On Thursday, August 14, 2014, Rochester held its own National Moment of Silence Against Police Brutality in Washington Square Park. The local vigil was organized viaFacebook by Kelly Scott of Rochester. It was in response to the recent deaths of Michael Brown; Eric Garner, who was killed July 17 on Staten Island; and John Crawford III, who was shot Aug. 5 in Beavercreek, Ohio. All are African-American males who died at the hands of white police officers.
The national organizer, @FeministaJones, explained the reasons behind organizing the National Moment of Silence Against Police Brutality:
In recent months, there have been entirely too many accounts of police officers in cities around the country using excessive force against civilians in ways that have led to severe abuse and even death. The stories of Eric Garner, Pearlie Golden, John Crawford, Marlene Pinnock, Denise Stewart, and 18 year-old Michael Brown have ravaged our hearts and stirred our souls.
Photo credit: Justin Sullivan/GettyWe are tired of living in this police state where human rights and due process are tossed out of the window by people employed to protect and serve us.
I’m a social worker. I wanted to help. As tensions rose and ideas began circulating, I was prompted to call for a National Moment of Silence. Read about how it came to be here.
@FeministaJones also reminded those paricipating in vigils to remember the victims of police violence–not to abstract from the individuals and talk about the fucked-up system we live in:
When framed as “protesting police brutality” instead of “honoring the lives lost”, you remove the humanity of people. It is important to remember that the#NMOS14 vigils are to remember the forgotten, ignored, killed, and abused. Too often, we forget that human beings are REAL victims and we focus so much on “the system”. Take this moment for them.
Beyond Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and John Crawford III, locally there are plenty of cases of police brutality and murder. Enough Is Enough formed over a year ago over the cases of Benny Warr, Dwayne Ivery, and countless others. The United Christian Leadership Ministry came together over Brenda Hardaway. Before these two organizations, there were plenty of other groups–dating back decades. This issue is not new to Rochester, just as it is not new to Ferguson, Detroit, L.A., NYC, and cities, towns, and villages across the country. With solidarity from Rochester, NY! #NMOS14 #Ferguson#JusticeForMikeBrown #EnoughIsEnough
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