A speech from Donovan Jackson’s Cousin; Talibah Shakir and Leroy Moore at the Stop Police Brutality Day in West Oakland
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by Talibah Shakir and Leroy Moore Talibah Shakir; Before I begin, I ask that everyone observe a moment of silence for our comrade Dana, who has joined the ancestors. Oakland, we are here toady because we share the problem of racial profiling with you and with people of color around the world. We are here because of the beating of 16-year-old Donovan Jackson by Inglewood Police; we are here because we are tired of being condemned by this society because of the color of our skin. Donovan and his father were attacked because they were 2 black men in a fairly new car, they were attack because in the minds of the police, and most of this society, that people of color are thieves and criminals. We are not criminals, we are the victims and have been victimized for over 400 years, in this very country that make our school children pledge allegiance to a flag that is supposed to represent liberty and justice for all. Donovan did not have the liberty to choose to get his ass beat or not. Neither he nor his father had liberty to stop to get gas without being attacked, there was no justice in 4 officers beating one 16-year-old special Education student, and then choking him until he was unconscious. But there was allegiance on the part of the police and sheriffs that stood by as my cousin was slammed unconscious against the back of a police car, beaten in the face and choked. What we have here in America is racial profiling and every person of color is, has or will be a victim of racial profiling. It was racial profiling that brought blacks here to America, that stole the land of the Native Americans, that crossed the border on the Chicanos and established miscegenation laws that forbid Asians to marry whites. We have protested, demonstrated, and rallied and the beating goes on and on, it is oblivious that Plan A is not working and we must go to plan B. We must make our elected officials stand up for the people and make our demands known and our desires fulfilled. Either our demands are met, or we do not re-elect the politicians, and I do not care what color they are. No justice no peace and that goes for our politicians as well. Donovan Jackson should not have been beaten, but racial profiling did not start with Donovan, but it should end with him. AS I stand here for all victims of racial profiling I must ask the question, "Why do we continue to allow this to happen?" Racial Profiling, police abuse, political prisoners, discrimination, racism, murder of our people, Native Americans on reservations… People we have a big problem, and to the politicians I ask who among will revere our people? The preceeding statement was written by Donovan Jackson’s Cousin who with twenty-five plus supporters carpooled on a bus from Inglewood, Ca, to the home of the Black Panthers, West Oakland to the Stop Police Brutality Day on August 24th 2002 at the famous Little Bobby Hutton Park. Leroy Moore; Stop Police Brutality Day I can’ rest Hello, my name is Leroy Moore, I’m a proud disabled African American poet, activist and Executive Director of Disability Advocates of Minorities Organization (DAMO). DAMO is the only organization for and by people of color with disabilities, our families in the Bay Area and the whole state of California. one of the many reasons why DAMO & I can’t rest is the long list of disabled people of color who are beaten by police everyday: And the list goes on and on. Some times I wonder I’m I the only one that hears the cries and screams of my disabled brothers and sisters? These are my disabled brothers and sisters of color who have been murdered by police however most of the times their stories and disability are not known to the public. Nobody is talking about the raise of police shootings and violence against disabled people of color. Many times their disability is not reported in the media or love ones hide their disability out of shame or try to protect them. This is only silencing the deadly issue and oppressing the victim’s true identity. This is one reason why DAMO will be kicking off what we call ABC on DPOC, Abuse, Brutality, Crimes on Disabled People of Color project to Break the Silence on this issue and to empower people with disability and their families. Lets come together with all of our identities and fight against police brutality, and other crimes and violence on our brothers and sisters. This goes out to my Disabled Brother of Color: My Disabled Brother of Color My disabled brother of color Belongs to two communities My disabled brother of color Life is long, lonely and tough Your story and history is shunned by society My disabled brother of color Living and working in a world that doesn’t want me Always under never over So what’s the answer,
Leroy Moore’s Observations of the Day After four hours of participating, listening to speakers and networking with:Danny Garcia, Kiilu Nyasha, Russ Redner, Black Panthers, members of ILWU Local 10, the coordinator of the rally, the Liberation Front and West Oakland residents, I was reminded of Spike Lee's movie, Get On the Bus as I watched 25 plus supporters and family members of Donovan Jackson Chavis get back on the bus to drive away. Knowing they will continue their work in their communities. As I walked to the Bart Station, I looked down to a flyer I had in my hand. It read "Just Say No To Jerry Brown! We Don’t Need 100 More OAKLAND RIDERS. PRESS CONFERNCE & RALLY Oakland City Hall Wednesday, August 28th 12:00pm. I took a deep breath as my tired body limped toward the 12th Street Bart Station. To read more of Leroy’s work on police brutality against disabled people of color go on-line to www.poormagazine.org and click on Illin and Chillin- to get your story of police brutality and/or profiling call POOR at (415) 863-6306 |