Description: Jan von Mehren reports that African American community leaders expressed their rage over the handling of the Carol Stuart murder case. Von Mehren notes that the leaders accused city officials, the Boston Police Department and the news media of racism in handling the case. Von Mehren's report includes angry speeches by Don Muhammad (Muhammad's Mosque), Rev. Graylan Hagler (Church of the United Community), and Bruce Bolling (Boston City Council). Von Mehren notes that the African American leaders have accused police of ignoring obvious clues during their investigation. Von Mehren adds that some leaders called for the resignation of Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) and Francis "Mickey" Roache (Commissioner, Boston Police Department). Von Mehren interviews Hagler. Hagler says that police officers ignored community residents who approached them with information about the case. Von Mehren concludes by saying that the African American community suffered a grave injustice in the aftermath of the murder.
1:00:04: Visual: Footage of Bill Owens (State Senator) speaking at a press conference. A group of African American community leaders stand behind him. The group includes Graylan Ellis-Hagler (Church of the United Community) and Don Muhammad (Muhammad's Mosque). Owens says that a great injustice has been done to the African-American community. Shots of the attendees at the press conference. Jan von Mehren reports that African American community leaders expressed rage and fury at a press conference today. V: Footage of Ellis-Hagler speaking at the press conference. Ellis-Hagler accuses Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) of placing blame too quickly on the African American community. Ellis-Hagler compares Flynn's actions to that of the Ku Klux Klan. The attendees at the press conference give vocal support to Ellis-Hagler's assertions. Footage of Muhammad at the press conference. Muhammad asks if white public officials will call Charles Stuart (murderer of Carol Stuart) "an animal." The crowd cheers. Von Mehren reports that African American leaders believe that Flynn, the Boston Police Department, and the media rushed to conclusions about the Stuart case. Von Mehren notes that the African American leaders say that racism played a huge role in the case. V: Shots of the press conference; of Charles Yancey (Boston City Council) addressing the press conference. Footage of Muhammad at the press conference. Muhammad says that police usually suspect the husband when a woman is killed. Muhammad says that police automatically suspect an African American man when a woman is killed in an African American neighborhood. Von Mehren stands outside of Muhammad's Mosque. Von Mehren reports that African American leaders have accused the police, the mayor, and the media of ignoring vital information about the case. Von Mehren notes that the African American leaders says that the vital information was circulating on the streets of Roxbury on the day after the shooting. V: Footage of Muhammad at the press conference. Muhammad says that there were rumours on the street that Charles Stuart was a drug addict. Muhammad says that police should have investigated those rumours. The crowd cheers. Von Mehren notes that Ellis-Hagler runs a recovery center for drug addicts out of his church in Roxbury. V: Footage of Ellis-Hagler being interviewed by von Mehren. Ellis-Hagler says that the workers in his recovery center told him that Charles Stuart was the murderer on the day after the murder occurred. Ellis-Hagler talks about a man from the community who went to police with information about the murder. Ellis-Hagler says that the man shared information with police which confirmed the alibi of William Bennett (suspect). Ellis-Hagler says that the police told the man that they had a suspect who suited their purposes. Footage of Muhammad at the press conference. Muhammad says that apologies are worthless; that the damage has already been done. Muhammad says that the city has stabbed the African American community in the back. Muhammad says that the African American community has been devastated. Shot of a sign at the press conference. The sign reads, "What does (sic) Boston and South Africa have in common? Stopping and detaining men because of the color of their skin." Von Mehren reports that some African American leaders called for the resignation of Flynn and Francis "Mickey" Roache (Police Commissioner, City of Boston); that some called for restitution to Mission Hill residents. V: Shots of Bruce Bolling (Boston City Council) speaking at the press conference; of attendees at the press conference. Shot of Muhammad at the press conference. Von Mehren adds that the African American community was dealt a grave injustice when police, public officials, and the media were taken in by Charles Stuart's hoax.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 01/05/1990
Description: Charles Stuart's body is pulled from Mystic River, lending a new perspective to the murder of his wife. Press conferences with Newman Flanagan and Ray Flynn. Unusual views of Tobin Bridge. Footage of wrongly accused suspect, Willie Bennett. Interviews with black Mission Hill residents.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 01/04/1990
Description: Marcus Jones compares the differing opinions on law enforcement of Deputy Superintendent of Boston Police William Celester and Reverend Graylan Hagler of the Church of the United Community. Interview with Celester, who says that the police are at war with drug addicts and gang members in the neighborhood, and that some of these individuals need to be scared of police. Celester says that police officers are not well equipped to serve as mentors. Jones reports that Hagler and others believe that a new approach is necessary. Hagler recommends that police academy graduates serve as mentors to community youth. Jones' report includes footage of Hagler talking about his plan from December 15, 1989. Hagler and his supporters see prevention as an effective weapon against drugs and violence. Following the edited story is b-roll of Celester and police officers at police headquarters.
1:00:05: Visual: Footage of William Celester (Deputy Superintendent, Boston Police Department) talking to a group of Roxbury residents at Boston Police Department Area B Headquarters on August 21, 1989. Marcus Jones reports that Celester believes that the police officers in his division are at war with drug addicts and gang members in Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan. V: Shot of two plain-clothes police officers arresting an African American man on the street. The man struggles with the police officers. Footage of Celester being interviewed by Jones. Celester says that there is a war over who will run the community. Celester says that either the "thugs" or the residents can run the community. Shot of a white police officer putting handcuffs on an African American man. The man stands beside a red sports car. Shots of police officers standing near a police cruiser with flashing lights. Shots of police officers at police headquarters; of a police officer sitting on a police motorcycle; of two white police officers searching a young African American man. Jones reports that Celester and the officers in his division were criticized last year; that some critics did not think the officers did enough to fight crime. Jones notes that others criticized the officers for going too far; that many opposed the police department's stop-and-search policy. V: Footage of Celester being interviewed by Jones. Celester says that some people need to be scared; that some people only understand fear. Footage of Graylan Ellis-Hagler (Church of the United Community) from December 15, 1989. Hagler says that police need to find some new tactics because the old tactics do not work. Shots of Ellis-Hagler walking with two African American men toward the Church of the United Community building. Shots of a sign for the Church of the United Community. Shots of Ellis-Hagler talking with a group of African American men at the Church of the United Community. Shots of the individual men in the group. Jones reports that Ellis-Hagler and other community activists are urging the police department to consider ways to prevent young people from getting involved with drugs and gangs. Jones notes that Ellis-Hagler recommends that rookie police officers serve as mentors for the community youth. V: Footage of Ellis-Hagler from December 15, 1989. Hagler says that most police officers are concerned about the community. Hagler says that many police officers are frustrated because they realize that an more innovative approach is necessary. Jones reports that Celester does not think that police officers should serve as social workers. V: Footage of Celester being interviewed by Jones. Celester says that police officers are not well equipped to serve as mentors. Celester says that the police must care about the community; that the police cannot do everything. Shot of an African American man and an African American woman walking past a fire truck in Los Angeles; of police officers arresting a suspect. Jones reports that police officers in Los Angeles and Washington are taking the call for prevention seriously. V: Shot of English High School students walking on a street. Jones notes that the effectiveness of prevention measures cannot be easily measured; that many see prevention as an effective weapon in the war against drugs and violence. V: Shots of a white police officer guiding a group of African Americans away from a crime scene; of medics putting a wounded person on a stretcher into an ambulance.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 01/02/1990
Description: Interview with mystery writer Jane Langton on art theft at Gardner Museum, which somewhat parallels one of her novels. B-roll follows of interiors of Gardner Museum and planted atrium. Guards, antique furniture, tapestries, paintings. Police line. Museum employee discussing investigation in the background while filming b-roll.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 03/19/1990
Description: Rudolph Pierce, Mickey Roache and others hold forum with students at Humphrey Center on "stop and search" tactics by Boston police. Rebecca Rollins reports that Boston lawyers and police officials participated in a forum with students at Madison Park High School. Rollins notes that the topic of the forum was gang activity and the Boston Police Department's stop-and-search procedures. Rollins notes that students and community members have complained about unreasonable stop-and-search procedures by police offiicers. Rollins' report includes footage from the forum. Panelists include Rudolph Pierce (Boston Bar Association), Joan Stanley (Colette Manoil Law Offices) and Francis "Mickey" Roache (Police Commissioner, City of Boston). Pierce says that police have the right to stop a person if there is reasonable suspicion of guilt. Dennis Jean (senior, Madison Park High School) talks about his experiences with police officers who have stopped him. Candido Brown (junior, Madison Park High School) asks why police should be able to search him if he is innocent. Roache tells students that the police department is obliged to protect the rights of citizens. Rollins reports that the forum will help to improve communication between youth and police. Rollins' report includes footage of police officers arresting an African American man. This tape includes additional footage of the forum at Madison Park High School.
1:00:10: Visual: Footage of Rudolph Pierce (Boston Bar Association) speaking at a Madison Park High School. Pierce talks about gang members in Boston. Footage of Joan Stanley (Colette Manoil Law Offices) speaking at the press conference. Stanley says that neighborhood residents are fed up with the activities of some gang members. Rebecca Rollins reports that Boston lawyers and police officials talked about gang activity with students at Madison Park High School. Rollins notes that the lawyers and police officials read fictional scenarios about confrontations between gangs and police. Rollins reports that lawyers and police officials met with students to discuss their differences over the Boston Police Department's stop-and search procedures. V: Shots of the students in the audience at Madison Park High School; of an African American female student addressing the panel of lawyers and police officials. Shot of Francis "Mickey" Roache (Police Commissioner, City of Boston) addressing the students. Footage of a white police officer arresting an African American man. The police officer puts handcuffs on the man, who stands next to a red sports car. Footage of Pierce addressing the students. Pierce says that a police officer has the right to stop and frisk someone if they have reasonable suspicions about the person. Pierce says that the "reasonable suspicion" must be based on facts. Footage of Dennis Jean (senior, Madison Park High School) saying that he and his friends would be stopped and searched almost every day by police. Pierce says that police officers once forced him to drop his pants in public. Pierce says that police officers force people to remove their sneakers; that his friends have had their money stolen by police officers. Pierce says that police officers harass people when they stop to search them. Footage of Roache addressing the students. Roache says that the police often want to act on information that they receive. Roache says that police officers are obliged to protect the rights of citizens. Shots of students in the audience; of the lawyers and police officials at the front of the room. Rollins reports that Roache told students that he investigates every complaint about the improper treatment of citizens at the hands of police officers. Rollins notes that students and police officials cannot agree on what constitutes "improper treatment." V: Shot of two white police officers searching a young African American male on the street. Shot of the lawyers and police officials on the panel at Madison Park High School. Footage of Candido Brown (junior, Madison Park High School) addressing the panel. Brown asks the panel why police officers should be allowed to bother him when he is not doing anything. The students applaud. Shot of a white official addressing the students. Rollins reports that the forum may not resolve the stop-and-search controversy; that the forum will improve communication between youth and police. V: Shots of students at the forum. Footage of Jean saying that the police should be investigating "gang territory." Jean says that police know where the gangs are and what the gangs wear. Jean says that he is not wearing any gang insignia.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 05/08/1990
Description: As follow-up to Stuart murder, James Shannon condemns Boston police practice of stop and search. Don Murray of Patrolman's Association ridicules proposed civilian review board. Bruce Bolling at a press conference.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 12/18/1990
Description: Ray Flynn's State of the City address focuses on Stuart murder case, police behavior, and racism. He contrasts and challenges stereotypes of different Boston neighborhoods. Interviews with people responding the speech.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 01/10/1990
Description: Interview with defense attorney Judith Lindahl tells how police wrongly pointed to William Bennett as Stuart murder suspect and how system implicates innocent people. Interview with John Kiernan, defending prosecutors' tactics.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 01/05/1990