Thousands demand end to NYC police brutality
by Daniel Vila
This article was reprinted from the Sept. 6, 1997 issue of the People's Weekly World. For subscription information see below. All rights reserved - may be used with PWW credits.
NEW YORK - This city witnessed the largest demonstration against police brutality in many years as thousands marched to City Hall Aug. 29.
On what was called a Day of Outrage Against Police Brutality and Harassment, the protesters were demanding justice in the case of Abner Louima, the Haitian immigrant who was savagely beaten and sodomized with a bathroom plunger by officers of the 70th Precinct in Flatbush, Brooklyn.
Demonstrators marched over the Brooklyn Bridge waving signs which read, "It's justice time, no bargain." At one point demonstrators covered the entire length of the bridge, three miles, while thousands gathered around City Hall. One march organizer estimated the crowd at 15,000 but many considered it was much larger.
George Ledoux marched the distance with his 2-year old son on his back. He said he was there so that his son will not have to face abusive cops when he grows up.
A woman who identified herself simply as Sandra told the World, "I live in Flatbush and am sick of all these murders and beatings which the police have subjected our people to for so many years. Something has to be done to stop those criminals dressed in blue."
The rally in front of City Hall began as marchers were still coming off the bridge. Speakers included a member of the Haitian American Alliance, which was one the organizers of the event, political candidates and relatives of victims of police brutality. Samuel Nicholas, Louima's cousin, said, "We could be looking at another murder statistic. But Abner Louima refused to die. He refused to die."
The president of the National Congress on Puerto Rican Rights, Richie Perez, in a voice choked with agony, read a list of the names of victims over the last five years. He said that in addition to voting and setting up an independent civilian controlled police review board, New Yorkers should organize another massive march to "shut down this city" and force authorities to eliminate police brutality.
The crowd covered City Hall Park and the avenues on both sides of the park. The demonstrators were peaceful but angry. The only incident occurred when cops began pushing and hitting a group which was performing street theater. Assemblyman Nick Perry witnessed the violent cops who were pulled back by other officers.
Louima is still hospitalized. The day before the march, his condition was critical due to an intestinal obstruction which resulted from his injuries, he underwent a second operation. His 7-year old daughter, who arrived from Haiti last week, was able to visit him on Sunday.
So far, four police officers have been arrested and indicted on charges of sexual assault and assault with a deadly weapon. They are all out on bail. Federal prosecutors are expected to take over the case, which would mean that federal civil rights charges could spread to other police officers who tried to cover up the case.
Since the assault on Louima, others have declared that they too have been victims of police torture at the 70th Precinct. Caribbean immigrant taxi drivers, who for years have claimed they were sodomized by cops in the borough of Queens, but were not believed, are now being listened to.
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Here is an artical that shows that Slick Willie had the NYC police beat, and sodomize this poor person.
See how absurd it is trying to blame leaders for acts of people in law enforcement.