After presenting the first of many Hip-hop Summit concerts in Seattle’s, alleged police brutality occurred. Min. Benjamin Muhammad, the President of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, rap artists Dead Prez, the founder of Seattle’s Hip-Hop Summit Action Network Youth Council Wyking Allah (the Honorable Kwame Garrett), and artist Onlee 1 Kanome were allegedly attacked and arrested by police for jaywalking. During the arrest, Wyking and Onlee were said to be peppered sprayed in the face and the policed used excessive force during the arrest. Both men were said to be denied any medical attention. Currently they are free on bail. The police charge both men assaulted a police officer and raised the charges to felony assault.
Onlee 1 has established Cop Watch 206 to help combat the growing police assaults in 1996 and won a settlement this year after he was the victim of police brutality. The son of Omari-Tahir Garrett, Wyking is said to be “like his father”, who was convicted of hitting Seattle Mayor Paul Schell last year. Members of the Hip-Hop Summit board are Russell Simmons, Dave Mays, the Reverend Al Sharpton, Sean “Puffy” Combs, Steve Rifkind, Minister Benjamin Muhammad, Def Jam President Kevin Liles, Motown President Kedar Massenburg and Steve Stoute.
