‘Investigate Cleveland for dereliction of duty’

On Dec. 22, Imperial Eleven Concerned Citizens of Cleveland held a news conference to announce the posting of a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder requesting an investigation. The letter contends that at least six of 11 murdered Black women whose bodies were found on Imperial Avenue “would be alive if not for a dereliction of duty of officials in Cleveland City Government.”

Targeted officials and departments include the police department, prosecutors, law director, safety director, city council, mayor’s office, health department and water department. The letter cites the “stench on their street” that had been the source of numerous complaints. In addition, women who managed to flee for their lives found their reports were not taken seriously.

Donnie Pastard, author of the letter, says that she was motivated to take this step because “city officials appeared to be clueless as to how to handle concerns of the victims, which should have been obvious.” Many local activists signed the letter in support.

Sharon Danann, an organizer with the Imperial Women, a group supporting Pastard’s letter, said, “Imperial Avenue laid bare the value system of racism, sexism and contempt for the poor. We are joining together to turn this system around. Women around the world are standing up to stop rape and murder, the war of terror on women.”

Individuals and organizations from anywhere in the U.S. and all other countries are encouraged to contact the attorney general with expressions of support for an investigation into the malfeasance and neglect that contributed to the rapes and murders of the 11 women found so far in Cleveland.

Write to Attorney General Eric Holder, U.S. Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20530-0001; phone: 202-514-5001. Send e-mail to [email protected]. Note: The Attorney General’s website asks you to include a mailing address in your e-mail and warns that the e-mail will be deleted if it has attachments.