On Oct. 23 around 50 people rallied at the San Diego Police Department’s Southeast Division and marched to Skyline Hills Community Park. This was part of an Oct. 22 National Day Against Police Brutality. The local action was called by the Racial Justice Coalition of San Diego.
Many organizations were represented, including the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Brown Beret National Organization, Black Panther Party of San Diego, Counsel on American-Islamic Relations and Showing Up for Racial Justice. Racial Justice Coalition organizer Yusef Miller introduced a lineup of compelling and inspiring speakers. They included activists and family members of people murdered by police or those who died in police custody, such as the siblings of Alfred Olango, Dennis Carolino and Saxon Rodriguez.
The national October 22 Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation has mobilized every year since 1996. Organizations in San Diego have participated for several years. The local action this year called for an end to police terror, the firing of several racist and abusive cops, and that DA Summer Stephan deal with the pattern of police brutality and in-custody deaths in San Diego as part of the “Prosecute or Resign” campaign.
The action drew a multinational crowd of supporters, including families with children, grandparents, young people, activists and working professionals from all over San Diego County. After the event, the organizers served lunch and encouraged attendees to stay, to get to know each other, and to recommit themselves to the struggle for justice for another year.
When it comes to in-custody deaths and police violence, San Diego has one of the worst records in the country, but working class and oppressed people are organizing to put an end to police terror once and for all!
Featured image: The crowd marching. Liberation photo
