[Agu Bu Oji]

ACTION: support the 50 day sean bell vigil in queens
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Good day, everyone.

This is Kevin Powell, Brooklyn, New York based writer and community
activist. I was just out at the 50day Sean Bell Vigil in Jamaica,
Queens,
New York, last night, across from the 103rd precinct. In spite of the
rain,
the Bell family, friends, and folks looking for basic justice were
there. It
was incredibly moving, and it made me think of Rosa Parks in
Montgomery,
Alabama, in 1955, as well as those four college students in Greensboro,
North Carolina, in 1960. In both instances, it was just a few dedicated
individuals and their very simple acts of civil disobedience which
brought
attention to very serious human and civil rights violations. They made
sacrifices to their own comfort and their own safety, and changes did
happen, as manifested in the Civil Rights Movement.

Well, here we are again, as the struggle for real justice and real
freedom
in America never really ended, in spite of what some of us have been
led to
believe. It has been over a month since Sean Bell was murdered, and his
two
friends, Trent Benefield and Joe Guzman, were badly wounded in a
barrage of
50 shots from undercover New York Police Department officers. There is
still
no indictment, and there is a growing concern, in communities around
New
York City and throughout America, that these police officers will get
off
completely, if a trial even occurs.

Let me make it very clear that the Bell family, from my conversations
with
them last night, understand that there are good police officers. Let me
also
make it clear that they do not want the rhetoric of violence or revenge
or
disrespect for the NYPD in general around their vigil. Nor are they
interested in having individuals or organizations trying to use the
tragedy
of Sean Bell's death for outside agendas. They simply want justice for
what
happened to Sean Bell. And they certainly could use the help and
support
from concerned human beings such as yourself.

Here is how you can support the 50day Sean Bell Vigil in Queens:

1) It is a 50day, 24hour, 7day a week vigil, begun on Monday, January
1st,
and concluding on Monday, February 19th. I think it obvious that the 50
days
symbolize the 50 bullets fired at Sean Bell and his friends.

The vigil is taking place directly across from the 103rd precinct, on
168th
Street, right off Jamaica Avenue and 91st Avenue, in the Jamaica,
Queens
section of New York City. You can use MAPQUEST or GOOGLE to get
directions
either via public transportation or by driving.

There is a need for people of all backgrounds and all persuasions to
participate in the vigil in shifts, day and night, weekday and weekend.
Even
if you can only participate for an hour or two each week, please come
out.
The weather has been unseasonably warm, but we are in the dead of
winter,
and it is going to be mad cold out there. Please let's not let Mrs.
Bell,
Sean Bell's mother, who called for this vigil, and the Bell family, to
do
this alone.

PLEASE CALL 1-866-695-2992 if you would like to participate in the
vigil, or
offer support.

I am hoping that CHURCHES and CHURCH LEADERS and OTHER RELIGIOUS AND
SPIRITUAL LEADERS will encourage their believers to support this
important
effort. This vigil is not about showboating, it is not about media
attention, it is about justice. The Bell family, from what I could see
and
hear, are regular working class New Yorkers who have a deep faith in
God,
who believe in the power of the church.

INDEED, as we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King at this time of
year, I think it would be remarkably hypocritical for any church, any
mosque
or masjid, any synagogue, or any religious or spiritual leader to, on
the
one hand, talk about Dr. King, honor Dr. King, yet say and do nothing
in
support of this very peaceful and very simple vigil for Sean Bell. Dr.
King
was a man of action, not just talk, and those of us in leadership
positions,
who have sizable followings, need to be as well. For police brutality
toward
Black and Latino communities is one of the great issues of our time. In
fact, if we were to read Dr. King's I HAVE A DREAM speech in its
entirety,
we would note that Dr. King uses the term police brutality TWICE in
that
famous address. The more things have changed, the more they have stayed
the
same.

I am hoping that ELECTED OFFICIALS will themselves participate in this
vigil, electeds from Queens, and electeds from all across the metro New
York
City area. The people you represent need to see that you care. They
need to
see you on the frontlines with the Bell family.

I am hoping that CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS,
LABOR
UNIONS, FRATERNITIES and SORORITIES, ACTIVISTS, and ORGANIZERS will
support
this effort, mobilize their bases to come out, and spread the word,
near and
far, to their networks.

I am hoping that COLLEGE STUDENTS will participate, and encourage their
peers to support this important effort. Any time real change has
happened in
America, or on this planet, young people have been at the forefront.
Well,
you all are needed now more than ever.

I am hoping that HIPHOP HEADS everywhere, the famous and the unknown,
will
support this important effort. Time and again the hiphop generation,
the
hiphop community, has been knocked and mocked for not caring about
social
issues. Well, here is our opportunity to make a difference in an
historic way.

I am hoping that PROFESSIONALS and PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS will
support
this important effort. Your skill sets and access to resources are
sorely
needed to sustain this vigil.

I am hoping that MEN, especially BLACK AND LATINO MEN, will support
this
effort. I duly noted the number of women present last night. Women, as
usual, are holding it down, but we need men to step to the plate as
well. As
I said to young Black and Latino men driving by last night, Sean Bell
is
YOU. Sean Bell could have been YOU. Men are especially needed for the
late
night to morning shifts, around 11pm-6am.

2) If you cannot physically participate in the 50day vigil, here are
items
needed to support the Sean Bell Vigil through to its completion

The donation of at least two Portable Toilets for the duration of the
vigil
Food, lots of food
Drinks (bottled water, juices)
Paper towels
Toilet paper
Comfortable folding chairs for the elders who are participating
Portable, battery operated heaters
Portable, battery operated outdoor lights
Batteries for heaters and outdoor lights
Tents or tarp covering in case of bad weather
Blankets
Thousands of copies of the one page flier promoting the vigil
Individuals willing to pass out the vigil flier around New York City

And we need New Yorkers to write letters to your City Council person,
your
State Assembly person, your State Senator, your District Leader, your
Community Board President, and your Congressperson, inquiring what each
of
them is doing to fight for procedure and behavior reform within the New
York
Police Department, via the legislative process.

Thank you very kindly for taking the time to read this email, and
please,
again, share it with others.


Respectfully,
Kevin Powell