Saturday, October 22, 2005

October 22, 2005 Message: 10th National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality

Photo by www.suzakaphoto.com: October 22, 2005 National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality March in New York City

Editor's Note: This statement from Carl Dix, national spokesperson of the Revolutionary Communist Party; a co-founder of the October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation, and member of its national executive committee, was read at the New York City rally on October 22, 2005.
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First, I want to send Revolutionary greetings to everybody taking to the streets today on October 22, 2005, the 10th annual National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation. Can't be physically with you today because I'm involved in a hearing being held to determine whether Bush & Co. are guilty of crimes against humanity for their actions and inactions re Katrina. [Editor's Note: This is in reference to the International Commission of Inquiry on Crimes Against Humanity Committed by the Bush Administration, which met at its first session from October 21st through 22nd. For information, go to www.bushcommission.org/]But rest assured, I'm with you in spirit.

In its nine years, our coalition has hammered home the fact that we're dealing with a nationwide epidemic of police brutality and police murder. In fact, we have documented this in the book, Stolen Lives. Our coalition has provided the victims of police brutality and police murder and their families a platform from which to speak the truth about how their lives have been devastated. And our work has helped bring forward allies from many different sections of society to stand together with those who live their lives under the guns and billy clubs of brutal murdering pigs.

This wasn't easy to do -- when our coalition was formed it had to contend with those who said you couldn't fight Police Brutality on a nationwide level. More recently we've had to go up against an atmosphere where the authorities have, in the name of their War On Terrorism, unleashed an all encompassing repressive clamp down. And a situation where even criticizing the actions of the police has become taboo.

Well that's a taboo that the October 22nd Coalition has never bowed down to, and must continue not bowing down to. The events in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane show how timely our coalition's themes remain. Police Brutality -- Again we saw it live and on video tape when the cops beat a 64 year old Black teacher in New Orleans. We've seen the militarization of the police big time as the cops there collaborate with an all out military occupation of the city. Criminalization--You had every level of government joining in the demonization of Black people who heroically took it upon themselves to get the emergency supplies -- food, water and medicine -- they and others needed to survive. Emergency supplies that the authorities refused to provide and even tried to stop others from providing.

It is more important than ever that the fight to stop police brutality, repression and the criminalization continues and even gets stepped up. The agenda of Bush & Co. -- an agenda that has at its heart a drive to impose a Christian fascist theocracy, where the bible as interpreted by assholes like Pat Robertson becomes the law of the land -- involves a whole lot of brutality, repression and criminalization. This must be fought. They aim to, and have gone a long way towards, putting in place so many foul things that people will never be able to reverse what they've imposed. We can't let that happen.

I want to bring to everyone's attention a CALL aimed at doing just that -- the call FOR a massive mobilization on November 2nd -- The World Can't Wait -- Drive Out the Bush Regime! This day must mark the beginning of the end for the Bush regime. And everybody who hates the war on and Occupation of Iraq, who hates the USA PATRIOT Act and sees the many other foul things Bush & Co. have inflicted on the people here and around the world needs to be out in the streets on November 2nd. As a revolutionary communist, I am working to mobilize people to be out on the streets on November 2nd working to drive out the Bush regime as part of building toward being in position to seize any chance that arises to go on to rise up and make revolution and end once and for all the rotten capitalist system that is responsible for police brutality and all the other foul things that people are forced to endure here and around the world.

In closing, let me say again that the work out coalition has done -- in making October 22nd the day to take to the streets, to organize in our communities, schools and work places, to hold teach ins and cultural events--all aimed at building resistance to police brutality -- is very important. It saves lives today, and it can be part of the work that needs to be done to put the people in a position to seize a bright future out of the madness of today.

Stop police brutality, repression and the criminalization of a generation!
The capitalist system is the problem, and revolution is the solution!


[For more information on the October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Police Brutality and the National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, go to www.october22.org/, and to www.octber22-ny.org/.]