NATIONAL “JUSTICE FOR ALL MARCH” Rally
By Sheilah Belle
Washington, D.C. — With the Reverend Al Sharpton, National Action Network, Founder & President, leading the way, thousands of people from all nationalities poured into Washington, D.C. and New York Saturday, to protest the recent grand jury decisions in the fatal deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and the New York grand jury’s recent decision not to indict a white police officer in the chokehold death of Eric Garner, who was unarmed.
In Washington, D.C., the crowd gathered around 11AM at Freedom Plaza, before taking over Pennsylvania Avenue where they gathered for the National “JUSTICE FOR ALL March.” The crowd marched a little more than a mile.
The March was organized in part by the National Action Network, along with the NAACP, The Human Rights Campaign, ACLU, and the Black Woman’s Round Table.
During the march, some of the Protesters voiced their concerns along the way with various chants including:
“What do we want?” Justice. When do you want it? Now!
“If We don’t get it, Shut it down!”
“We Won’t Stop! We Can’t Stop! So Kill a Cop on Cell Block!”
“Show me what Democracy Looks Like” “This is what Democracy looks like!”
“Hands Up, Don’t Shoot!”
“No Justice, No Holidays!”
“No Justice, No Peace!”
“I Can’t Breathe”
“No Racist Police”
“Hey Hey Ho Ho, These Killer Cops have Got to Go”
Some Protesters also held signs reading
“Stop Racist Police!”
“Stop Racist Police Terror!”
“I Can’t Breathe, Hands Up Don’t Shoot”
“Respect Human Rights”
“Black Lives Matter”
“Justice & Civil Rights for All”
Along the way, the crowd also carried the tune and the words, “I’ve got a feeling, I’ve feeling, I’ve got a feeling, I’ve got a feeling
Somebody’s trying to hold us back, and it ain’t gonna be no stuff like that!”
Along the route, protestors could also hear music by Mahalia Jackson, Marvin Gaye, and Sam Cooke. When the protestors finally reached the main stage, they were met with a recording of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., speaking words of encouragement.
Guest speakers for the day included the Rev. Al Sharpton, the families of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. Other guest speakers included Rev. Franklyn Richardson; Chair of the National Action Network, Joe Madison; Radio Show Host & Civil Rights Activist, Ras Baraka; Mayor of Newark, New Jersey (D), Sabrina Fulton; Mother of Trayvon Martin, Gwen Carr; Mother of Eric Garner, Esaw Garner, Widow of Eric Garner, and a younger man from Ferguson, MO, Joshua Williams, just to name a few.
In New York marchers chanted “I can’t breathe,” the last words of Garner, and carried signs reading “I Can’t Breathe”, “Black Life Matters”, “Jail Killer Cops” and “No Justice, No Peace.”
Additionally, In New York two police officers were hospitalized following being assaulted by protestors on the Brooklyn Bridge. Reports state that the officers were kicked in the head and face as they were trying to arrest someone for attempting to throw a garbage can onto the street.
New York Mayor Bill De Blasio said, “We will not allow a small contingent of agitators to bring disorder and violence to these protests. Those who reject peaceful protest and provoke violence can expect immediate arrest and prosecution.”
Courtesy of http://www.thebellereport.com http://www.twitter.com/thebellereport http://www.youtube.com/thebellereport
