41 Shots Unleashes A Storm of Nationwide Protest

The brutal shooting of Amadou Diallo, 22, in the Bronx, N.Y., has triggered a broad and growing nationwide response from students, community, and labor.

The brutal shooting of Amadou Diallo, 22, in the Bronx, N.Y., has triggered a broad and growing nationwide response from students, community, and labor.

Aroused by hurt and anger, the families who have lost loved ones due to the brutality of law enforcement are demanding answers, explanations and justice. They were joined by thousands of people in Washington D.C. April 3, to protest police brutality and demand action from President Clinton, Congress, and the Justice department. In 80-degree heat, protestors young and old, Black, Brown, and white marched from the Martin Luther King Jr. Library to the U. S. Capitol to say, "Enough is Enough."

The purpose of the rally was to demand an end to police brutality. Marchers called for democratic civilian control of police and stronger federal legislation against hate crimes. They also demanded the Justice Department keep track of and prosecute acts of police brutality. From the steps of the Capitol they called on Congress to repeal the death penalty and the Omnibus Crime Bill.

As the families and friends of the victims marched the streets, the grief in their faces was evident. In an interview, Mildred Hamilton of the Cabrini Green housing projects in Chicago, Ill., stated, "My son left the house and the police shot him. They claimed he was shooting at them, but it was a lie, they never found the gun. They shot him in the back. They gave him no CPR. They waved an ambulance away and let him lay there from 10:30 p.m. to 11:55 p.m. Why would they let him lie there bleeding to death? They must have wanted him dead."

Hundreds of banners and posters were waved to honor those who were victims of police brutality and demand that action be taken by the Justice Department. One man held a sign that stated, "Cold Blooded Murder = Police Honor." Other signs read, "Baltimore needs peace officers," and "Police, do your job. Don't play God."

Participants were united in purpose. Members of New York City's public workers union, who came to show their solidarity with the families of victims of police violence, linked the police state atmosphere created by Mayor Giuliani with his drive to bust unions and privatize city services such as hospitals, and public education. Young people marched in force. They came with their parents, high schools, youth and community organizations. Standing out among the youth, wearing bright red tee-shirts, was a large delegation of junior high and high school students from the Our Children's Foundation. Students from Progressive Unity Slate, running for re-election this month for the Temple University Student Government, took time out from a busy campaign schedule to show their solidarity. Seth Oberman, a student from Temple, and a board member of the United States Student Association told Dynamic, "Young people are often the victims of police violence, especially youth of color. Meanwhile, our public schools in communities with high unemployment and poverty are consistently underfunded, but money goes for more and more cops and jails. This has got to stop!"

Marching behind a banner that read, "Black, Brown, & White Unite ... End Police Brutality ... Civilian Control of Police is Our Right," were 60 members of the Young Communist League and Communist Party from Baltimore, Boston, Connecticut, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Virginia. Shane McEvoy, a YCL organizer from New York told Dynamic, "Youth and students need to join in coalition with all victims of police violence - African Americans, Latinos, workers on strike, immigrants, gays and lesbians, peaceful protestors and others have all been affected, and we are all here today. With our unity we can win victories to end police brutality."

Upon reaching the capitol, the marchers surrounded the podium to listen to the testimonies of family members. Emma Jones, mother of Malik Jones from New Haven, Conn., commented on the actions taken so far in regard to police brutality. In her speech she said, "We can't always have a rational approach to something so totally irrational. I think it is time for all of us to join hands and say that if Janet Reno, and other Justice Department officials, won't hold these outrageous criminals accountable - we will."

She went on to recount the horrifying story of April 14, 1997, when police chased her 21-year-old son in his car. After boxing in Malik's car, an officer smashed the window of the driver's side with the butt of his gun and then repeatedly shot Malik in his heart at point blank range. The medical examiner found 20 bullet holes in Malik's body.

The explanation given for his death was that he gave the officer a "defiant 'Go to Hell look.'" The action of the officer was deemed "reasonable and justified" by the district attorney. This case is currently under investigation by the Justice Department.

Two Prince George's county, Md., police officers killed Archie Elliott on June 18, 1993. His mother Dorothy Elliott, painfully explained that after being pulled over for reckless driving the officers cuffed Archie's hands behind his back. The officers shot at him 22 times execution style - 14 bullets hit Archie. The reason given for the shooting was he pointed a gun at the officers. Archie Elliott was only 30 years old and the father of a child.

At the conclusion of the rally Rev. Al Sharpton of New York, spoke about the United States sending bombers to fight a war in Yugoslavia, while ignoring the war that is taking place on our streets daily. Directing his statements at President Clinton, Sharpton said, "Don't forget Mr. President, when you were under attack. You didn't turn to Jesse Helms. You turned to Jesse Jackson ... You are there because we stood for you. Now it is time you stand up for us." In an interview with Dynamic, Ron Daniels of the Center for Constitutional Rights, said the next step was to demand that Attorney General Janet Reno meet with the families, to end this national emergency. He said, "We're asking for a review by the Justice Department of these cases, many of which have been closed. We're supporting the concept of the Jonny Gammage Law, that would create the possibility of a federal prosecutor to investigate and prosecute cases of police brutality and abuse."

The fervent protest does not stop with the April 3rd march. For the past two months, the nation has risen to its feet. A series of protests has taken place in New York and other parts of the nation.

As Dynamic goes to press, another demonstration is planned for April 15 in New York in memory of Diallo. A diverse coalition has formed of politicians, religious leaders, community groups, gay and lesbian civil rights activists and labor unions to mobilize for this mass demonstration. The demands of this march are similar to those of April 3. They also include demands for New York to strengthen the Civilian Complaint Review Board and to add more Black and Hispanic officers to the NYPD.