Justice for Kyam —Justice for the Earth

BROOKLYN, September 21 — On the 21st of September between 300,000 and 400,000 people marched from Columbus Circle to 42nd Street in New York City. It was called The Peoples Climate March. Over 100 people from our church congregation took part as a group. Some marchers took leaflets about the Justice for Kyam Livingston demonstration in Brooklyn.  
That demonstration had a smaller turnout than usual because so many people went on the earlier march. But some went to both. One of the speakers who had been on the march in Manhattan pointed out that the demonstration for Kyam was one of fighting for justice and that both demonstrations were linked.
Progressive Labor Party had pointed out at the climate march that capitalism causes climate change and ruins the lives of workers in many more ways. At the Kyam demonstration a PL speaker concluded that a system which denies justice for families in Ferguson, Staten Island, the Middle East and Brooklyn should be destroyed.
This was the fourteenth month after the death of Kyam Livingston and many who spoke talked strongly about the disgrace that there is still no justice for a woman who died because she was refused medical care. Others pointed out that for black workers in this society there is very little help and much racist police terror and harassment.
Many of the people who stood on the corners listening to the demonstration took leaflets and CHALLENGEs. People stayed and listened intently, clearly affected by what they heard. Some came over and asked questions, paying no attention to the racist police who, as usual, were in evidence. The speakers came from different backgrounds, were of different ages, and were both men and women.
After the demonstration was over we discussed the obvious fact that it was smaller, but in some ways it was more important because people on the street were very involved in listening and asking questions. People were shocked and frustrated that 14 months after a death that was clearly negligent murder, little or nothing has been done. Our new mayor and his group have now been in power in this city for nine months and, in spite of the promises, the attitudes have not changed.  The new District Attorney has done nothing to help this family get the justice they deserve.  
Kyam’s mother spoke in her usual forceful manner about her child who died and that she would never forget. She thanked those who came, and those who always come for being there. We should make sure that the next demonstration is better attended and that we try to get in touch with  other groups, particularly after the recent struggles in Ferguson and in Staten Island where racist callousness towards black workers is so clearly evident. PL’ers in the struggle continue to point out that we would need to have communist revolution to get real justice.