Media Advisory
For Immediate Release
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.