2012 has begun as one of the worst years in recent times with relations between the community and the NYPD. The brutal beating of 19 year old Jatiek Reed and the murder of 18 year old Rahmarley Graham has sparked a fervor of tension within the Black and Latino community throughout the city. Feelings of outrage has permeated protests and created a climate of distrust and anger towards the police.
On Jan. 26, four officers from the 42nd Precinct in the Bronx viciously stomped and beat Jatiek Reed with their fists and batons. A week later, Rahmarley Graham was shot and killed by the Bronx Special Narcotics Unit in the bathroom of his home in the Wakefield section of the Bronx. It is still unclear why Reed was stopped by the police, yet he remains in police custody under $10,000 bail for what is rumored to be drug charges orchestrated by the police department. In the case of Graham, the Special Narcotics Unit officers chased him into his home on 229th Street because of what they thought was a gun in his waistband, however, after he was shot, it was concluded that he was unarmed and was only trying to dispose of a bag of marijuana that was discovered in his toilet.
On February 4, which marked the 13th anniversary of the murder of Amadou Diallo by the NYPD, a protest was held in the Bronx in response to these heinous and unfortunate events. Hundreds of protesters, including the families of Reed and Graham, marched down Third Avenue to demand justice for the two young men as well as well as to put an end to the controversial Stop and Frisk campaign of the NYPD.
Protests have also been scheduled for today, February 6, at a court hearing for Reed at 100 Centre Street in downtown Manhattan and tomorrow in the Bronx for both Reed and Graham.
– ShaBe Allah
