You can also find us at www.peoplesjustice.org
Peoples' Justice
For Community Control and Police Accountability
UPDATE: RALLY AND MARCH AFTER THE VERDICT
Brief summary of Friday April 25th
* Peoples Justice Rally for Justice for Sean Bell & All Victims of Police Brutality
* 2 arrests following formal march
Following yesterday morning's announcement of Judge Cooperman's "not guilty on all counts" acquittal verdict of 3 of the 5 NYPD officers involved in the murder of Sean Bell, hundreds gathered in Queens to express their outrage. Disgusted by the trial process (determined by 1 judge rather than a jury), the and the unjust outcome, Peoples Justice held a rally at 5:30pm by the Queens DA's office, with family members speaking of having lost loved ones to police brutality, and others speaking of personal experiences being victimized by law enforcement violence, including: Nicholas Heyward, Sr. spoke of his son - Nicholas Heyward, Jr. - murdered by the NYPD; members of Jayson Tirado's family; Juanita Young, mother of Malcolm Ferguson and founder of Parents Against Police Brutality; representatives of the Bushwick 32 case; Desis Rising Up & Moving, linking the struggle against police brutality to the struggle against the criminalization of immigrants. In addition to justice for Sean Bell and other specific cases, Peoples Justice is calling for an end to racist & militarized policing of our communities; the creation of a permanent independent prosecutor for all cases of police brutality in NYC; and increased efforts for community control of our safety through creation of community Cop Watch patrols and Know Your Rights work.
Peoples Justice moved the rally from the Queens DA's office with a march to Liverpool, the site of the 50-shot murder of Sean Bell and injuries to his friends Trent Benefield & Joseph Guzman. The unpermitted march, growing to 1,500 on Queens Boulevard, stopped traffic and was greeted by enormous support from community members along the way -- many joined the march; others honked their support from their cars, not seeming bothered to be stopped in traffic; others cheered from rooftops, apartments, stores, and buses.
At the closing rally on Liverpool (site of the shooting), about 500 vowed to continue the struggle for justice for Sean Bell & all victims of police brutality. Co-MC's Jessica Sanclemente (from the Justice Committee) and Thenjiwe McHarris (Malcolm X Grassroots Movement) reminded community members of the need to demand accountability of the police while also taking steps towards community control through Know Your Rights education and Cop Watch patrols. Those interested in developing their own Cop Watch patrols can contact the Justice Committee or Malcolm X Grassroots Movement for more information, and Peoples Justice can be contacted for more information about Know Your Rights training.
Following the close of the formal Peoples Justice march & rally, some continued with an impromptu march through parts of Jamaica, Queens. According to updates Peoples Justice received, at about 11:30pm, following the dispersal of one group at the 103rd Precinct, a protester was arrested as he was leaving, and a legal observer who tried to get badge information of the arresting officers was also arrested. After getting the news last night, Peoples Justice organizers secured an attorney to work w/the 2 who were arrested, and also had several Peoples Justice organizers go to the 107th precinct where they were being held before being transported to Central Booking. The attorney attempted to have them released with DAT's (desk appearance tickets), which is often protocol in such cases. The NYPD refused. We expect that the 2 will be released today, and will post additional updates if community mobilization is required.
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Sean Bell Verdict Protest - photos by Roberto Mercado
Endorsers of Friday's rally: Al Awda NY, Alianza Dominicana, Audre Lorde Project (ALP), Black Radical Congress-NY, Black Women's Leadership Caucus, Brooklyn For Peace, CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities, Center for Constitutional Rights, Center for Immigrant Families, Congress for Korean Reunification, Critical Resistance, Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM), DJ Chela, Domestic Workers United (DWU), El Puente, FREE! Families Rally for Emancipation and Empowerment, Families United for Racial and Economic Equality (FUREE), FIERCE, Fr. Luis Barrios – St. Mary's Episcopal Church (West Harlem, Manhattan), Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition (NYC), Harlem Tenants Council, Hasan Salaam, Hip Hop Caucus, Human Rights Project at the Urban Justice Center, I.F.A RECORDINGS/ BlackTone Music Group, Immigrant Justice Solidarity Project, Iglesia San Romero de Las Americas, International Action Center, Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ), Justice Committee, Lynne Stewart Organization, Mahina Movement, Make the Road by Walking, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Mano a Mano, May 1st Coalition, Million Worker March Movement, National Hip Hop Political Convention, New Abolitionists, New York City Labor Against the War (NYCLAW), New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, NYC United for Peace and Justice, NY Solidarity Coalition with Katrina/Rita Survivors, Nodutdol for Korean Community Development, October 22nd Coalition, Parents Against Police Brutality, Party for the People, Picture the Homeless, R.E.A.C.Hip Hop Coalition, Rebel Diaz, Regeneracion, Resistance in Brooklyn, Revolting in Pink (R.I.P), Rights for Imprisoned People with Psychiatric Disabilities (RIPPD), Sylvia Rivera Law Project, VAMOS Unidos. War Resisters League, Where We Live Radio Program/WBAI-FM NY.
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Join the Fight to STOP NYPD ATTACKS on OUR Communities
These are just a few examples of the NYPD attacking and murdering community members:
1. Juanita Young: Juanita has been the target of NYPD violence since she became an outspoken organizer and leader in the movement against police violence after the murder of her son, Malcolm Ferguson, by the NYPD in 2000. Juanita has successfully contested two false arrest by the NYPD and she is now facing her third: In November 2006, claiming they needed to check on the welfare of her children, police officers broke down the door to Juanita's home and arrested and assaulted her, resulting in her hospitalization.
2. Cory Mickins: Cory was shot 27 times and killed by plain clothes detective in March 2007 while eating at one of his favorite restaurants. The Detectives claim Cory had a gun and shot and officer in the ankle yet there are no finger prints on the gun they said belong to Cory and no gun powder on him or his clothing. Eye witnesses support the fact that Cory did NOT have a gun. A year later NO charges have been brought against the detectives for his murder.
3. Timur Person: Timur was a 19-year-old man who was shot four times in the chest and once in the neck by plain-clothes detectives in December 2006. When Timur was killed his hands were in the air and he was lying face-up on the floor. There has been no investigation into his murder, the DA's office refuses to investigate and convene a grand jury.
4. Bracero Family: In May 2007 56-year-old Mr. Bracero was attacked by NYPD officers while dropping his 15-year-old daughter off at school. When his wife and children arrived at the precinct to check on his condition, the officers were rude and violent, throwing Mrs. Bracero across the room and falsely arresting their son. Mr. Bracero's trial is scheduled to begin in June 2008.
5. Puerto Rican Day Parade: In June 2007, 208 people, mostly youth, were arrested because they were wearing black and gold clothing and/or beads around their necks. According to the officers involved, the arrests were justified because the colors and beads worn by the parade-goers signified membership in the Latin King and Queen Nation. To add insult to injury, some of the arrests targeted people who were wearing beads as part of their religious practice. Many of the charges have since been dropped and a few lawsuits against the NYPD have been paid out, others are pending.
6. Jayson Tirado: Jayson, 25 year old, farther of two, was shot and killed by NYPD officer Sean Sawyer on Oct. 2007. After shooting Jayson the officer fled the scene. He turned himself in 19 hours later. Sean Sawyer has yet to be charged for murdering Jayson.
7. Khiel Coppins: In November 2007, NYPD officers shot 20 bullets at Khiel Coppin a mentally ill 18-year-old from Bedford-Suyvesant Brooklyn striking him eight times. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly claims the officers were provoked by Coppin when he pointed an object at them that looked like a gun. After police ceased fire, they found the object he was holding was a black hairbrush.
An eyewitness named Sanchez said Officers told Coppin to put his hands up. When Coppin did he dropped the brush and the officers began to shoot.
8. Six Youth Attacked in Washington Heights: In November 2007 police officers attacked six young men with nightsticks and mace while they were eating at a McDonald's restaurant on 181st street and Broadway. Ryan, 16, was hospitalized as a result of his injuries. He is currently being charged as an adult. Justin Cabrera, another teenager who was badly beaten is also facing charges.
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PEOPLES' JUSTICE FOR COMMUNITY CONTROL AND POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY was initiated by the NYC Coalition Against Police Brutality (CAPB) and allies. We are a coalition of NYC-based grassroots organizations that have joined forces to win community control and police accountability.
Peoples' Justice includes the following groups:
Audre Lorde Project (ALP)
CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities (CAAAV)
F.I.E.R.C.E.
Immigrant Justice Solidarity Project (IJSP)
Justice Committee
Malcolm X Grassroots Movement (MXGM)
National Hip Hop Political Convention
Nodutdol for Korean Community Development
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Papoose - 50 Shots
