On Dec 4, over thirty people in the New Haven community known as the “Hill” marched to protest police brutality. Jehu Richardson, a life long resident of the Hill and victim of police brutality emceed and addressed the marchers,”We will not be held prisoners in our community, it’s time for the people to stand together and fight back.”
 Luis Jiminez, (right with sign) was beaten by police in front of his children. |
People chanted “From the Hill to the Ville to City Hall police brutality affects us all” and “No Justice, No Peace — No Racist Police!” As the march moved through the neighborhood, people came out of their homes and joined or cheered. The march was organized by New Haven Against Police Brutality, a coalition of groups who have been building a fight back movement against the increasing police attacks on the community that continue to go unpunished. The coalition consists of multinational community organizations including, Unidad Latino en Accion, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Copwatch, My Brothers Keepers and Frontline Soldiers.
After the march, a meeting was held where people from the community shared their experiences of police harassment and brutality, followed by a panel discussion on building a fight back movement, and reports on actions from around the country. One resident told of how he was beaten by the police and arrested in front of his children after he was stopped for talking on his cell phone. He recently won a criminal case against the city and is working on a civil suit. Deb Malatesta, from the Party for Socialism and Liberation in New Haven, said “Ultimately, it’s more profitable for businesses and property owners to pay for cops and prisons than it is to pay wages.”
The march was held on the 41st anniversary of Fred Hamptom’s murder by the Chicago police department.
