On Aug. 12 around 30 community members showed up to the Philadelphia City Courthouse to support Tyree Carroll at a pre-trial hearing. Carroll was the victim of a vicious assault by Philadelphia cops on April 3. On that evening, Carroll was stopped by police for allegedly riding his bicycle the wrong way down a one-way street. Video footage captured by someone nearby captured the brutal attack on the 22-year-old.
The video opens showing three cops piling on Carroll. Two cops held Carroll down while another beat him as he cried for his grandmother, who lives in the vicinity, to help him.
All of the cops started punching and kicking him as three additional officers arrived. They threatened to tase Carroll, calling him derogatory names. The cops took turns attacking Carroll, and a minute later even more cops arrived to join in the beating, which lasted for several more minutes.
Carroll was found with a small amount of crack cocaine after the attack and was arrested. The police took Carroll to a local hospital after the attack, but they have outrageously alleged that the injuries he was treated for were
self-inflicted.
The Justice for Tyree Campaign formed to respond to the attack and to organize against the wider culture of police terror in Philadelphia. At Carroll’s hearing members from various organizations, including Global Women’s Strike, Philadelphia ANSWER Coalition, and MOVE were in attendance. The next court date is scheduled for September 2. Stay tuned to Liberation News for ways that you can support Tyree Carroll and fight against police violence in Philadelphia.
