Julio's sister), Julio and Mirna Ayala (his parents), who made a moving appeal to the board, often breaking
into heartwrenching tears (which prompted each time for the corporate
press to swirm upclose, avid for sensational material). Mr. Ayala
presented the board with close to 1000 petitions (some from 32 states outside of California, and 11 foreign countries),demanding all reports
pertaining to the death of his son, release of the 911 dispatching tape and an independent federal investigation, along with a letter to the
Board, portraying his family as "Law abiding, hard working Latinos" who
fled disaster, oppression and war in El Salvador to seek refuge in the
Land of Opportunity, where they ended up loosing their beautiful son at
the hands of SSF PD.

Julio's friends described him as a children loving, conscencious worker, undeserving of such horrible fate, and pleaded the board for their serious consideration of Julio's death matter. Union workers, peace activists calmly reiterated the same request: "Do the right thing! Give us Justice 4 Julio"!

"Any more comments?". "well, we do not have authority to settle this issue at this hearing, we will review the evidence and get back to
you in 2 weeks". The whole matter was wrapped up in less than 15
minutes before the board moved on to the next agenda item, without another glance toward the Ayalas.

Board President Mark Church did, for whatever that was worth, pay respect to the grieving family. On our way back to San Francisco, Mirna and Julio Ayala alternatively break into tears. Waves of wrenching pain and despair constantly tear them apart, over and over, compiled with the total absence of information, disrespect and disregard inflicted upon them for the past two and a half months.

Each unanswered appeal to let them know what happened to their son takes a terrible toll on their emotional health and hope that our community will honnor their beautiful child...

But the struggle for Justice4Julio will go on !

To send a message of support to the Ayala family, you can write to
Ayalajulio2 aol.com or post a message on
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Justice4Julio /


On June 29 2004, Gus Rugley, 21 yr African American Youth was shot
more than a hundred times on Alemany Boulevard, San Francisco, after what SFPD described as a high speed chase. According to the corporate press, Rugley would have opened fire at a police car. However, the autopsy report released nearly 9 months after Rugley's homicide, revealed that Gus had no gun powder traces on his skin or clothing, therefore Gus could not have used a weapon. The toxicological screen also revealed that Gus Rugley was not under the influence of alcohol or any drugs at the time of his death.

Please take a moment to post a message of support to Gus' courageous mom, Elvira Pollard. In 7 days the anniversary of Gus' killing is coming up ! Join our campaign for Justice4GusRugley !

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Justice4Gus /



Cordially,
mesha monge-irizarry
Idriss Stelley Foundation
[phone] 24HR Bilingual Spa. Crisis Line