October 22 Demonstration Attracts Young to Anti-Police Terror Movement
by Rockero Friday, Oct. 24, 2008 at 3:02 AM
rockero420@yahoo.com
October 22, 2008 LOS ANGELES - The October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation has been organizing nationwide demonstrations since 1996. The Los Angeles actions have gained a reputation for being among the city's most lively and most youth-oriented marches whose participants tend to be from the very communities targeted by police. With some thirty police murders logged since the beginning of year, protestors had plenty to be angry about.
Although this year's demonstration did not attract the numbers it has in years past, more than 300 people gathered in front of the Parker Center, the home of the infamous Los Angeles Police Department.
There, speakers addressed the crowd before marching to MacArthur Park, the site of brutal police repression of immigrant-rights activists and media May 1 of last year. During the march, protestors decried police violence and carried posters bearing images of those murdered. The rallying point had to be changed due to construction, so marchers assembled at the park's outdoor amphitheater.
There, the families of victims of police violence and ICE raids gave their moving testimonies. Sherman Austin and Pachamama played awesome sets, and a former Black Panther introduced Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney. She did not address the crowd, but simply sent her greetings.
The rally was followed by the No More Stolen Lives Vigil.
The police presence was relatively low, and no incidents of brutality were reported.
Organizers point out that the demonstration is but one tactic to build the revolutionary movement that will put a halt to police murders and brutality. Local organizations who work on these issues and create alternatives include the All African Revolutionary People's Party, Frente Contra Las Redadas, Homies Unidos, LA Community Action Network, Revolutionary Autonomous Communities, and CopWatch LA-Guerilla Chapter.
There, speakers addressed the crowd before marching to MacArthur Park, the site of brutal police repression of immigrant-rights activists and media May 1 of last year. During the march, protestors decried police violence and carried posters bearing images of those murdered. The rallying point had to be changed due to construction, so marchers assembled at the park's outdoor amphitheater.
There, the families of victims of police violence and ICE raids gave their moving testimonies. Sherman Austin and Pachamama played awesome sets, and a former Black Panther introduced Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney. She did not address the crowd, but simply sent her greetings.
The rally was followed by the No More Stolen Lives Vigil.
The police presence was relatively low, and no incidents of brutality were reported.
Organizers point out that the demonstration is but one tactic to build the revolutionary movement that will put a halt to police murders and brutality. Local organizations who work on these issues and create alternatives include the All African Revolutionary People's Party, Frente Contra Las Redadas, Homies Unidos, LA Community Action Network, Revolutionary Autonomous Communities, and CopWatch LA-Guerilla Chapter.
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