[01 Feb 1999] - Brennan King, 21 years old, was shot four times in the back, once in the front, once in the palm and once in the arm by Chicago police on November 28. When 300 people demanded to see the body right after he was shot, they weren't allowed near it, but instead were subjected to the sound of Brennan's head thumping down the stairs as the cops dragged him out in a body bag. In an outrageous turn of events, the ambulance on the scene wasn't for Brennan, it was used to smuggle out the murdering cop! Brennan's body was taken away in a paddy wagon. This was the third murder committed by the Chicago police in Cabrini-Green in 1998, and the nineteenth police murder for all of Chicago (that we know about). Three murders in Cabrini-Green is comparable to if the police had killed 1600 people in all of Chicago.
The killer cop claims he shot King in self-defense. If it was self-defense, why did the cop shoot him in the back? The killer cop claims Brennan attacked him with a box-cutter, but witnesses say the cop cut himself after Brennan was already dead. Witnesses say that after the first shot, Brennan begged the cop not to kill him. Then they heard six more methodical shots. King was well known and liked in the community. He was stolen from his family, where he was helping raise two younger brothers, two cousins, plus his own children because his mother had died. He was all set to go off to college next year.
The city of Chicago is trying to carry out a policy of people removal and urban cleansing in Cabrini?Green so that powerful real-estate interests can profit off the valuable land Cabrini rests on. In the context of the City's efforts to remove Cabrini residents, the murders of three young men by police in Cabrini in 1998 send a message to the community: "get out, or else!"
The Chicago Police Department has an agenda when it comes to Black and Latino youth: terrorize, criminalize, and brutalize. They especially have a problem when anyone stands up to the daily abuse they dish out. Brennan King was just that kind of brother. He marched to end the national epidemic of police brutality on the October 22 National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation. Brennan marched to demand freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal who was framed by the Philadelphia police and now sits on death row. King demanded jobs for youth in opposition to the program of brutality, repression and criminalization that the authorities push.
In the wake of Brennan's murder several hundred Cabrini residents, joined by outside supporters, marched on the 18th District police station twice. Brennan's funeral was attended by 1,500 outraged souls.
The CPD murder of Brennan King is an outrage that must not go unanswered. The people of Cabrini have already stood up and demanded justice. There is still no response from the City. Now we must make the City respond. We call on everyone who is outraged by this cold-blooded murder to join with the struggle for justice for Brennan King, because no one but us -- the people -- can stop police brutality.
Justice for Brennan King!
Fire the murdering police officer and prosecute him for murder!
Compensate Brennan King's family!
End police terror at Cabrini-Green!
Justice for all victims of police brutality!
ENDORSEMENTS:
* Prison Action Committee * News and Letters * Refuse and Resist! Chicago Chapter * October 22 Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation * Neighbors Against Police Brutality * International Socialist Organization * Justice is Blind/Mothers Against Injustices * 8th Day Center for Peace and Justice * Campaign to End the Death Penalty * Dr. Nehemiah Russell, Committee to Stop Police Brutality and the Displacement of Public Housing Residents * Revolutionary Communist Youth Brigade, Chicago Chapter
FOR MORE INFO, CALL 773-528-1701
[posted Tue, May 4, 1999]
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