By: Yosef Bergovoy
Yesterday was a historic day in Crown Heights. I don’t think our founding fathers would have fathomed it. There was a hall full of Lubavitchers, as well as African-Americans. The panel consisted of a Lubavitch Juris Doctor, an acclaimed Jewish civil rights lawyer, and several elected African American officials. We are all so used to arguments, politics and strife. It is about time, and it was definitely a breath of fresh air to take preventative steps; steps that would allocate knowledge to the people, which means giving power to the people. When we know what our rights are, there is no gray area when it comes to being controlled and abused by the authorities. If we don’t know what we can and should know, then there is a lot of room for trouble.
If I would have known what I know now after today’s seminar, then perhaps I would have not received my wrongfully issued summons. After today I am aware of what my rights are, and how to exercise them. The people who were on the panel at the event have extensive experience working with police misconduct and protecting innocent civilians. Attorney Norman Siegel actually founded the CCRB (civilian complaint review board), which is a very important tool in fighting civilians from being abused and disrespected by the police. State Senator Eric Adams passed a legislation that protects innocent people who were stopped by the police from having their information stored in a database, which later on could possibly be used to incriminate someone who never did anything wrong or illegal. The legislation was sponsored by Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, who was also on the panel. The victims’ rights issues were addressed in the Q&A of the seminar, and the D.A.’s office was represented by their council Lance Ogiste, giving the panel a more balanced perspective from both an effective policing as well as citizens’ rights point of view.
The video is posted here on COLlive.com, but I’d like to reiterate a couple of key points, which I thought would be very useful for the future:
Don’t make any statements about the case, as it can be held against you.
Write down everything you remember as soon as possible after the incident.
You should always be respectful of the officer. Getting upset or cursing will never help. It will just make the situation worse.
Remember the officer’s badge number and name. However, do not make a point of doing it loudly and having it noticed. Again, that will make things worse. Make a mental note, or write it down discreetly if possible.
You are allowed to photograph or videotape officers, as they are public servants. Make sure however, that you are not being disruptive to the police doing their job.
Try to find witnesses and their names and numbers.
Those were some of the topics covered. You should definitely watch the video of the event, as it will assist you and your family with future interactions with the police.
Many people who I have met in the past several months have said: why are you pursuing this? It happens so seldom, and is not that important. There are others who take another approach: Why say anything about it? It is wrong to let anyone know about it. Saying anything bad about the police will just hurt us in the end. Those people could not be more wrong. When you allow an issue to dwell and exist, it will grow. If you let the problem be, and think that it is a onetime occurrence, when realistically it is an ongoing and systematic issue, one day the problem will be much, much worse.
Throughout history, when a nation or a group of people were passive about laws being passed or anything of the sort, that only lead to destruction and travesties. When people group together and unite for one cause and without any agendas, there is nothing more powerful. Whatever the issue might be in a community, the differences need to be put aside, and our spiritual and physical safety need to be put on the proverbial front burner. Yesterdayday was an excellent example of that. The event went beyond our perceived differences, and the only race that mattered was the human race. I am happy that Eli Federman and I put in the effort to have this take place.
That first week after my incident with the summons, I would have never imagined that this event would have taken place as an outcome of the story. That week in October, I was doing research and I was thinking to myself, what can I do to make sure other people don’t have to go through the same thing? But that attitude was met with a lot of skepticism and pessimism, whether it was friends or people who heard about the story. It seems like an insignificant story, but it really shines a light upon the bigger picture, and with the proper effort things started clicking. I got in touch with attorney Gerald Cohen, who helped me out tremendously. I was put in touch with Attorney Norman Siegel, who gave us the idea to make the “Know your rights” seminar in Crown Heights, and has been the greatest resource and help since the first day I called him.
What it boils down to is this: Don’t keep quiet. Don’t keep yourself and everyone else in the dark. Educate yourself and the people you know. Let’s not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of. There are people out there who care, and are willing and able to help. Senator Eric Adams told us yesterday that you can email him at [email protected], and he reads all of the emails. There are ways to go about things. There are ways that we can help ourselves. Let’s unify and use the power we have as a whole and as a people, and many good things will happen.
Eli and I will be working on other educational seminars in the future. We were very happy with today’s event and it was definitely a big Kiddush Hashem. A very big thank you goes to Ben Federman, CEO of 1saleaday.com for sponsoring the event. Thank you Mendy Geisinsky of Uptown Productions for a job well done orchestrating the event. I would also like to acknowledge and thank Eli Federman for the tireless effort he put into organizing the event.
Know your rights: Part 1
Know your rights: Part 2:
unite as (people)
It seems as if Eli and Yosef are a good duo. Keep up the good work!
Eli Federman is clearly a unifying personality!
i hope he uses his gifts to the fullest
Proud to say I went to Law School with Eli. Keep up the good work.
SF
Kol hakavod!
Oirechman’s,
krayot
I found it very informative.
Just finished watching the seminar/panel. Very informative. Very classy. Very professional. If I would of known the standard and lack of gefilte fish program, I would have attended. Butzin butzin maktifaya yedia — Mr. Eli Federman you are young, bold and have a bright future. Thank you for your level-headedness, integrity and pursuit of justice.
SL
Go Yosef! Chicago rocks
It’s sad that Eric Adams seems more willing to confront issues on our community’s behalf, than our own community council. The Vaad Hakahol (community council) sweep issues under the rug, and if Senator Adams was sincere, which it appeared that he was, he takes bold issues head on. The vaad hakahol should take heed of his example and not be so concerned of ‘burning bridges’ with government rather be more proactive with forging bridges with us – the members of the community they represent. That’s where I believe they gain respect from government, when the government sees their devotion to… Read more »
I am usually wary of attending such events to defend myself from being stereotyped as nerdy etc. but seeing the video, I’m sorry I missed it. I wish I would have attended.
LA is very proud
his website is uptownco.com he’s a new talent
To # 17
Knowing Eli Federman….If he would want to get involved in politics, he will run for something greater then vaad-Hakohol of C”H. I don’t think he will get himself involved with all this Tcholent pot. I will not be surprised if one day he will be the US Attorney.
I believe that Eli did it purely for the sake of justice!!!
I dont live in Crown heights, but I certainly enjoyed being informed on these topics, you will be surprised how much injustice one person can view. I was once egged in my full Jewish garb and the police officer didnt want to write the report becasue i didnt have full description of the car or the person, it was all “waste of time, and paperwork” if i would have watched this , i would have never let that happen!
Dont know who you are Eli, but your heart is in the right place, keep it up!
please run for Vaad Hakohol
I agree with comment # 6
this event was for the benefit of the community, and the community showed unity by attending.
mendy great job
ever want on event done right hes the way to go
A grasa yashar koach!
together we can accomplish unlimited
yes iy”h he is hoping to start doing more event’s in the schunah (like this 1, and lechayim’s, and parties, and stuff) he does an awesome job and is an awesome guy to know and work with! gr8 job mendy geisinsky all the brochois to u from now on!
well done eli!
Yosef you da man! 😉
Everybody he is in College with me…Don’t forget me when u become famous Yosef lol
They made have attended, but you made it happen.
Thank you col for posting the video and story! I loved it
finally an event which seemed to not be hijacked by partisan pandering
we need more ppl like him in places of leadership!
no agendas, just public interest!
Vert Informative!
im sending a link to this to all my friends
is it a new company?
Rock on you civil Servant!