Youth march and organize against police brutality YOUTH, continued from p. 1
TheVillager.com
PHOTO BY ZACH WILLIAMS
what we have here,” said Mia Luna, a student at New York Harbor School on Governors Island who, like many participants, said she learned of the march through social media. Police mistreatment of minorities should coalesce into a national movement against racism, activists said, adding that protests must continue for that to happen. A handful of local teenagers did their part by organizing through last weekend to make sure that New York City would not be left behind. But before they could take the streets on Mon., Dec. 1, some students had to overcome the resistance of school administrators reluctant to let them participate in political action at the expense of their studies. The problem was particularly acute at New York Harbor School because the waters of New York Harbor also stood in their way. According to student-organizer Shana Buckstad, 167 students at the school congregated at the island’s ferry terminal at about noon, but they were given seats onboard only after a half-hour sit-in. “We sat there on the ground with our hands up and said, ‘Hands up! Don’t shoot!’ and then we were ready and we got on the ferry,” said Buckstad. Students came to the Midtown march in large numbers from four other schools, according to student organizer Mojique Tyler, who attends Bard High School Early College, at 525 East Houston St. Representatives of a dozen more schools were also present, he added. Students networked last week following the grand jury announcement in the Wilson case, according to Buckstad. After meeting on Nov. 28 with representatives of the Ferguson Action Team — a coalition of activists organizing protests in 70 cities —the student activists said they had found their way to get New York City students more involved as students nationwide prepared to walk out of classes on Dec. 1 “The young people are leading like they were leading in the Sixties, and I came out to support them and say, ‘Let’s do it together,’ ” said Geoffrey Davis. His brother, James Davis, was a city councilmember who was gunned down in City Hall by a political rival in 2003. The action team and other activist groups provided the signs, which included slogans borrowed from activists in Ferguson. Tyler created a Facebook group from which word spread. Hundreds of students responded —
The marchers paused in Times Square to enjoy watching themselves on the big screen.
a greater than anticipated number, he said. Adults would also join the march, by the time it got moving at about 1:15 p.m., comprising an estimated twofifths of the total turnout. Activists first circled Union Square, moving through the square’s seasonal Holiday Market in the process. They then headed east on E. 15th St. before turning north on Third Ave. Over the next two hours, they zigzagged their way toward Times Square, all the while highlighting what they charged is the disparity between police treatment of white people and communities of color. Annmarie Jackson of Canarsie, Brooklyn, said her teenage son is regularly harassed by police, sometimes twice per day. “Police treat us like we don’t matter, and for what it’s worth we do matter,” she said. Confrontation between cops and activists was minimal on Dec. 1, but the former kept a tight watch over the marchers, threatening to arrest those who ventured into the street from the sidewalk. At certain points, activists attempted to swarm streets, only to retreat as police steered them back onto the pavement with scooters and stern warnings. About a half-dozen protesters were
arrested over all, said an observing 300. Some passersby paid little attenattorney for the National Lawyers tion to the demonstration, but others Guild. It wasn’t clear if a cyclist arrest- expressed delight. ed at Eighth Ave. and W. 48 St. was acMike Simmons, who works in the tively participating in the march. tourism industry, said fear of the Arriving in front of the New York N.Y.P.D. discouraged him from civil Police Department stationhouse in protest after police officers entered Times Square, activists gathered for his home in October without reason, four-and-a-half minutes of silence according to him. Police treatment in recognition of the four-and-a-half of minorities requires personal expehours that Brown’s body remained on rience to fully comprehend, he said, the street following the Aug. 9 shoot- but people need to unite against it ing. But they were not done follow- nonetheless. ing the die-in — or the rabblerousing “You understand it,” he said, oratory. They took off once again at “but when it happens to you, it’s about 3:30 p.m. heading further into mind-boggling.” Hell’s Kitchen. They tried once more to escape the police detail, briefly flooding onto Eighth Ave. near W. 45 St. Police quickly regained their position as the march turned toward the Hudson River at W. 48th St. A half-dozen students If you appreciate peace of mind, you’ll understand why it makes at Professional Perform- sense to preplan with us. ing Arts High School We know of no other policies that work as this: your family from making detailed decisions at an emotional time cheered the marchers on •• Spares Ensures that wishes are expressed • Prevents overspending and can lock in costs as they passed by. By 4 p.m. they were We’re experts at preplanning and know all of the issues that may arise. Call us, you’ll be glad you did back at Times Square, 325 W. 14th St. New York, NY 10014 though their numbers (212) 242-1456 reddenfuneralhome.net had decreased to about NY State Law mandates that funeral trust funds for Medicaid recipients pay for funeral and bural only. The contracts are irrevocable.
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