Bilan
21st June 2008, 08:16
NYC Police Beat Up Rap Group Members Rebel Diaz
http://www.youtube.com/v/RJ-_1b6AO6w&hl=en
Looks like the NYPD are living up to their reputation of being
bonafide 'dipshits'.
We are just getting word that NYC Police located
in what was once known as Fort Apache-the 41st Precint in the Bronx,
have shown that police terrorism is alive and well.
The word is in a unprovoked attack they badly assaulted tw o members
of the Rap group Rebel Diaz.
The story we are hearing is that group Rodstarz and G1 were up in
Bronx on Southern Blvd in Hunts Point, when they noticed the police
were harassing a street vendor who was selling fruit.
The two went
over to witness the cops in action and when they saw the police being
abusive they pulled out a cell phone to video tape the incident and
asked for the officers badge numbers.
keep in mind that part of the
Bronx has a large immigrant community and it is also being
gentrified.
The police from the 41st Precint have made it a point to
commit acts of terror including the shooting and killing of an
unarmed immigrant man last year.
The case brought up images of Amadou
Diallo another immigrant was gunned down by out of control Bronx cops
in the neighboring precint.
According to witnesses, when Rodstarz and G1 asked for badge numbers
the police became agitated and turned around and started beating them
with bully clubs and kicking them in full view of other vendors and
people on the crowded street.
The two were dragged off bloody, put
into a police car and charged with resisting arrest and assault.
The backdrop to this story is that Rebel Diaz are not your ordinary
rappers.
They are well known activist who not only speak out against
police terrorism, but have been key in helping out folks within this
immigrant community.
Hence it would not be usual for group members to
bear witness and to speak out against the injustices.
Rebel Diaz has
committed themselves to given voice to the voiceless in that Bronx
neighborhood.
Many feel that the assault by these cowardly Bronx police officers in
plain view of everyone was a way to send a strong message to folks in
the community that the police run things and they b est stay in line.
By beating the Rebel Diaz members in front of everyone was a way to
spark fear and remind people that no one is safe from the police.
They wanna let folks know that they can brazenly beat up popular
rappers in front everyone even with cell phone cameras rolling and do
so with impunity.
The whole ordeal is akin to the slave masters from
way back sparking fear in the hearts of other slaves by beating the
strongest among them in front of everyone for all to see.
Over the past year NY Police have been man handling, arresting and
terrorizing politicized Hip Hop artists, activists and news reporters.
For example, last year in Brooklyn well known attorney Michael Tarif
Warren who routinely represents people in police abuse cases was
badly beaten along with his wife when they stopped to watch and bear
witness to NY cops terrorizing a unarmed tennage boy at a gas station.
During the protests immediately following the acquittal of the
officers on trial for the Sean Bell shooting, journalists who had
been speaking out against the police were harassed and roughed up.
Hopefully folks will read this and understand that what the police
are doing will not work.. A police state will not take place on our
collective watch..
La Peņa del Bronx is urging folks to call the 41st Precint
at 718.542.
4771, stating that the community is with the
Venegas brothers and to demand that the NYPD release them.
The Justice Committee, MXGM and Micheal Warren have been
contacted.
For more information contact La Peņa del Bronx at the
following: e-mail: [email protected]
Tel:718-292-6137
Stay tuned.
Solidarity Statement from VAMOS Unidos
VAMOS Unidos - Street Vendors Mobilizing and Organizing in Solidarity
expresses our solidarity and gratitude to G1 and RodStarz of REBEL DIAZ for
aiding one of our street vendors in the South Bronx as he faced confiscation
of his merchandise, summonses ($1000-$4000), and possible arrest.
The NYPD's excessive use of force is clearly evident in the arrest of both
members of Rebel Diaz and points to the criminalization of our youth, low
wage workers, and poor people of color such as street vendors.
Street vendors experience state repression day to day as they deal with
arrests, crippling fines, confiscations, beatings, and abusive treatment by
the NYPD. Members of VAMOS Unidos are often incarcerated for 1-3 days,
severely beaten, victims of theft by the NYPD, and endure humiliating
treatment. Marcela, a flower vendor in the Bronx for seven years, was
violently forced to the ground as the police yelled xenophobic comments. She
was handcuffed and placed against her cart as police gave her merchandise
away. She was then taken to jail where she was kept all day. Although street
vending is a hard occupation, it provides income to thousands of low wage
working people of color throughout New York, the US, and the globe.
Corporate interests have consistently used their power and influence to
squash any growth and reverse any wins by street vendors. So is the case in
New York where the street vending cap has not increased in almost 30 years.
New York's City Council continues to avoid the issue which has only worsened
the conditions for street vendors creating underground markets where cart
licenses are sold for up to $30,000 per year. Street vendors are forced to
pay such high prices for the ability to work without being arrested or
severely fined. This intentional criminalization of thousands of immigrant
workers on our streets allows NYPD a free pass to harass, assault, and abuse
vendors.
VAMOS Unidos is preparing to launch a campaign this July to increase the
caps on street vending. We need everyone's support, as we cannot win alone.
Support is needed by volunteering, attending actions of street vendors,
outreach, raising donations, and the like. Any help has a tremendous
positive impact on the ability of VAMOS Unidos to come closer to achieving
our goals.
We stand in solidarity
with any community members standing up for the rights of street vendors
and all poor people of color in this city against police abuse.
En Solidaridad,
Rafael
If you would like to be added to a VAMOS Unidos supporter listserve, please
email [email protected]
http://www.youtube.com/v/RJ-_1b6AO6w&hl=en
Looks like the NYPD are living up to their reputation of being
bonafide 'dipshits'.
We are just getting word that NYC Police located
in what was once known as Fort Apache-the 41st Precint in the Bronx,
have shown that police terrorism is alive and well.
The word is in a unprovoked attack they badly assaulted tw o members
of the Rap group Rebel Diaz.
The story we are hearing is that group Rodstarz and G1 were up in
Bronx on Southern Blvd in Hunts Point, when they noticed the police
were harassing a street vendor who was selling fruit.
The two went
over to witness the cops in action and when they saw the police being
abusive they pulled out a cell phone to video tape the incident and
asked for the officers badge numbers.
keep in mind that part of the
Bronx has a large immigrant community and it is also being
gentrified.
The police from the 41st Precint have made it a point to
commit acts of terror including the shooting and killing of an
unarmed immigrant man last year.
The case brought up images of Amadou
Diallo another immigrant was gunned down by out of control Bronx cops
in the neighboring precint.
According to witnesses, when Rodstarz and G1 asked for badge numbers
the police became agitated and turned around and started beating them
with bully clubs and kicking them in full view of other vendors and
people on the crowded street.
The two were dragged off bloody, put
into a police car and charged with resisting arrest and assault.
The backdrop to this story is that Rebel Diaz are not your ordinary
rappers.
They are well known activist who not only speak out against
police terrorism, but have been key in helping out folks within this
immigrant community.
Hence it would not be usual for group members to
bear witness and to speak out against the injustices.
Rebel Diaz has
committed themselves to given voice to the voiceless in that Bronx
neighborhood.
Many feel that the assault by these cowardly Bronx police officers in
plain view of everyone was a way to send a strong message to folks in
the community that the police run things and they b est stay in line.
By beating the Rebel Diaz members in front of everyone was a way to
spark fear and remind people that no one is safe from the police.
They wanna let folks know that they can brazenly beat up popular
rappers in front everyone even with cell phone cameras rolling and do
so with impunity.
The whole ordeal is akin to the slave masters from
way back sparking fear in the hearts of other slaves by beating the
strongest among them in front of everyone for all to see.
Over the past year NY Police have been man handling, arresting and
terrorizing politicized Hip Hop artists, activists and news reporters.
For example, last year in Brooklyn well known attorney Michael Tarif
Warren who routinely represents people in police abuse cases was
badly beaten along with his wife when they stopped to watch and bear
witness to NY cops terrorizing a unarmed tennage boy at a gas station.
During the protests immediately following the acquittal of the
officers on trial for the Sean Bell shooting, journalists who had
been speaking out against the police were harassed and roughed up.
Hopefully folks will read this and understand that what the police
are doing will not work.. A police state will not take place on our
collective watch..
La Peņa del Bronx is urging folks to call the 41st Precint
at 718.542.
4771, stating that the community is with the
Venegas brothers and to demand that the NYPD release them.
The Justice Committee, MXGM and Micheal Warren have been
contacted.
For more information contact La Peņa del Bronx at the
following: e-mail: [email protected]
Tel:718-292-6137
Stay tuned.
Solidarity Statement from VAMOS Unidos
VAMOS Unidos - Street Vendors Mobilizing and Organizing in Solidarity
expresses our solidarity and gratitude to G1 and RodStarz of REBEL DIAZ for
aiding one of our street vendors in the South Bronx as he faced confiscation
of his merchandise, summonses ($1000-$4000), and possible arrest.
The NYPD's excessive use of force is clearly evident in the arrest of both
members of Rebel Diaz and points to the criminalization of our youth, low
wage workers, and poor people of color such as street vendors.
Street vendors experience state repression day to day as they deal with
arrests, crippling fines, confiscations, beatings, and abusive treatment by
the NYPD. Members of VAMOS Unidos are often incarcerated for 1-3 days,
severely beaten, victims of theft by the NYPD, and endure humiliating
treatment. Marcela, a flower vendor in the Bronx for seven years, was
violently forced to the ground as the police yelled xenophobic comments. She
was handcuffed and placed against her cart as police gave her merchandise
away. She was then taken to jail where she was kept all day. Although street
vending is a hard occupation, it provides income to thousands of low wage
working people of color throughout New York, the US, and the globe.
Corporate interests have consistently used their power and influence to
squash any growth and reverse any wins by street vendors. So is the case in
New York where the street vending cap has not increased in almost 30 years.
New York's City Council continues to avoid the issue which has only worsened
the conditions for street vendors creating underground markets where cart
licenses are sold for up to $30,000 per year. Street vendors are forced to
pay such high prices for the ability to work without being arrested or
severely fined. This intentional criminalization of thousands of immigrant
workers on our streets allows NYPD a free pass to harass, assault, and abuse
vendors.
VAMOS Unidos is preparing to launch a campaign this July to increase the
caps on street vending. We need everyone's support, as we cannot win alone.
Support is needed by volunteering, attending actions of street vendors,
outreach, raising donations, and the like. Any help has a tremendous
positive impact on the ability of VAMOS Unidos to come closer to achieving
our goals.
We stand in solidarity
with any community members standing up for the rights of street vendors
and all poor people of color in this city against police abuse.
En Solidaridad,
Rafael
If you would like to be added to a VAMOS Unidos supporter listserve, please
email [email protected]