The Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice plans to conduct "an independent review of the facts and circumstances surrounding the Nov. 25, 2006, shooting." Still yesterday, the Black Leadership Forum held a news conference at the headquarters of the National Action Network. Rev. Al Sharpton asserted:
The decision in the Sean Bell case was not a miscarriage of justice, but rather an abortion of justice.
The acquittal of New York police officers in the unprovoked murder of unarmed Sean Bell is yet another example of a pattern and practice of excessive force used by police across the nation on black people.BLF Executive Director and CEO Gary Flowers added:
BLF member organizations expressed our support for the families, our outrage about the decision, and our commitment to investigate this case under the civil rights laws.
It mandates a response from the civil rights community and a renewed effort to work collectively, to publicly stand together, to demonstrate unity. It's not about one community and one organization, but the power of all of us standing together.
New York City is the scene of the crime. Sunday for black people is the day of resurrection and so we call for a resurrection of federal civil rights law enforcement for all U.S. citizens, particularly unarmed black men who are criminally brutalized by police.A joint letter will be sent to the Justice Department calling for a full investigation and requesting a meeting with Attorney General Michael Mukasey. The letter will not be the last word.
Today, Rep. John Conyers Jr., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and a congressional delegation will visit the Bell family to discuss a federal investigation of whether the police officers violated the civil rights of Sean Bell. They will also visit the spot where Bell was killed.
Sharpton said the "new level" of police misconduct means "we will respond with a new level." He did not offer any details on the community's response, saying:
We'll let you know what you need to know when you need to know.It ain't over.
More Coverage
+ Justice Served for Sean Bell?
+ Justice is Blind, Deaf and Dumb in Sean Bell Case
+ Sharpton, Bell's Fiancee Blast Verdict
+ Judge Clears Cops in Groom's Slaying
Comments: (76)
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By: susan on 4/28/2008 12:45PM
Just looking at his baby's eyes brought tears to mine. I pray for his mom,dad, and his wife,the children will be lifted up. I feel for them. Those officers have a long fight ahead of them because they may not be in jail but they are going to have to live with what they did for life.
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By: jane on 4/28/2008 1:59PM
Susan #1 I agree with you the officer will be judged one day, man didnt judged them but God will. Nicole I can truly say I know how you feel, my fiance was killed not by the police but by a man in the community. The pain will go away but the memory will last forever. I moved away to start a new life for me and my children and that helped some, but mainly time will heal all wounds. I became more involved with finding Jesus to help with easying the pain. May God bless you and your family and Mr. Bell's family as well.
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By: luvlmillion on 4/28/2008 2:30PM
Its a shame that once again our "system" has failed. if it was a group of black officers that commited this crime, the judge would have thrown the book at them. this just proves once again racism and Discrimination still happens in this country. we as black people need to take a stand TOGETHER if we ever want change.
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By: Mr. Gee on 4/28/2008 7:05PM
POLICE OFFICER IS INVESTIGATING A CRIME SUCH AS DRUGS/SALES ETC.,THEY ACTUALLY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN WHO WAS DOING WHAT.IF THEY WERE SUSPECTED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY BEFORE THEY LEFT THE CLUB THEN THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED.THEY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN WHY THEY WERE THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.THEY HAD TO KNOW THIS WAS A BATCHELOR PARTY. THIS WAS FLAT OUT MURDER!!!
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By: Bea on 4/29/2008 9:19PM
I grew up in Harlem during the Civil Rights Movements
and I recall the riots in Harlem. If the protesting would have occured in mid-town Manhattan, the National Guards would have been called in. Right now most of the Guards are in Iraq. Now, I think if the protests were held in the areas where if would be more affective, Midtown Manhattan, the city officals will listen. I feel for the Bell family and friends, this verdict might been the straw that broke the camel's back. And there has been a lot of back breaking events nation wide. I fear this is going to be a very long hot summer. Voting is the answer, make a lot of noise to get the officals out who have the power to make decision that are NOT justifiable. I no longer live in NYC, but I know there is a lot of TENSION. I am there in PRAY AND IN SPIRIT.
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By: Greg on 4/29/2008 7:15AM
My prayers goes out to the Bell family and I hope Sean had found peace with our heavenly FATHER before returning home, may GOD Bless the family and prepare them for His Trial of the murder of Sean Bell.
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By: Mary Shaw on 4/30/2008 6:28AM
To the Bell family you are in my prayers as always and will always be. The bottle line is those cops were all DRUNK I understood they could have 2 drinks in the bar undercover, they should not been drinking at all you can go into the bar with out dninking at all. I do I only have soda or cranberry juice. God will take care of it.
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By: Bethany on 4/29/2008 8:47AM
my prayers go out to the bell family. i pray that though the officers were acquitted, justice will still be served. it's time for a change in america!
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By: Felecia on 4/29/2008 8:56AM
This was an unjust verdict! It didn't take police officer's 50 gun shots to make a person surrendar..They never found a gun, nor did they have anyone say they saw someone with a gun..I think the undercover officer heard a argument, thought something was going down and panic! They were at a bar, just having fun, who knws they may have been drunk, but if you are in plain clothes, step into the front of my car and not state who you are I'm gonna run your a** over also! In a day in time where people are jacking you up, killing you over a tin can why will you jump in front of him..They shot these men adn now they have shown the world that black people don't mean sh**! In N.C the police went into a young man's house thinking he had drugs(a white young man) well he didn't and guess what the cops paid for messing up..HMMM makes you wonder!
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By: Vincent on 4/29/2008 8:54AM
When will the black community start looking inward at why crime and violence is disproportionately represented by blacks? Over half of all gun murders last year were black on black. Racism isn't killing black men, black men are killing black men. When will the black community say NO to the convict, prison, false bravado mentality that has taken over our black youth? These police officers did not start out their day with the intention to kill fellow black men. If anything their past and the FACTS show officers with outstanding arrest histories without ever pulling out their guns. The FACT is that the prosecution's job was to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that these officers murdered a man either by choice or through carelessness. The prosecution failed either due to witnesses whose testimony was either contradictory or faulty. Lets not blame others for tragedies but we should look at the root causes which means we must step up and accept some blame and work to strengthen our communities.......
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