‘Fire NY cops who killed Ramarley Graham!’

AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews

NEW YORK — Constance Malcolm, speaking at March 10 press conference, condemned the refusal of U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara to bring federal civil rights charges against Richard Haste, the New York City cop who gunned down her 18-year-old son Ramarley Graham.

Bharara announced March 8 that his office had conducted “a thorough and independent investigation” but that “neither accident, mistake, fear, negligence nor bad judgment is sufficient” to bring charges.

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Malcolm told the Militant March 15. “The officers spent four minutes outside my house, walking around, kicking the doors before they broke in. How can you say what he did was out of fear?”

“They’re saying you’re not safe in your own home,” Malcolm said. “All the cop has to say is ‘I thought someone had a gun’ and break in.”

Haste was part of a group of police that followed Graham home Feb. 2, 2012. They claim they saw the teenager adjust his pants as if he had a gun. Haste broke into the house and chased Graham into the bathroom where he shot and killed the unarmed youth.

Haste was indicted for manslaughter in 2012, but the case was thrown out because of mistakes made by the prosecution. A second grand jury failed to indict him.

“We’re not going to stop protesting,” Malcolm said. “We want Haste and all the cops involved to be fired. This isn’t about revenge. This is about accountability. We don’t want another mother to lose a son.”

— SETH GALINSKY