Rally in Staten Island

On Saturday August 23, a large rally took place in Staten Island New York protesting police brutality and discrimination.  The rally was led by Al Sharpton in response to the choking death of Eric Garner.  Garner was killed by a plainclothes police officer by means of a chokehold. The entire thing was caught on video.

To date, the cop has not been charged or arrested despite the medical examiner ruling the death of Garner a homicide.  This is what is boiling up tempers especially among minorities who feel the police harass them kill them and get away with it. This rally got even more steam due to the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.

The rally was thankfully peaceful and comprised of prayers, song, and chants, "We Will Not Go Back" referring to the Civil Rights era where African Americans were not given a platform to speak and were often hosed down by the police and firemen when they attempted to organize a protest.

Those participating insisted that the rally was not an anti-police march, but an attempt to bring attention to the issue of unarmed minorities being killed and not receiving justice. There was some controversy regarding unions participating in the march.  Others criticize the march describing it as a ploy for Sharpton and other race-baiters to get attention and flame the fires of racism.

The march and rally had people of all races who took to the streets to protest.  Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York called on participants to be peaceful.  He wasn't present at the march. Usually Catholic clergy don't participate in these sort of rallies because they need to be neutral and not take sides.





Source:

http://gothamist.com/2014/08/24/march.php#photo-1

http://online.wsj.com/articles/protesters-head-to-staten-island-for-al-sharptons-eric-garner-rally-1408807227

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/chokehold-death-demonstrators-leave-harlem-bus-staten-island-article-1.1914257

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/24/nyregion/at-eric-garner-rally-new-york-labor-groups-support-both-police-and-protestors.html?_r=0  

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/08/20/cardinal-timothy-dolan-hosts-meeting-with-mayor-bill-de-blasio-religious-leaders-to-discuss-eric-garners-death/

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/video/10455054-cardinal-dolan-called-to-reunite-city-amid-eric-garner-controversy/