Warn The Town, The Beast Is Loose...

Kids in our society have always been treated as second-class citizens - whether we're thrown out of malls cuz we "take away" from their appeal to shoppers, get silenced in school when we challenge authority figures, or get jacked up on the streets by cops who know they'll get away with it. But today things are actually getting worse...

Every day police insult, harrass, brutalize, and murder members of our generation. What makes it even worse, is that they get away with it! They are silencing, terrorizing, humiliating and even killing off our generation and it has become clear that no one else is going to do it for us; it is up to us to put an end to this madness.

So, what are we going to do?

the buzz is out...

Wear Black on Wednesday, October 22, the National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression, and the Criminalization of a Generation!

We will wear black as a sign of unity across the country, showing that we will not remain silent about harassment and torture by the police.

We will wear black because the hundreds of victims of police murder can't.

We will wear black because police brutality is not just happening in a few places or neighborhoods. Wearing black all over the country is a way to fight this national problem on a national level. No matter where you are you can know that you are among thousands. We all strengthen each other.

We will wear black because the police feel that even if they get caught, that no one is watching. Having a sea of students and other youth dressed in black on campuses and neighborhoods everywhere will show them that people really are watching, getting more active and more organized.

BUT ISN'T BEING A COP ONE OF THE HARDEST, MOST DANGEROUS JOBS?
Statistics show that a cop is at half the risk of death or injury on the job than a farmer, truck driver, or logger. Yet if a farmer, logger, or truck driver were to shoot an unarmed teenager in the back or kill someone over a parking space, do you think they would be forgiven by the courts? Would they be given recognition for their bravery?

Its important to wear black everywhere and to mobilize others, tens, hundreds, even thousands of others to wear black. The more people wearing black the stronger the message and the bigger the impact. That means: Start spreading the word right now! Figure out the best ways to reach out to the most people, and who they can reach out to. Here's some other things to do right away:

Find out if there are already plans underway in your region by contacting the National Office of the October 22 Coalition at: 1-888-NO-BRUTALITY or (212) 822-8596. If there are plans, bring a contingent from your school with a banner of your school's name.
Get a hold of a the public service announcements (they're like commercials) which feature people like Wylcef Jean of the Fugees, Iris Baez and Nicholas Heyward who both had sons killed by police, Joie Lee, actress ("Do the Right Thing"), Hip-Hop group Goodie Mob, Reg. E. Gaines, poet and author of Broadway musical, "Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk," Danny Hoch, urban griot and actor in HBO's "Subway Stories," and others. Get this tape shown in classrooms, the cafeteria, at student meetings, etc. To get the tape or contribute to having one of the PSA's aired on TV contact the 10/22 Coalition.
Go to all student groups, student gov't, professors, churches, and other schools. Show them the PSA's and see how they can get involved.
Plan a rally, poetry event, party or speak out on 10/22.
Get some artists to set up an exhibit calling people's attention to the problem of police brutality.
Call a meeting to get others involved in making this day happen.
Hang up posters all over telling people about the events and to wear black.
Set up a table with literature and sell buttons or stickers and get people to sign up who will work with you. (To order supplies, see back.)
Make copies of this flyer and give them out.

HOW MANY "ISOLATED INCIDENTS" DOES IT TAKE
TO MAKE A NATIONAL EPIDEMIC?
Most people are aware of police brutality and murder either from experience or from the cases that make the news. These cases are reported as individual incidents, the actions of "a few bad cops." But this analysis fails to notice that police brutality has increased all over the country and that very few cops are ever punished. In New York city, for example, the police kill someone on average every 10 days. Despite the fact that many of them are unarmed, already in handcuffs when killed, or as young as thirteen, only one cop has been convicted of manslaughter since 1977. This pattern continues across the country.

To order t-shirts, buttons, posters, the Stolen Lives book, the public service announcements, or make desperately needed contributions, please contact the October 22 Coalition at: 1-888-NO-BRUTALITY or (212) 822-8596.

The Stolen Lives Project is a collection of the stories, names, and dates of the people who have been killed by police, border patrol, or died while in custody. This list is not complete. If you have a relative or a friend whoís life has been stolen in this way, contact the October 22 Coalition.

October 22 is the beginning of a movement. It is not just one day where we should be vocal and then return to silence. Instead it must be the beginning of a mass movement to reclaim our communities. Refuse & Resist! recognizes that there is a climate in this country that is trying to instill values of a white-supremacist, male-dominated, exclusively Christian regime. We insist that it is all one attack and that issues around police brutality, reproductive freedom, racism, homophobia,etc., are being perpetrated by a common enemy. So...

R&R! unites youth, students, professionals, suburban and city people, artists, working people and prominent figures in a common effort to build a movement and climate of resistance - where thereís a refusal to accept or be complicit to the crimes against the people.

You should hook up and become a member!

download a PDF version of this 8.5" x 14" flyer (260K)

Stop Police Brutality index | R&R Main Page

Join Refuse & Resist!
305 Madison Ave., Suite 1166, New York, NY 10165
Phone: 212-713-5657
email: info@refuseandresist.org