NYC Rally and March for Alton Sterling and Philando Castile

July 11, 2016 by Cat Watters Leave a Comment

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Members of Revolution Club and StopMassIncarceration.net stood on the steps at Union Square yesterday kicking off what would be a march of thousands coming out for the police killing of 2 African American males in recent days, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. The name of another victim of Police in Brooklyn, Delrawn Small, written on a banner carried by supporters as they marched throughout the city in traffic.

Demonstrators held posters of Alton Sterling and a copy of the Revolution Newspaper while others spoke with amplification addressing the crowd about the racism and the killing with impunity that has become characteristic of police in the U.S. in recent years.

A table at Union Sq selling buttons to Shut Down Rikers Island where many youth are held with out charge or trial. One, Kalief Browder, who was arrested at the age of 16 for allegedly stealing a backpack, never charged or tried, was beaten by guards and inmates, attempted suicide while in prison multiple times. Kalief refused to take a plea and stuck to his convictions because he knew he wasn’t guilty which kept him in Rikers longer. He could have gotten out but, had a record. He said, “No” and paid the ultimate price. He was pushed to take his life after being released in his mother’s second story window with an air conditioner cord. Kalief said of Rikers, “It was a school for suicide”.

Akeem Browder, brother of Kalief Browder, addressing the crowd yesterday. With lively jazz music playing in the background for Music in Union Sq park, Akeem spoke about not seeing justice yet for his brother who was pushed to his breaking point from his time spent in Rikers Island in solitary confinement, beatings and being taunted by guards to take his life. Akeem spoke about how the system wants to pay the victims of family members killed off with $ compensation and call that justice. “I won’t accept $ for what they did to my brother. I won’t accept it until someone is held accountable”.

One on many signs held up at yesterday’s protest and march beginning at Union Sq then spreading out all over NYC.

Joshua Lopez, who’s Uncle John Collado, was killed by a cop while breaking up a fight involving someone he knew not knowing the other person was an undercover cop, Sept 7, 2011, holding up a copy of the Daily News with the headline HIS HANDS WERE EMPTY and a picture of slain Alton Sterling lying dead after being shot and killed by BatonRouge police on July 5th. Akeem Browder started the crowd chanting, “What’s his name? John Collado, What’s his Name? John Collado” before other supporters began with, “We’re gonna be alright”.

Sunsara Taylor with Revolution club spoke out about police being “Illegitimate”. In this pic she stands with her arm around Jewel Miller, the mother of Legacy Garner, the child of Eric Garner who was slain 2 years ago this July 17th by NYPD Daniel Pantaleo on Staten Island from an illegal chokehold. The Only person arrested was the one who filmed the video, Ramsey Orta, is going to prison for 4 years on a plea for drug possession, a victimless “crime”. Orta and his family says they’ve been continuously harassed by NYPD since filming the video of the murder of Eric Garner. The crowd chanting “Shut it Down”. Jewel Miller told people to come this July 17th to 202 Bay Street, where Eric Garner was choked to death by NYPD, on Staten Island for an action she called “We Choke the 120”, meaning the 120th Precinct where Daniel Pantaleo worked out of.

Travis Morales of Revolution club speaking at yesterday’s rally to Stop Police killing of black and brown people. Travis described the number of times Alton Sterling was shot, “bullet after bullet rip into his chest”. Joshua Lopez to his left holding 2 copies of the Daily News one reading WHY DID COP SHOOT? The other reads, HIS HANDS WERE EMPTY

“Im here because I don’t want my name to be a hashtag” said one speaker at yesterday’s rally to Stop Police Killing in solidarity with those in Minnesota and Baton Rouge for Alton Sterling and Philando Castile were shot and killed by police this last week, “It’s always in my mind what I’m going to say to a officer when I get pulled over. Not if but when. I think about how I can’t come across as a threat. I think about how I have to dress so I don’t fit the description”.

Jazz music playing, demonstrators chanting “Shut it Down” and the sound of a loud helicopter hovering overhead.

After the rally at Union Sq. demonstrators took to the streets and into traffic to say “No More Killing” after 2 more murders this week by Police in Minnesota and Baton Rouge.

Noche Diaz of the Revolution Club leading a chant, “Indict Convict, send these killer cops to jail the Whole Dam system is guilty as Hell”. Noche has been arrested multiple times while protesting against police brutality and killing.

A small run in with a few demonstrator and police during the march yesterday for Alton Sterling and Philando Castile who were killed by police this week.

A taxi driver showing his support and beeping his horn in solidarity with demonstrators and giving them the high five as they march by him.

With the Empire State Building behind them a crowd of demonstrators made their way up 5th ave, then headed west ending up at 37th street and 11th Ave where police had the road blocked preventing them from entering the West Side Highway.

“HANDS UP, DON’T SHOOT” as demonstrators made their way west. 3 members of Justice League NYC.

A demonstrator and a cop face to face at the road block set up by police at the West Side Highway at W 37th Street. No altercation occurred and the demonstrators turned around and headed back east on 42nd Street to Times Square.

Joshua Lopez, one of the speakers at Union Sq who’s Uncle John Collado was shot and killed by NYPD in 2011 confronting a cop telling him not to put his hands on him during the march yesterday to Stop Police Killing of Black and Brown people.

Yes, BRACE YOURSELF is Right! A couple of thousand demonstrators arriving in Times Sq. yesterday attracting the attention of tourists and passers by, standing up for Justice against killing by police of black and brown people.

Demonstrators do a Sit in yesterday in the middle of Times Square with arms raised chanting “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” and “What do we want? Justice, When do we want it, NOW”

One among a few arrested yesterday at the march to Stop Police Killing at Time Square were thousands engaged in a sit in in solidarity with Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.

Simply put.

“It’s not just black lives” this woman was saying holding a banner with the picture of Jorge Antonio Tizapa Legideno who was 19 years old when he was forcibly disappeared alongside 42 other students training to be teachers at the Escuela Rural Normal “Raúl Isidros Burgos” in Ayotzinapa, Guerrero. He is now 20, his birthday was on June 7th. His father, José Antonio, standing in the red shirt, have not had any news of him although they campaign tirelessly for answers.

Joshua Lopez, again, engaging police at Times Square NYC.

with another demonstrator who asked the African American officer to “Be Real with me, Be real with yourself. If you put your badge over your black skin in this country, you’re a coward”. Another demonstrator called out, “Where the best place to hide after committing a murder? Behind a badge.”

A NYC Mass Transit Bus being used to transport arrestees from Time Square to Central booking.

This young woman was arrested right in front of us and was placed on the MTA city bus. The bus sat for a few minutes before driving away. while the crowd o demonstrators chanted, “Let them Go! Let them Go!”

#Alton Sterling #PhilandoCastile #BlackLivesMatter #StopPoliceBrutality

About Cat Watters

Cat Watters is a journalist, blogger, videographer, photographer and radio host on Peoples Internet Radio. She is an expert at photographing, filming and editing footage of street protests, street actions, political rallies, and other events. Cat writes for Democracy Chronicles from Brooklyn, New York and you can tune in to her radio show at Peoples Internet Radio every Tuesday from 6 to 8pm EST.

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