September 8, 2000
 

JAMAICANS UNITED AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY 

PRESS RELEASE

 With signs reading "Jamaican Police Kill with impunity"  "Jamaican Police Kill 150, PM Patterson sees no evil, hears no evil,"  "Jamaica: What about human rights?"  A contingent of Jamaicans and others from a cross section of the black community showed up on September 7, at Dag Hammarsjkold Plaza to protest police brutality in Jamaica.

  Jose Richards, a Jamaican activist who has lived in the United States for more than 30 years said that this was the first time he had seen a Jamaican-led demonstration demonstrating against a Jamaican government.  "History is being created right here."

  Other demonstrators said they had come out  to send a message to Prime Minister Patterson that a way must be found to  end the policy of the police executing innocent young men from innercity communities.

  Michelle Jobson, a Jamaican,  heard about the demonstration on WBAI radio and  came along with her Jamaican co-worker, Molly Shaw during their lunch hour to "make a statement." Jobson believed it was  time somebody took a stand.

   A New York police officer who has vacationed in Jamaica wanted to know if the situation there is really that bad?  His female partner, also a past visitor to Jamaica felt that the Jamaican police had to be "retrained." Responding to friendly banter from protestors, the officers said  things are changing in the NYPD and it is not so easy to get away with acts of police brutality.  On that note a few begged to differ.

  The demonstrators were spirited and vocal though much smaller than  the Falun Gong or the Iranians who demonstrated nearby. But organizers, Jamaicans United Aganst Police Brutality, said they were not expecting a large turn out as  this was just the beginning of their campaign.  They expect a much larger showing at their  October 14 rally with speakers including City Council member Una Clarke and Congressman Major Owens. 
 

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