Verdict Protest in BX Planned For Wednesday

A coalition of community organizations has called a demonstration in Highbridge Wednesday afternoon, to protest the acquittal of the three officers charged in the killing of Sean Bell.

On Wednesday, from 5:01 to 5:05 pm, protestors will block traffic at the intersection of Jerome Avenue and 170th Street, only a few short blocks away from the 44th Precinct. Among the groups involved in planning the demonstration thus far are the Bronx-based Latino Pastoral Action Center (LPAC) and Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice.

A rally will follow the traffic-blocking action.

"5:01 is because Sean Bell was shot 51 times," explained Joel Rivera, director of LPAC's Greater Heights Youth Program (no relation to Councilmember Joel Rivera).

Rivera said that his organization had a good relationship with the 44th Precinct, and had actually been in contact with them about keeping Wednesday's event peaceful. "It is civil disobedience," Rivera said. "But because of the relationship we have now with the local precinct, I’m not anticipating arrests."

Rivera said that while LPAC had a very good relationship with the 44, the same was not true for the community more broadly -- especially youth. He said his organization had already been planning a demonstration to take place within the next several weeks to call attention to police conduct including the wave of NYPD stop-and- frisks of young men of color and recent infamous incidents in which NYPD officers handcuffed five-year-old school children.

But Rivera said Friday's acquittal made the timing of the demonstration more urgent. "We're showing that we're not happy with this decision that took place," Rivera said.

And he added: "My concern is: how many other Sean Bell cases are happening that we don’t know about, that are getting swept under the rug?"