In light of another officer-involved shooting in Missouri, and a grand jurys clearance of a Houston police officer accused of fatally shooting an unarmed black man, citizens in NYC are defying pleas from the citys mayor for a moratorium on protests. Many activists across the country have continued to protest despite Mayor De Blasios request for a halt until after the funerals of 2 recently slain NYPD officers. First, we would like send condolences to both the officers families and friends in addition to any one missing loved ones this Holiday; as Chicagoans we know all to well the devastation violence can bring to families. Second, It is important to note the tragedy of the senseless killings of those police officers are not related to the peaceful, non violent protests, we stand in solidarity with to end mass incarceration while highlighting the value of precious black and brown lives. A recent letter, drafted by the civil rights group, Ferguson Action, laments the movements demand for resilience in the face of tragedy: “Our communities are in crisis. We’ve responded by meeting in our homes, offices, and schools— and walking out of them, with our hands up. Thousands of others have organized small actions that when woven together have tremendous impact. The problem isn’t the diverse voices that participate in dissent, a cornerstone of our democracy. “The problem is a discriminatory pattern of police violence that continues unabated and that police brass don’t care to stop it. “This movement was sparked by the grief that millions across the country have felt. Joining Eric Garner, Mike Brown and Tamir Rice are the thousands of lives lost in the last decade to police shootings. We are in the streets because we are fighting for the right to live our lives fully and with dignity, without the threat of unconstitutional police violence and repression. “Our work continues and we invite those who stand on the side of justice to join us.”#blacklivesmatter fergusonaction/will-silenced/
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 17:31:01 +0000