On Friday,
Aug.13, the Party for Socialism and Liberation hosted a public forum in
Syracuse, N.Y., which focused on issues of police brutality and prison abuse at
the Onondaga Justice Center. Over 50 people attended, with representation
from the League of United Latin American Citizens, NYCLU, Jail Ministry, and
other social justice groups in the area.
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Syracuse PSL forum, |
Presenters
discussed the cases of two victims, Chuniece Patterson and Raul Pinet, who were
recently killed at the Justice Center. There are at least six lawsuits pending
against the Justice Center for deaths and injuries. The forum placed the two
deaths in the larger context of the prison-industrial complex and the
systematic racism existing in the capitalist justice system. The
assassination of Comrade George Jackson was also commemorated and his
contributions to prison organizing were remembered.
A vibrant
discussion period followed the presentations. Rachel Smith shared the story of
her son Christopher Jamison, who was shot in the leg, hand and back by the
police and sentenced to 20 years for assault. Others shared their own stories
of the police brutality in their communities.
There was significant
press coverage of the event. All three local news stations, a local radio
station, and the local newspaper covered the forum and interviewed PSL members.
Members of Patterson’s congregation, the Lighthouse of Love
Church, spoke of the need to organize a mass demonstration in front of the
Justice Center for Chuniece, Raul and all victims of police brutality and
prison terror. The PSL is currently working with the NAACP, the National Action
Network and others to organize such an effort in September. If you are
interested in joining this struggle, contact [email protected].
