The Student Coalition Against Racial Profiling was formed as a reaction to severe police brutality against black and brown youth in the Bushwick, Brooklyn community.
Now…more than ever…all the brothers and sisters must come together…all the brothers and sisters everywhere, must feel that the time is in the air… - Bro. Gil Scott Heron
As you may know, many of the students known as the “Bushwick 32″ recently sued New York City and won a settlement of nearly $260,000. That was a victory we all shared and rejoiced over.
BUT THE STRUGGLE IS NOT OVER. Recall that while in court supporting the Bushwick 32, several community members, youths and students were racially profiled and wrongfully arrested IN THE COURT HOUSE. These victims, known as the BROOKLYN 4, are slated to go to trial on June 16th, 2009. Once again, we will need to call on YOU - THE COMMUNITY - to show that we WILL NOT STAND BY while injustice is done to those who work on behalf of our people.
What: PACK THE COURT HOUSE FOR TRIAL
When: TUESDAY JUNE 16, 2009 @ 9:30 AM
Where: 120 SCHEMERHORN ST., BROOKLYN, NY
The Ujima Alliance was created by an intergenerational coalition of organizations that were brought together to address issues surrounding police brutality, racial profiling and overall violence in the community.
After months of mobilizing the community around the abuse and mistreatment surrounding 32 youth who were wrongfully profiled and arrested in May, 2007 (see articles here on Bushwick 32) the students turned the negative situation into a positive by forming the Student Coalition Against Racial Profiling (SCARP). This powerful group of youth were successful in bringing various organizations together throughout the city such as Malcolm X Grassroots, Operation Power, Make The Road New York, Sankofa Community Empowerment, 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement, and INPDUM.
Through weekly meetings, press conferences, town hall meetings, fundraisers and community protests the coalition reached out to other victims of racial profiling and brutality in an effort to address this urgent issue that plagues Black and Brown communities throughout the country. In addition, the alliance began addressing horizontal violence through bi weekly intergenerational workshops that addressed gangs, self hate and overall community division.
Summary
Three Generations of Mistreatment!
They Attacked the Bushwick 32
Then They attacked our Elders
Then They attacked the Activists
Just last year they attacked 350,000………
The coalition recognizes that these human rights violations that happen everyday and will continue until we put an end to it!
How Can You Help?
We are trying to build a legal defense fund to support the young members of the alliance that have been wrongly arrested and charged with non-existent crimes.
Please send all donations via check or money order to: Sankofa Community Empowerment, Inc.
P.O.Box 160616
Brooklyn, NY 11216
Also, to stay abreast of court dates to support, events, rallies, and news updates, sign up to our list on the right hand side of the screen.
On Janurary 3rd, 2008, Lurie Daniel-Favors and Brian Favors spoke on WBAI’s program, Education at the Crossroads with Basir Mchawi, about the Police abuse of African-American and Latino/Hispanic people and the formation of the UJIMA Alliance.
The Student Coalition Against Racial Profiling (S.C.A.R.P) Demand Charges of Bushwick Youth be Dropped and Call for End to Profiling by the NYPD of Latino and African American youth
Community outraged over continuing misconduct by the NYPD and the ongoing delay of trial dates that are impacting the students’ educational life.
WHO: A coalition of youth and community organizations in the Bushwick area
WHAT: Over 20 students will be in court facing charges related to their widely-reported arrest on their way to the wake of a friend last May. There will be a press conference held at the criminal court in downtown Brooklyn calling on the DA to drop the charges.
Scheduled speakers at the press conference include:
City Councilmember Charles Barron
Members from the legal team representing the students
Arrestees from the May 21 incident
Local community and family members
WHEN: 12:30 pm, Friday, November 30, 2007
WHERE: Criminal Court - 120 Schermerhorn St., Brooklyn NY
WHY:
“In May we were arrested while doing nothing wrong- just trying to get to our friend’s wake. Now we are continuing to be disrespected as this case drags on and we keep get pulled out school,”
said Asher Callender, a 19-year old student and one of the arrestees in the May 21 incident.
Over 20 youth have had to make a series of court appearance surrounding charges related to the May 21 incident. SCARP is demanding that these charges be dropped at the November 30 court appearance. Additionally, the community wants to raise awareness about this incident and to hold city leaders accountable for the on-going racial profiling demonstrated by the police.
JOIN THE RALLY at the 83rd Precinct in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
TIME: MONDAY JULY 9th - 4PM to 6PM LOCATION: 480 Knickerbocker Ave (@ Bleeker Street).
NEAR BY TRAIN: M-train to Knickerbocker Ave / L-train to Myrtle/Wycoff
The district Attorney has refused to drop the ridiculous charges placed on us while we were arrested traveling as a group to our friend’s wake. The first of our court dates is on Tuesday July 10th. We are rallying for community support and to show the NYPD and the District Attorney that are not just going to give up without a fight!
Stand with us in solidarity for a LEGAL rally in front of the 83rd Precinct.
Additionally, please come out to support us in court with your presence and spirit during our court appearances: JULY 10th, JULY 11th, and JULY 12th.
The court house is located at 120 Schermerhorn Street (@ Adams St), Brooklyn, NY.
The Ujima Alliance was created by an intergenerational coalition of organizations that were brought together to address issues surrounding police brutality, racial profiling and overall violence in the community.
On Janurary 3rd, 2008, Lurie Daniel-Favors and Brian Favors spoke on WBAI’s program,