Coalition of NYC-based Grassroots Anti-Police Brutality Organizations Condemns Judge's Failure to Convict Cops Who Killed Sean Bell: 50 Bullets But the Judge Misses Badly

Peoples Justice Says: All Cases of Police Brutality, Past and Present, Must Be Investigated By Independent Prosecutor

April 25, 2008 - Today, after nearly two months of one of the most controversial police murder trials in New York City's history, Judge Arthur Cooperman announced that he found the NYPD police officers who killed Sean Bell and seriously wounded his friends Trent Benefield and Joseph Guzman not guilty on all charges.  Peoples' Justice (PJ) - a broad coalition of NYC-based grassroots organizations fighting police brutality - is deeply outraged by the verdict and calls on all New Yorkers to come out to the Queen's D.A. office today for a rally demanding justice for Sean Bell and for all victims of police brutality in New York City.

"This scandalous verdict is another reminder that the courts will fail the people of New York City over and over again when it comes to trying police violence," said PJ member Latanya White of Malcolm X Grassroots Movement.  "While people of color, immigrants, and queer people are brutalized by the police and left with physical and emotional scars, the police continue to get off easy.  It's outrageous."

Peoples' Justice is appalled by the Queens District Attorney's lackluster prosecution of the officers, which many observers and attorneys believe contributed to the acquittals, and demands that this case be re-tried by federal prosecutors based on civil rights violations. Furthermore, Peoples' Justice calls for an independent prosecutor in all past and present cases of police misconduct and violence.

"We're reminded of Amadou Diallo all over again. We're reminded of Abner Louima, Anthony Baez, Eleanor Bumpers, and all others who have died at the hands of the NYPD's killer cops," said PJ member Joo-Hyun Kang of CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities. "The DA's failure to prosecute the police is further evidence that all cases involving police brutality must be handled by an independent prosecutor."

The acquittal of NYPD Detectives Michael Oliver, Marc Cooper, and Gescard Isnora continues the mockery of justice and fairness that began even before the start of their trial. The defense attorneys originally requested a change of venue for the trial. When this request was denied, they requested and were granted a bench trial, thus denying Queens residents the chance to hold the officers accountable for the killing. During the trial, the defense attempted to malign Sean Bell's character and morals – implying that his killing was somehow justified due to his character – as well as those of his friends. Benefield, for example, was repeatedly called a “thug” by the defense attorney representing one of the police officers.

“Clearly, the defense’s attempts at character assassination worked,” said PJ member Glo Ross of FIERCE. “Once again, the court system has failed New Yorkers, and the NYPD and its killer cops got away. We need to remember that the NYPD took someone’s life that night and seriously wounded two others.  The fact that the police officers responsible for this crime are being let off without so much as a slap on the wrist only sends them a message that they can get away with murder again.  Now, it’s up to New Yorkers to keep the NYPD in check.”

Peoples’ Justice will hold a rally on today at 5:30 PM in front of the Queens District Attorney’s Office to protest the acquittal of the police officers and demand justice for Sean Bell and all victims of police brutality.  Speakers at the rally will include survivors of police brutality, family members of victims of police brutality, city officials, and grassroots activists.  One family member, Juanita Young, whose son Malcolm Ferguson was slain by the NYPD in 2000, will speak about her fight for justice for her son and about her own experiences dealing with violence and aggression by the NYPD.  Also appearing at the rally will be Lisa Claudio, fiancée of Jayson Tirado who was killed by an off-duty undercover NYPD officer in a case of road rage in 2007.  The officer responsible for Tirado’s death has yet to face any charges, although he turned himself in for the crime.  These and other speakers, including City Councilperson Charles Barron, will make links among cases of police brutality throughout the city, drawing attention to the brutal treatment of loved ones and community members at the hands of the NYPD as they call for justice.

At the rally, representatives of Peoples’ Justice will also announce plans to launch a citywide CopWatch and Know Your Rights program to monitor and stop police violence in our communities.  Peoples’ Justice, mourning the loss of life at the hands of the NYPD and disgusted by the travesty of this trial, believes that we must hold police accountable for their actions in order to prevent atrocities like the murder of Sean Bell from happening again.

After the murder of Sean Bell in 2006, Peoples' Justice organized several demonstrations as well as a town hall meeting on police brutality. PJ will continue to organize around issues of police violence, police accountability, and community policing.

Peoples’ Justice is a coalition of NYC grassroots organizations that are working together to fight police violence. PJ  includes: Audre Lorde Project (ALP); CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities; FIERCE!; Immigrant Justice Solidarity Project (IJSP); Justice Committee; Malcolm X Grassroots Movement (MXGM); National Hip-Hop Political Convention NY; and Nodutdol for Korean Community Development.

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[On November 25, 2006, Sean Bell, Trent Benefield and Joseph Guzman were unarmed victims of a violent police assault. When the three left Bell’s bachelor party in Queens that night, NYPD Detectives Michael Oliver, Marc Cooper, and Gescard Isnora – all of whom were undercover that evening – shot a total of 50 bullets into Bell’s car, killing Bell and seriously injuring Benefield and Guzman. Detectives Oliver and Isnora were both charged with first- and second-degree manslaughter, felony assault and reckless endangerment; Cooper was charged with one count of reckless endangerment, which is a misdemeanor.]