Most working people and youth, especially Blacks and other oppressed nationalities who face daily indignities and brutality from the cops, were not fooled by their courtroom theatrics. The role of cops is to serve the wealthy class, to protect their property, and mete out punishment on the streets. The four cops on trial were members of the nearly all-white Street Crimes Unit of the New York police department. Their slogan matches their attitude: "we own the night."

Diallo's death was the natural outcome of what the Democratic and Republican parties organize on a local, state, and national level. It flowed from their drive to "clean up the streets," and convince working people and middle-class layers to turn a blind eye to cop brutality in exchange for a reduction in "crime." But for most workers, the "anticrime" measures mean more police brutality and landing in prison at an ever higher rate. More than two million human beings are now behind bars in the United States.

The thousands of protesters who came into the streets to win justice for Diallo are an example of the kind of action needed to push back the unrelenting brutality and harassment dished out by the police against working people all over the world everyday.

Mexican peasants also took direct action, arming themselves and rounding up the real criminals: the men in blue. It was an example of independent action in their own class interests. Their actions give a glimpse of how it is possible--and why it is necessary--for working people and farmers to wage a revolutionary struggle to take power out of the hands of the wealthy minority and replace the brutal, dog-eat-dog system of capitalism with one that serves humanity: socialism.  
 
 
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