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The following is excepted from IndyMedia.org, which has the full text of the article.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 reporting: Davey D & Jenny on the Block
The story we are hearing is that group Rodstarz and G1 were up in Bronx on Southern Blvd in Hunts Point, when they noticed the police were harassing a street vendor who was selling fruit. The two went over to witness the cops in action and when they saw the police being abusive they pulled out a cell phone to video tape the incident and asked for the officers badge numbers.
Keep in mind that part of the Bronx has a large immigrant community and it is also being gentrified. The police from the 41st Precint have made it a point to commit acts of terror including the shooting and killing of an unarmed immigrant man last year. The case brought up images of Amadou Diallo another immigrant was gunned down by out of control Bronx cops in the neighboring precint.
According to witnesses, when Rodstarz and G1 asked for badge numbers the police became agitated and turned around and started beating them with bully clubs and kicking them in full view of other vendors and people on the crowded street. The two were dragged off bloody, put into a police car and charged with resisting arrest and assault.
The backdrop to this story is that Rebel Diaz are not your ordinary rappers. They are well known activist who not only speak out against police terrorism, but have been key in helping out folks within this immigrant community. Hence it would not be usual for group members to bear witness and to speak out against the injustices. Rebel Diaz has committed themselves to given voice to the voiceless in that Bronx neighborhood.
Peoples' Justice, Coalition of NYC-based Grassroots Anti-Police Brutality Organizations, Launches City-Wide CopWatch at 1 Police Plaza
PJ Says: The Eyes of New Yorkers are On the Police
June 12, 2008, New York, NY – Peoples' Justice, a coalition of New York City grassroots organizations formed to combat police violence and misconduct, launched a city-wide Copwatch program today. The CopWatch program involves groups of people monitoring police activity in neighborhoods that are heavily policed by the NYPD. The monitoring involves videotaping police actions with the goal of preventing police misconduct, as well as documenting abuses in an effort to insure accountability. PJ's CopWatch program will also focus on informing New Yorkers on their rights through Know Your Rights trainings that will offer practical advice on how to deal with police encounters. In addition, PJ will offer training to residents on how to form their own neighborhood CopWatch-style programs. The program, a multi-racial, multi-gendered effort, will begin immediately in Manhattan and Brooklyn, with plans to employ teams in the remaining boroughs in July.
NYPD Announces Operation Torch on Same Day Judge Gave a Pass to Cops in 50-shot Death of Sean Bell
Peoples’ Justice Denounces New Program
May 14, 2008, New York – On Friday, April 25, 2008, the NYPD announced their latest effort in so-called "terrorism" prevention – Operation Torch. In this new federally-funded program, NYPD officers will be equipped with automatic assault rifles and bomb-sniffing dogs and will patrol subways and platforms. In addition, the money received from the federal government will be used to buy the latest in surveillance technology, including new surveillance cameras. Peoples' Justice – a coalition of grassroots groups organizing against police violence – issued the following statement denouncing the new program:
April 28, 2008: Following Acquittal of NYPD Officers in Sean Bell Killing, Advocates Call for Special Prosecutor in Police Brutality Cases
In New York, a coalition of civil rights advocates are calling for a permanent state-level special prosecutor to handle police brutality cases following the acquittal of three NYPD detectives in the killing of Sean Bell. The twenty-three-year-old Bell died in a hail of fifty police bullets on the morning of what would have been his wedding day in November 2006. Two of his friends were also injured in the shooting. All three men were unarmed.
We speak with Sanford Rubinstein, the attorney representing Sean Bell’s fiancee Nicole Paultre-Bell, and with Jessica Sanclemente, the co-coordinator of People’s Justice.
(The following video is excerpted from the total program. To see program in other formats and in full, please use the links below the video.)
Excerpt of Democracy Now 04/28/2008 - Additional Formats
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), and the unjust outcome, the Peoples Justice rally began 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 with 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.
