#MillionsMarchNYC

One Saturday December 13, 2014, over 30,000 people marched in New York City protesting the decisions of grand juries who decided not to charge police officers with murder.  The protesters met at Washington Square park and marched down the streets.

NYPD officials let them march without arresting anyone. This has been the new policy under Mayor DiBlasio who want the people to exercise their freedom of speech and assembly without permits as long as they do so peacefully and without obstructing major roads.

The march was peaceful for the most part.  A professor from my alma mater, CUNY, was arrested for alledgely trying to throw a garbage can. Others were arrested as well when they tried to prevent cops from arresting the adjunct professor of English.

Ironically, Washington Square park used to be a place where African Americans and others were
hung to death and left there as a display.  The land itself was used as a potter's field and contains the remains of over 20,000 people who lived centuries ago.

Some people placed signs that read "I can't breathe," echoing the cry of Eric Garner.  Perhaps this was done to connect the past with the present since African Slaves were hung there and hanging does prevent breathing.

The people have had enough and want change.  It seems that we will continue to see these demonstrations until change does occur.





















 



Source:

http://www.millionsmarchnyc.org/

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/12/15/black_youth_organized_millions_march_nyc

http://gothamist.com/2014/12/14/cuny_professor_arrested_for_assault.php

https://www.facebook.com/events/959630214065046/

http://rt.com/usa/214351-millions-march-nyc-timelapse/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz7hkfNmfTY

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/13/millions-march-nyc_n_6320348.html

http://www.correctionhistory.org/html/chronicl/ny1816-60/oct05a.html

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/

Trayvon Protests

Hours after George Zimmerman was found not guilty for manslaughter, thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in many cities around the United States.  They are crying foul.  To them, the verdict should have been guilty.  They are basing this on the idea that race was involved. 

Unfortunately, there is a social stigma that seems to follow African Americans.  They seem to be the target of injustice and abuse.  Those who fight for civil rights such as, Al Sharpton claim that Blacks are not given justice.  When they are killed, their killers are freed.

Al Sharpton is no stranger to controversy.  He is known for race baiting and seems to be present almost instantaneously whenever an African American is abused or killed by a member of another race and there is media attention around the incident.  Prior to the verdict, Sharpton has been inciting riots by claiming that Trayvon was being denied justice because of the color of his skin. The media as well has played a role in race being the issue during the trial.  They began to air reports claiming that Zimmerman was profiling Trayvon for wearing a hoodie and for being Black.  The media fed the people this lie and those who are gullible believed it and are now unhappy with our judicial system.

According to the 911 tapes, Zimmerman never describe Trayvon as Black until the operator asked him the race of the one he spotted in the neighborhood.  Trayvon was not profiled based on the evidence.  The media was wrong in presenting this to the public.  Moreover, Sharpton and Jesse Jackson have to stop race baiting. America has come far in erasing prejudice from our way of life and opening old woulds will not help.

Thousands are protesting throughout the United States ignoring President Obama's call for calm and reflection.  In California, a police car was vandalized, in New York protestors disrupted traffic and in other cities, vandalism has been reported.  In Baltimore, a Hispanic man was beaten by a group of black men as they shouted, "this is for Trayvon."

All this violence is on the hands of Sharpton, Jackson and the media.  People who are upset at the verdict must understand how our system works.  Zimmerman was judged by a jury of his peers.  They observed the evidence and found him not guilty because the evidence indicated that the whole incident was based on self-defense.  There was no evidence that Zimmerman was out to kill black boys.  

In Chicago, a 16 year old African American boy was killed by another African American for not joining a gang.  The media is silent on this.  Sharpton and company are no where to be found.  This double standard is troubling to say the least.

Sharpton and Jackson claim to be "reverends," but would Christ race bait?  Would Christ call for division?  Furthermore, Trayvon's parents have to speak out and call on peace and calm. I called on Sharpton and Trayvon's father to promote peace and calm.  May God bring peace to all and may we all be tolerant of one another.  

I am sorry for your loss.But you must call on Sharpton and all to forgive. Bad decisions were made by all involved. @BTraymartin9 #nojustice
— Sacerdotus (@Sacerdotus) July 14, 2013

Would Christ incite racial tension and riots? You need to call all to unity, not division. @TheRevAl
— Sacerdotus (@Sacerdotus) July 16, 2013