Join the families of people executed by the NYPD, Copwatch Patrol Unit, and Disarm for a talk and discussion.
People have had enough of the police invading neighborhoods, terrorizing hallways, executing people over minor disobedience. The massive protests these past few months let us know that it’s not just longtime political organizers who feel this way. There is massive popular support for real resistance to the police.
While these protests may have gotten quieter in the dead of winter, we never stopped planting seeds of dissent for the spring.
It is time for some material changes on the ground. By now it is clear that these changes will not come through the court system or street demos. This evening Disarm will propose ideas to end police tyranny in neighborhoods where they do the most harm.
Please join us March 21st at 5:30pm to discuss the conditions on the block and how these proposals could underscore the strength people have found to resist the bullying of the NYPD.
About the Speakers:
Carol Gray, mother of Kimani Gray.
On March 9, 2013 16 year old Kimani “Kiki” Gray was murdered by two plain clothes officers who failed to identify themselves. Sgt. Mourad Mourad and Officer Jovaniel Cordova shot at Kimani Gray 11 times, hitting Kimani with 7 bullets, three entering his back. These officers also have racked up five suits which cost taxpayers $215,000. These suits were for Civil Rights Violations, including Stop and Frisk and False Arrests.
Natasha Duncan, sister of Shantel Davis
On June 14, 2012 23 years old Shantel Davis was murdered by plain clothes detective Phil Atkin. Detective Atkins shot Shantel in her chest and then dragged her body into the streets where she bled out and died. Detective Phil Atkins, has seven law suits fingering him as a violent enforcer who skirts the law. Five of the law suits have been settled costing the tax payer $224,000.
Nicholas Heyward Sr., father of Nicholas Heyward Jr,
September 29, 1994 13-year-old boy Nicholas Heyward Jr. was shot by a police officer while playing cops and robbers with friends in a Gowanus Houses building stairwell in Brooklyn. Housing Officer Brian George thought Heyward was carrying a real gun and pumped a bullet into the boy’s stomach.
Danette Chavis, mother of Gregory Chavis
October 9, 2004 Gregory Chavis was shot and when police arrive they prevented him from receiving medical treatment for his gunshot wound despite being a block away from a hospital.
Hertencia Petersen, aunt of Akai Gurley
November 20, 2014 Akai Gurley, had done nothing more than enter the stairwell in the Louis H. Pink Houses, a housing project in East New York, Brooklyn when he was gunned down by police officer Peter Liang who failed to follow proper procedure and protocol. Police officer Peter Liang for four minutes argued with his partner over whether to tell their superiors about shootting Akai Gurley. Peter Liang said “I’m going to be fired,” and instead of calling for an ambulance he decided to call his union.
Jose LaSalle
Copwatch Patrol Unit
CPU seek to end police repression through directly monitoring police while they are engaging the public through questioning, detainment, or arrest. CPU spend their time walking the streets, observing police, witnessing and recording police interactions with citizens on camera, video-record, audio-record, and/or paper. CPU concentrate in areas where known trouble making cops are assigned or areas of high police activity (Impact Zones). CPU also advise people of their rights and listen to their stories and documents those stories.
Disarm the NYPD
Disarm is a campaign that is calling for the immediate disarming of the police department and the demobilization of the police from our neighborhoods.