Al Sharpton got Arrested in New York

Email Print posted by PresidentTyler 05/07/2008 07:29:57 PM EST

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Al Sharpton got arrested here in New York after protesting with people against the verdict on the 2006 NYC police shooting.

NEW YORK - The Rev. Al Sharpton was arrested at the Brooklyn Bridge on Wednesday as he and hundreds of demonstrators blocked traffic to protest the acquittal of three detectives in the 50-bullet shooting of an unarmed black man on his wedding day.

Sharpton, two survivors of the shooting and the slain man's fiancee were among about a dozen people arrested on disorderly conduct charges near the base of the bridge. Police led away demonstrators at several other bridges and tunnels in the city.

The protests were part of a coordinated campaign to urge federal authorities to investigate the November 2006 shooting of Sean Bell. Three officers were acquitted of state charges last month.

Sharpton, shooting survivors Trent Benefield and Joseph Guzman, and Bell's fiancee, Nicole Paultre Bell, lined up and peacefully put their hands behind their backs as police put plastic handcuffs on them. Sharpton and Bell were placed in a police vehicle.

The civil rights leader is seeking a federal civil rights probe into Bell's shooting outside a Queens nightclub. The case raised questions about police use of deadly force in minority neighborhoods.

Sharpton had promised recently to "close this city down" with civil disobedience.

Bell was black, as are his friends Benefield and Guzman; the three officers acquitted in the case are Hispanic, black and white.

U.S. attorney spokesman Robert Nardoza said the case was under review, but he declined to comment further.

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Al Sharpton got Arrested in New York | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)
While I've not always agreed with Al Sharpton, (none / 0)
I think he's correct in this case. IMHO, the Bell verdict was a miscarriage of justice, as Cenk described.

There are judges here in NY that give cops the benefit of the doubt and sometimes go way beyond that. Obviously, the job of the police is not easy but at times deadly force is used too quickly. Restraint must be paramount especially with the firepower that cops have.

by toosinbeymen on 05/08/2008 12:32:40 PM EST

Agree 100% Disagree 0% (none / 0)
Also, I can understand it, but I though that Obama's statement concerning this was kind of weak sauce. To paraphrase, he basically said that the law is the law and we should all abide by the judge's decision. He did not even call for peaceful protest.


It seems to me that if the cops can just shoot someone who has not commited a crime, there is something wrong with their procedures. The judges need to be making the cops look at the procedures used in these situations instead of waiting until someone is dead and then aquitting the cops time and time again. Obama could have at least called for that.

by mijoh on 05/08/2008 01:19:05 PM EST

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Al Sharpton got Arrested in New York | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)
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