Revolution #249, November 6, 2011
STOP Police Brutality, Repression, and the Criminalization of a Generation
October 22
October 22—16th Annual National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression, and the Criminalization of a Generation: Thousands across the country, determined and fired up, marched and rallied against the viciousness and brutality of the police.
Occupy protesters joined with forces from the October 22nd Coalition in cities like New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles—expressing solidarity with families of victims of police brutality and murder, and anger at the police, some saying they hadn’t heard the stories of families who’ve lost their loved ones to law enforcement.
A salute to all those at these demonstrations nationwide—to the families and friends of those gunned down or beaten to death by the police, to the high school students who are protesting police brutality, to those who came from the Occupy movement, to those who are working every day to expose and fight the illegitimate use of force, and to the many others who joined these demonstrations from all walks of life and a range of organizations.
A salute to the thousands of courageous prison hunger strikers and those who have supported their struggle to end what amounts to torture. And to outraged people here and around the world who took up the fight against the “legal” lynching of Troy Davis. A salute to the immigrants and all the people who have stood up against the record- breaking deportations and detentions being perpetrated by ICE and the U.S. government. A salute to all those people of conscience who were there to say NO in bold ways to this whole program of mass incarceration.
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| Seattle: More than 1,000 people marked the 16th annual National Day of Protest (NDP). Family members of those killed by the police gave powerful testimonies, then marched to the infamous spot where Native American John T. Williams, a wood carver, was murdered a year ago by a Seattle cop. There continues to be tremendous outrage over this cold-blooded murder and the refusal to bring charges against the murderer cop. At the site people did a die-in, blocking the street. Photo: Elliott Stoller |
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| New York City: Hundreds took to the streets for a spirited march through the busy streets of the East Village through Tompkins Square Park, ending in front of housing projects in the Lower East Side. Photo: Li Onesto/Revolution |
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| Greensboro, North Carolina: 60 to 70 people marched against police brutality through the Smith Homes public housing community where Gilbert Barber was gunned down by police on May 18, 2001. Photo: scottistoxic |
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| Los Angeles: The spirit and optimism of the Occupy L.A. encampment came together with a deep, visceral anger against police brutality. More than 150 people marched from the Occupy L.A. encampment to Pershing Square to join a march that kicked off 500 strong, passing by the infamous Rampart police station to the area where Manuel Jamines, a homeless Guatemalan day laborer, was murdered by police last year. Special to Revolution |
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| Seattle Photo: Elliott Stoller |
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| Chicago: A lively march of 100 went from Federal Plaza through crowded streets of the Chicago Loop, chanting “Egypt, Wall Street, Pelican Bay—We refuse to live this way!” Special to Revolution |
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