By Chris
Friday (10-22) was the 15th Annual National Day Against Police Brutality, it was marked with marches and rallies all over the US. And here in Cleveland, Ohio we made our voices heard as well. The rally was held down in Public Square and was well attended by a variety of activists, survivors of police brutality and family members of police murder victims.
The square was set up with pictures of police murder victims and make no mistakes they are murder victims. These were not bad men who the police, fearing for their own lives and the safety of the public shot to protect society. They were were fathers and sons and mothers and daughters, people with family and friends, with names and lives. People who smiled and laughed just as you or I, people with the same fears, hopes and dreams. It's so easy even for awakened people to know the names of victims but until you sit and speak to a mother who's seventeen year old son was taken from her do you truly understand this on a personal level. When you see in their eyes and hear in their voices the agony that never goes away, the agony for the loss of a child at the hands of cop, who still has a job, who still has his family and thinks no more of murdering your child then wiping dirt from his shoe, do you fully understand police brutality. I help set up the photos and as I was doing so I was struck by the sheer amount. The fact that every time I placed another picture on the steps it represented so much more than just a picture. It was a life, as I looked at each of the faces I couldn't help but think what their last day of life was like. What did they say when they left house, did they say good bye to their families never knowing that hours later they were to be murdered by cops? Killed by the people we are told are there to "Serve & Protect".
The rally kicked off with speakers from The Oppressed Peoples Nation, an amazing group on the ground in East Cleveland, The New Black Panther Party, Cleveland FIST & The Revolutionary Communist Party. The most heart-wrenching stories came from the victims themselves. Hearing from the family members of the departed was so powerful words alone are not enough. If you could sit there and listen and tell me you were not moved by them then you are not human. When Tina Bronaugh the Mother of the two high school aged daughters who were savagely attacked by cops during a protest against the plan to close schools in Cleveland and sack teachers. Thankfully for everyone on that day members of Cleveland FIST (Fight Imperialism-Stand Together) had shown up in solidarity and were able to film the assault. The attention brought to the case because of the video and the publicity that it garnered made sure that the cops and the courts were unable to railroad the Bronaugh girls. Sadly this is one of the very few times right won the day, all over America every day Black & poor people are attacked by cops, set up by courts and sent into prison.
When the speaking concluded we formed up to carry our message through the streets of Cleveland and to the very steps of the (In)Justice Center. As we worked our way through the streets we were greeted with approving waves, raised fists and the honking of horns. All the while shadowed by cops. When the march reached the steps of the Justice Center a moment of silence was held for the victims. Which the police in their cars across the street broke up by turning on their sirens. A displace of arrogance from the defenders of the state. After rallying on the steps we stated our march back to Public Square, as we reached the corner of the building we were greeted with waves from the prisoners being held inside. It was a great feeling!
The march went up W. 6th street home to all the trendy bars and carried the message to people who given there status would normally never think about police brutality.
It was a very good show of resistance to police terror and let them know that their victims are not forgotten. That as long as they murder, assault and harass we will be there. We truly were "Fired Up, can't no more, police brutality has got to go"!
Side note, my highlight of the day was meeting a youth who was there with his mother. We made a friendship and played in the square. We played paper airplanes and ran around climbing walls and fences. I thought of Emma Goldman when she said "If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution". I was there yesterday so that young guy will not be the next victim of state sponsored terrorism.
Ya Basta - Saoirse go Deo
