2nd Anniversary of Sean Bell

Yesterday 100 people gathered before to have a candlelight vigil and prayer service. This was for the second anniversary of the fatal police shooting of Sean Bell. Bell and his friends were shot in the confrontation with police after they left Bell's bachelor party at the Kalua Cabaret in Jamaica on the morning of Nov. 25, the same day Bell was to be married. No gun was found at the scene. Police have said that they thought one of Bell's friends was going to get a gun. He was an unarmed man, who on his wedding day was shot an this has sparked an outrage in the black community.

Four officers charged in the Diallo shooting were acquitted in a trial in Albany. In the Louima case, one officer pleaded guilty to sodomizing Louima with a broomstick in August 1997 and is serving a 30-year prison sentence, while two other officers were convicted of conspiracy to obstruct a grand jury investigation into the attack. In 2002, their convictions were overturned on appeal on the grounds of insufficient evidence. Like the Louima case, Sean Bell's family has yet to get justice.

Sean Bell's fiancee, Nicole Paultre Bell, led the memorial. Last week, Bell's family and their lawyers met privately with federal prosecutors to discuss a possible civil rights case against the shooters. U.S. Attorney Benton Campbell has refused to comment on the private meeting.

"It seemed like it just happened all over again just being here,'' Bell's father, William Bell, told NY1 television. ``The feeling hasn't changed. It still hurts.''

It hurts for us too. Many of us feel that justice is pretty much a word in the dictionary. Will this new administration do anything about it. I think with our current economic actions, that he will indeed have his work cut out for him.

Al Sharpton Convicted of Disorderly Conduct

Al Sharpton was convicted of disorderly conduct today in New York City. This news according to the AP Press Release. It appears Sharpton and 7 other activist were arrested in May for blocking bridges, tunnels and intersections in response to the verdict in the Sean Bell killing.




Sharpton did 51/2 hours in Jail and was given time served.

Source: Associated Press

Sharpton Shuts Down NYC- Arrested

Several hundred protesters briefly shut down traffic at entrances to the Queensboro Bridge, the Triborough Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge and the Holland Tunnel and Queens-Midtown Tunnel this afternoon as part of a coordinated series of protests over the acquittal of three New York City police detectives in the fatal shooting of Sean Bell in 2006.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, who coordinated the protests, was among more than 200 people who were arrested by the police — nearly all of them in an orderly fashion — for blocking traffic

I just have a problem with Al Sharpton. He wants so badly to be the Martin Luther King Jr of the 21st Century. The main difference is that Dr. King was consistent in his civil rights role. Sharpton seems to pop up after or during the problem. Then he takes it to "new heights." I don't think he will ever live down the Tawana Brawley incident. He aggressiveness at taking on these cases haspeople questioning his intentions.

More...

Sean Bell Trial-Cops Walk

Detective Gescard Isnora

Dectective Michael Oliver

Dectective Marc Cooper

I often think media coverage is based on consumer interest. Whatever is in one headline is what is hyped up or picked up by all the other. I say this because where is the outrage for he injustice that was done to Sean Bell? The three cops who killed Sean Bell on his wedding day in a 50-bullet barrage were cleared of all charges Friday - sparking tears inside the courtroom and anger on the streets outside.

A look back at the case - On November 25, 2006, Sean Bell, 23, was killed on his wedding day and his two buddies, Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield, were badly wounded when undercover cops fired 50 shots at Bell's car. None of the three was armed. It happened around the corner from the seedy Kalua Cabaret in Jamaica, Queens, where Bell had his bachelor party.

I know this area well. Growing up in Brooklyn, you had friends that were generally also from the Queens borough. This was not a fancy neighbohood, actually pretty poor.

Where is the justice here? For more of the story click here

Update on Sean Bell Case

The case continues regarding Sean Bell, the young man that was senselly gunned down by the New York Police Department on November 25,2006. It appears Detective Ellen Friedman states, "I didn't take any precautions as to contaminating any bloodstains or any other evidence in the vehicle,"

This was serious blow to the D.A.'s office who was hoping her testimony would assist them in a conviction.

Defense lawyers say the detectives, who were at the club for a prostitution sting, began shooting after Bell rammed his car into their unmarked police van - and because they believed somebody in Bell's car had a gun. It turned out the men were unarmed.

Oliver and Isnora face manslaughter charges. Cooper is charged with reckless endangerment.

They fired 50 shots. I mean 50 shots for one man. How long will this mess keep going on?