Vol. 81/No. 38      October 16, 2017

 

Protest marks 5 years since cops killed Mohamed Bah

 
NEW YORK — Some 75 people gathered in Harlem Sept. 25 to mark the fifth anniversary of the cop killing of Mohamed Bah and protest the Aug. 22 announcement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office that the federal government will not indict the police officers who broke down his apartment door and killed him. A New York grand jury rejected indictments in November 2013. Participants marched from the building where Bah was shot to the state office building several blocks away.

Family members of 16 victims of police killings and frame-ups came from around the country to stand with Hawa Bah. Others included Kadiatou Diallo, whose son was killed in a hail of gunfire by New York cops in 1999, and Rhonda Dormeus, whose daughter Korryn Gaines was killed and five-year-old grandson Kodi wounded in a shooting by Baltimore County police in their apartment in August 2016.

In September 2012, Hawa Bah, from Guinea, West Africa, was visiting her son, a student and taxi driver, and found him suffering from depression. She called 911 for an ambulance and waited downstairs for medical workers to arrive. Instead, five heavily armed cops appeared, pushed past her, went to Bah’s apartment and shot him dead.

Police spokespeople initially said Mohamed Bah had slashed at two officers with a 13-inch knife, prompting detective Edwin Mateo to yell, “He’s stabbing me, shoot him.” But Mateo later said he was actually hit by a police Taser — information kept from Hawa Bah and her attorneys. Mateo has admitted in civil court proceedings that Mohamed Bah did not stab him.

Attorney Debra Cohen, who spoke at the Harlem action, told the Militant that the trial of a federal civil lawsuit filed by Hawa Bah against the city will begin Nov. 1. Supporters are encouraged to attend the opening of the trial at the U.S. Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, at 9 a.m.
 
 
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Workers, students discuss deepening social crisis
 
 
 
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