October 22—National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression, and Criminalization of a Generation
Revolution newspaper received the following from the National Office of the October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation. To contact the October 22nd Coalition, go to www.october22.org or call 1-888-NOBRUTALITY.
Photo Slideshow of October 22, 2006
The theme of October 22, 2006 was: Homeland Security = More Stolen Lives. The theme emerged from the research done by the Stolen Lives Project, which shows that since law enforcement agents and border patrols have been given a free hand to do whatever they want, under the name of fighting terrorism, that the result has been more people harassed, beaten, and killed. “Homeland Security” is used to justify sweeps on street youth in Los Angeles, naming everyone as “gang” members; racial profiling of Arab, South Asian and Muslim immigrants; increased repression of immigrants along the border; and increased presence of police and military in transportation centers and public places. The result has been an increase in the climate of fear and repression, and more deaths at the hands of law enforcement agents.
Events took place in over 25 locations this year, including New York, Los Angeles, Bay Area, Seattle, San Diego, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Fresno, Albuquerque, Olympia, and more. The events took different forms—some areas had marches and rallies, others candlelight vigils, and some did film showings and talks on police brutality. For the National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, the national October 22nd Coalition published an updated booklet for Stolen Lives containing information on cases since 2000, which was used in several areas as part of the “Presente” tradition of October 22nd, where people call out the names of those whose lives have been stolen from us by law enforcement and the audience answers, “Presente” to say that they will be remembered. This updated booklet will soon be available on the website, www.october22.org, and can be ordered from the October 22nd Coalition, P.O. Box 2627, N.Y., N.Y., 10009, for $4.
