Errol Shaw, Sr., 39, a neighborhood yardman holding a rake while surrounded by several cops, was gunned down in his driveway August 29.

Protesting the latest killing by cops at a September 1 picket outside the 8th precinct, 40 demonstrators carried placards and shouted slogans demanding "Justice for Errol Shaw." Called by the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, the action drew participation from Shaw's community and members of several deaf organizations, including the Detroit Black Deaf Advocate.

Through sign interpreters, several deaf persons recounted to the media the run-ins they and their families have had with the police.

Many of the signs carried by protesters as they marched around the cop station had a sketch of a rake next to a slogan. One read: "Using a rake, shovel, or broom can cause death by police!"

As this reporter walked the line a young Black man said, "If you're a Black man with a wallet or a rake, you can be shot by the cops." He was referring to the New York City cop killing last year of African immigrant Amadou Diallo, who held up a wallet as 41 bullets were fired at him.

Detroit police have the infamous distinction among big-city cops of the highest killings during the 1990s, as reported by local news media from an FBI document.

Lester Dolphy is a meat packer in Detroit.