BRONX, NEW YORK CITY, March 22 — “NYPD KKK!” chanted two hundred demonstrators marching with their fists in the air as they approached the 47th Precinct station house in the north Bronx. Workers and students from the Wakefield section have organized since the New York Police Department’s recent execution of black teenager Rhamarley Graham last month. “That’s what it was!” cried a neighbor of Rhamarley. “They executed Rhamarely and we will have the last word!”
Many family members of Rhamarley participated in the march and vigil that night. Although a few politicians, attorneys, and members of the Black Panther Party tried to steer the event, it was led primarily by members of the community. “They shot my son like an animal!” cried Rhamarley’s father as the marchers blocked traffic in front of their home with signs that read, “Stop the Killer KKKops!” and “No Justice! No Peace!” Workers continued to identify themselves with the cops’ victim as they chanted, “I am Rhamarley!”
Although this event was smaller than some past demonstrations, its anger was intensified by another police execution that we learned about one day earlier, the killing of Trayvon Martin in Florida. “From the Bronx to Florida, these racist killings are the same!” cried out one worker in front of Rhamarley’s home.
A comrade from the Progressive Labor Party brought a teacher from a local daycare center to the demonstration. Before joining the march from the police station, this comrade and teacher offered to help two of the teacher’s co-workers to draft a leaflet in response to the murder of Rhamarley. The leaflet called on all politicians, clergy, and elected officials to gather for a community meeting and “take action.”
The comrade had a sharp discussion with the teacher and two daycare workers about the illusion of relying on politicians to solve these racist cop killings. They talked about the importance of workers and students organizing militant protests. Although the two workers could not be convinced to attend the evening’s protest, the teacher accompanied this comrade to the rally and encouraged marchers to read CHALLENGE.
Fifty CHALLENGEs were distributed that evening and many great discussions took place. One worker received the paper and remarked, “It’s great you’re out here talking about how it’s the system!” He added, “Most of these politicians are talking about how it’s about a few bad cops.” The comrade explained, “That’s the difference between communists and capitalist politicians. We will expose how it’s the whole capitalist system that needs racist cops to attack and terrorize the working class.” The worker asked, “So you’re saying we get rid of the cops when we get rid of capitalism?” He took five copies of CHALLENGE and exchanged email addresses with the comrade. The teacher was encouraged by the worker’s response to CHALLENGE and agreed to help persuade other workers to attend the next protest.