International Day Of Action Against Police Brutality
Police brutality is not just a matter of rogue individuals. It is systemic, and inherent to the institution itself.
Consider a brief snapshot of the past year in New York:
On Sept. 7, 20-year-old Reynaldo Cuevas was working at a grocery store where a robbery was taking place… Reynaldo runs out of the store believing that he was running into the hands of safety, but instead he gets murdered by police officer Ramysh Bangali from the PSA7 precinct, who failed to follow protocol and disregarded hostage procedures.
On Feb. 2, 18-year-old Ramarley Graham was murdered by police officer Richard Haste inside the bathroom of his Bronx home in front of his grandmother and 6-year-old brother.
This year, we have seen what the NYPD really thinks of the people when it comes to stop and frisking, police brutality, spying on Muslims, etc….
WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH.These instances are not exceptions to the rule, but the necessarily violent norm of policing. The excuse of ‘a few bad apples’ is a myth; the tree is rotten- the institution of policing is itself the problem. Police systematically use, and grossly abuse the power at their disposal to criminalize, and otherwise brutalize queer and trans people, communities living in poverty, activists, indigenous and African-American and Latino communities, those without status, people living with disabilities, drug users, and those living with mental health issues.
Under the ruse of ‘to serve and protect’ the police operate as a tool of social control – they are armed thugs who patrol our neighborhoods and streets to enforce an oppressive social order based upon exclusion, violence and mass exploitation. The interests they serve are those of the powerful; the protection they offer is the protection of an unjust status quo.The police do not protect us. On the contrary, we must organize our communities to protect ourselves from the police. We are heartbroken at the misery they cause poor people and their families, and furious when we bear witness to their sickening impunity. We will not sit by, and allow this to go on unchallenged.2013 is set to be the year of the insurrection. Stayed tuned for more details as March 15th approaches—we’re taking it to the streets.
Join NYC Direct Action to stand against police brutality: March 15 In NYC. Please RSVP, invite your friends and share with your friends!
NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE!!!!
