by Efia Nwangaza, for the Executive Committee of the October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression, and Criminalization of a Generation
The National Coordinating Committee of the October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression, and Criminalization of a Generation applauds the Cincinnati Community's protests and resistance to the police killing of young Timothy Thomas for traffic tickets. We also extend our deepest sympathies to Timothy's mother, his family and friends. We can only call this killing murder, and it is typical of the epidemic of law enforcement murders that is intensifying across the US. For too long cops have swaggered thru our communities acting like they have a license to brutalize and kill. Yet when the people stand up and resist, they are condemned by the authorities and the media. The people of Cincinnati were right to resist, and we in the October 22nd coalition salute you. We express particular solidarity and support of the youth and those organizations which have taken to the streets in the assertion and defense of the human right of self-defense against years of murder, repression, and criminalization.
The October 22nd Coalition also forcefully condemns Mayor Charlie Luken's attempt to quash dissent by declaring a State of Emergency. He adds insult to injury by imposing a curfew on a community already under siege in response to allegations that a policeman was shot at. For years, Luken and other government officials have discounted, disregarded, and turned a blind eye to law enforcement abuses, repression, humiliation, criminalization and brutalization of Black and Latino youth. Lukens allowed the police to kill, with impunity, 15 young men and terrorize their communities as he and others pursued personal power and profit. The blood of these youth and their communities is on his hands. The brutality inflicted on the youthful protesters in Cincinnati is part and parcel of the way a whole generation of youth is being treated in the US today. In Black and Latino communities being young, dressed street style and on the street in your neighborhood at "the wrong time" is reason enough for a cop to stop and frisk, beat up, jail or even murder someone. At the protests outside the Republican and Democratic conventions this past summer, the police rationalized their brutality by calling the protesters "rebels without a cause" and "trouble makers" out to provoke a response. The deal is that being young and not wanting to go along with the status quo is increasingly being treated as a crime by the powers that be.
We are outraged that Cincinnati police, like law Enforcement attacking the anti Globalization/Militarization demonstrations in Seattle, DC, Detroit, Philadelphia, San Diego, and elsewhere, have beaten and sprayed demonstrators with "plastic" bullets, bean bags, tear gas and pepper spray. Demonstrators have been assaulted and subjected to mass arrest. Many of the protesters have been brutalized once in custody; denied food, water, and medical attention. People are being erroneously charged, disappeared by denying their arrest or location to family and friends, bail denied or set at astronomical levels.
This is entirely in keeping with the increased federalization/militarization of US police departments since the 1960's. During the 60's Southern sheriffs sicked dogs on Black people marching for equality. While in cities like Philadelphia, cops beat Black school children and sicked dogs on them during protests for decent education. In 1982, Philadelphia police and the FBI played key roles in railroading Mumia Abu Jamal onto death row. In the 90's, we saw Rodney King and Alicia Soltero beaten by California police on national TV. Today the Los Angeles police department is being rocked by the largest police scandal in US history. Cops have been caught brutalizing and murdering people and framing innocent people and sending them to jail. And last summer, Philly police were caught on video tape viciously beating a Black man, and Amtrak cops shot and killed an emotionally disturbed homeless man.
Fresh in our minds is the rising onslaught against the movement to stop police brutality, repression, and criminalization of a generation. In Los Angeles police fired rubber bullets at a march protesting police brutality on October 22, 2000. Family members of those murdered by law enforcement have been victimized 3 times. First when police murdered their loved ones. Again, when the media portrayed these victims of the police as criminals deserving what the cops did to them. And again, when they are targeted by the authorities for harassment for daring to stand up and call out what was done to their loved ones.
Only Community resistance will end police abuses and violence. The politicians won't act to end it. The Republicans, Bush dripping with the blood of the more than 135 people executed when he was governor of Texas, including Shaka Sankofa (Gary Graham) who was railroaded to death chamber based on a trial that was a travesty of justice. The Democrats bragged about putting 100,000 new cops on the street and promised to put 10,000 new prosecutors on the street to put even more of our people in jails across this country.
Many of the protesters in the streets protesting police brutality, fighting to stop the execution of Mumia Abu Jamal are calling this rising fascism. We say we are sick and tired of being treated like criminals. The October 22nd Coalition is in full support of these youthful rebels with righteous causes. We call on everyone else to support them too.
Brutalizing and suppressing those who engage in dissent and treating youth like criminals is intolerable and must be fought against. Please: 1) Join the October 22nd Coalition and demand that the curfew be lifted immediately; 2) Arrest, try, and convict Timothy Thomas's killer and those of the other 15 youth killed by Cincinnati law enforcement; 3) Demand that All persons arrested be treated humanely, accounted for, released, and charges dropped on those arrested during the protests; 3) Plan now to form local organizing committees to join the mobilization for October 22, 2001, the 6th annual National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality. On October 22, 2000, more than 12,000 people of different races and from different backgrounds stood together in more than 70 cities across the country and said in a loud clear voice: Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation! BE THERE!!!!! Long live the spirit of rebellious youth and Timothy Thomas.
The National Office of the October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression, and the Criminalization of a Generation Phone
888-NO-BRUTALITY or 212-477-8062
Fax: 212-477-8015
E mail: Oct22@unstoppable.com
http://www.unstoppable.com/22
CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS CAN BE MADE OUT TO: IFCO/OCT 22
MAILED TO: OCT 22, PO BOX 2627, NY, NY 10009.
[posted 4/14/01]
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