Militant/Eric Simpson

Hundreds of people rally in Miami March 12 to protest cop killings of Black people

Dailey was in a wheelchair when police shot him in the back. His uncle addressed the crowd. He asked how many people had family members killed by the police. More than a dozen hands shot up in the air. "We can't stop protesting until they listen to us!" he said. "When the police murder someone they need to be put in jail!"

Dailey's brother, Tracelyn Thomas, told the Militant, "They might as well go back and hang us on trees. All they change is the people. It's the same system. Things need to change and nobody else is going to do it for us."

The rally was sponsored by Brothers of the Same Mind, the NAACP, American Civil Liberties Union, the Justice Now coalition to stop police brutality, members of the Black Firemen's Association, several radio stations, and family members of those killed and beaten by cops.

The rally also demanded the release of the Haitian refugees being held at Krome Immigration Detention Facility outside of Miami. Many in the crowd carried "Free Haitian Refugees!" signs.

"We demand the 188 Haitians held at Krome be released immediately!" said Marlein Bastien from Famn Aytien Nan Miami (the Haitian Women of Miami). "They are not being let into the United States because of racism. There are children and pregnant women incarcerated at Krome--even an 18-month-old baby. And what did they do? They are just trying to enter this country to live and work."  
 
'Jail killer cops'
Among the signs carried by participants in the action were ones that read, "Stop using Black men as target practice!"; "Jail killer cops!"; and "Not one more dead Black man!"

Victor Curry called for continued protests and urged rally participants to register to vote. "We are tired of these killer cops. We don't have police officers, we have paid assassins."

Juaneda Fain told the Militant of her family's fight to have charges brought against the officers who beat her son Antonio Edwards. In 1992, Edwards went into a coma after he was accosted by police and put in a choke hold.

He remains in a vegetative state today. "He had shackles on his legs when he was in a coma," said Fain, adding that District Attorney Kathy Rundle refused to bring charges against the cops.

"This issue affects every nationality, every race." explained Tanya Melendez, a 23-year-old Miami resident. "If there is an injustice being done, we need to stand up."  
 
 
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