Sean Bell 1983–2006
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Dec13_cover.qxd 12.13.06 4:43 AM Page 1 THEINDYPENDENT Issue #96, December 13, 2006 – January 9, 2007 A FREE PAPER FOR FREE PEOPLE SEAN BELL 1983–2006 BY NICHOLAS POWERS FRANK REYNOSO ’mon jump,” the man yelled to the gun. He did not show his badge. He did not and tell us the cop on the roof. It was early Saturday say he was police. “He got a gat! Be out!” meaning of his death. We had a differ- Cand we were rallying at the 103rd shouted Guzman. Bell rammed the car forward ent need, it was not to see the body but make precinct in Jamaica, Queens. On the roof, a into a van. Backed up and rammed it again to What did he see in the darkness of the car him into a symbol of our own. cop laughed as black people pointed at him. get away. The cop fired, repeatedly. Soon, other that needed to be so destroyed? We entered the rose-scented church and I “C’mon pig, jump,” the man next to me shots echoed in the street. watched people lay prayer over his face. When I taunted. Behind the barricades, the police In the car, glass shattered and their bodies MY DEATH TOO glimpsed him my eyes flinched. It hurt because eyed us. We saw our strength in their fear were punched around by bullets. Benefield fell Bell’s funeral was held at Community Church it was my death too. They shot 50 bullets into and wanted to take away the power they had out pleading, “Stop shooting at me!” Inside of Christ, where he and his fiancée planned to the blackness we both share and now, the value over us – the power of death. the car, Bell’s neck was shredded. He gasped marry. Church men in dark suits guided us in. of my life depends on the price they pay for his Five cops had used that power on Nov. 25 until he had no more strength to try. The cops “No cameras please,” they said and we turned murder. Bell’s face was grey and bloated and against three men leaving the Kalua nightclub stood. They shot 50 bullets at the four men. off our cell-phones. A news crew was in line young. Walking away, I knew whatever is said in Queens. Trent Benefield, Joseph Guzman No gun was found in the car. and he shooed them away. “They never came must bear the weight of his lost life. and Sean Bell were going after two rude-boys The next day, New York read about the around before,” the woman in front of me Next to the church, media trucks glowed as who tried to push their way into Bell’s bachelor killings. After hearing how many shots were said. “They don’t care about Sean they just TV anchors waved their microphones like party. Threats were traded each saying they had fired many of us had the same question. Did here to make money.” I hummed agreement. metal detectors searching for treasure. Activists a gun. Bell told his friends it was time to go. they enjoy killing him? Officer Mike Oliver The line going into the church was black. worked the crowed, handing out flyers. I read As they sat in the car, an undercover cop shot 31 times. He shot, reloaded and shot Across the street, the line of reporters was one and could feel ambition in the air. who heard the threats walked up, hand on his again. When did fear and panic become rage? white. They wanted to wrap him in headlines continued on page 4 TORTURE IN OAXACA MY BROTHER’S OF p8 SECRET IRAQ PHOTOS BLOOD p11 AND BLING p14 www.indypendent.org • nyc.indymedia.org COMMUNITY CALENDAR december–january DECEMBER or drink, a poem, a story, a memory, on returning home. Laureate of Harlem. Ongoing a picture, etc. Come enjoy an evening Info: UFPJ National Office, 261 West Info: Dana Discovery Center, inside of cultural sharing. Sponsored by the 36th St, 7th Fl (via freight entrance). Central Park at 110th St. between 5th Weekdays 5–7pm and Lenox Aves. DAILY VIGIL FOR BRAD WILL AntiRacist Alliance at Community Space limited. Info/RSVP: 212-868- Join us to remember our friend and Church of NY, Community House 5545, [email protected], demand justice for his death and for Gallery. Info: 28 E 35th St. unitedforpeace.org. MON JAN 1 those he walked, learned, and strug- antiracistalliance.com. 718-918-2716 2pm – midnight • Free/donations of gled with on the barricades in Oaxaca. WED DEC 20 canned food for City Harvest & books NEW YORK CITY 7pm • FREE for Books Through Bars. Permanent Mission of Mexico to the Time TBA • $8 SIGNING: ABBY DENSON AND PERFORMANCE/BENEFIT: “EVENT U.N., *not* at the Consulate. Benefit: 7 bands for the NYC AIDS INDEPENDENT SHANNON O’ LEARY: SOCIALLY HORIZON: 13TH ANNUAL ALTERNATIVE Info: 44th Street betw. 1st & 2nd Aves. Housing Network. At Marion’s RELEVANT COMICS! A chance to gab NEW YEAR’S DAY SPOKEN WORD/ MEDIA CENTER Marquee Lounge, 356 Bowery St. with the authors about comics and PERFORMANCE EXTRAVAGANZA.” EVERY TUESDAY Info: 718-802-9540 x16, flynn@nyc- their amazing power to entertain as 150 performers including Taylor Mead, E-mail 6 – 7pm ahn.org, nycahn.org. Cheryl Boyce Taylor, Bingo Gazingo, well as help people and animals. [email protected] CHELSEA STANDS UP AGAINST THE WAR. Regie Cabico, Rigoberto Gonzalez, Nick For over a year at the northwest cor- Info: Bluestockings, 172 Allen St. THUR DEC 21 Zedd, Penny Arcade w/open mic. Web ner of 8th Ave. and 24th St., New 212-777-6028, bluestockings.com Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery St. Yorkers have gathered, rain or shine, Assemble 12 Noon indypendent.org Info: 212-481-8650, to protest the war. SAT DEC 16 ACTION: DAY OF OUTRAGE – SHUT [email protected] NYC: nyc.indymedia.org Chelsea Neighbors United To End 9pm • $6 • 21 and over DOWN WALL STREET! KELLY MUST U.S.: us.indymedia.org The War CHANUKAH BALL: A RADICAL COM- GO! FRI JAN 5 GLOBAL: indymedia.org Info: 212-726-1385 MUNITY EVENT, rock show and *BLACK THURSDAY* 8pm * $10, $7.50 students chelseaneighborsunited.org queer dance party to support the Info: Chase Building, Liberty & Nassau FILM: DOROTHY DAY: DON’T CALL ME Mail join our Listserv: Palestine solidarity work of Jews Sts, 718-398-1766 A SAINT. Tumultuous life of the paci- fist-anarchist cofounder of the Catholic P.O. Box 1417 ChelseaNeighborsUnited- Against the Occupation NYC. FEA- [email protected] SAT DEC 23 Worker movement. Benefits the War NY, NY 10276 TURING: Joe Lally (Fugazi), The Resisters League. 6pm • $15 suggested Shondes, The Rude Mechanical The Brecht Forum, 451 West St. EVENT: DESIS RISING UP & MOVING phone: 212-221-0521 THROUGH SUN DEC 31 Orchestra. WITH: MC: Ms. JewSA Info: 212-228-0450 FREE (weekends only) 2006 and special guests. Vegan (DRUM) End of Year Party. Dinner, per- warresisters.org EXHIBITION: THROUGH HER EYES: Latkes! formances, music, raffle prizes, more. WHAT IS INDYMEDIA? SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS ARTWORK. Info: Lit Lounge, 93 2nd Ave. shon- Info: At loc in Queens, TBA. Info/ Photography from Through Her Eyes, SAT JAN 6 With autonomous chapters in more des.com/ChanukahBall RSVP: 718-205-3036, 8 – 10:30pm • $12 general/$9 mem- Girls for Gender Equity’s summer pho- [email protected] bers suggested. than 150 cities throughout the world, tography program for teen women. the Independent Media Center is an SUN DEC 17 MUSIC: PEOPLES’ VOICE CAFE, w/Kim George Washington Carver Gallery, TUE DEC 26 & Reggie Harris; Jon Fromer. international network of volunteer media 1:30pm 677 Lafayette Ave, Bklyn. 7pm • $3 – $5 The Workmen’s Circle, 45 E 33rd St. activists. Info: Empress, 347-351-3882, RALLY/MARCH: RE-ACTION ON BROADWAY, living wages, benefits, PERFORMANCE: WOMEN’S POETRY Info: 212-787-3903, The IMC seeks to create a new [email protected] & ggenyc.org peoplesvoicecafe.org and justice for retail workers. Rally JAM & WOMEN’S OPEN MIKE featuring media ethic by providing progressive, begins at 478 Broadway Claire Moed and Laura Boss. Come in-depth and accurate coverage of THU DEC 14 (btw Broome and Grand Streets). and deliver (up to) 8 minutes of your SUN JAN 7 poetry, prose, songs and spoken word. FREE • 2pm issues. We are a community-based 7pm • $5 Then march up Broadway to 7th St. ACTION: MEMORIAL RIDE FOR 2006 Info: 718-924-4882/347-256-4429 Info: Bluestockings, 172 Allen St. organization using media to facilitate READING: STATIC: GOVERNMENT FALLEN CYCLISTS. Starting locations or [email protected]. 212-777-6028 • bluestockings.com political and cultural self-representa- LIARS, MEDIA CHEERLEADERS, & THE TBA in Queens & North Bronx, con- tion. We seek to analyze issues affect- PEOPLE WHO FIGHT BACK. w/co-author verging in Manhattan. 2pm – 12am • $5 -$10 Suggested ing individuals, communities and Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! WED DEC 27 Info: times-up.org or Shows how the Bush administration Donation (no one turned away) 12:30pm • Free visualresistance.org ecosystems by providing media tools has manipulated the news as well as OAXACA SOLIDARITY BENEFIT/ PERFORMANCE: SHARE THE KWANZAA and space to those seeking to com- how the corporate media has deceived SOLIDARIDAD CON OAXACA SPIRIT with an interactive dance per- FRI JAN 12 municate. We espouse open dialogue the public. Info: Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts formance by members of the Seventh 8pm • $10, $7.50 students and placing the means of communica- Info: Bluestockings, 172 Allen St.