Chanting ''enough is enough,'' ''community activists and members of the Black clergy held a rally in front of the office of Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan on Nov. 2, to protest against racial injustice.Attended by more than 60 people, the rally was Edward Josey, head of S.I. Chapter of the NAACP, the S.I. African American Political Assoc. (SIAAPA), S.I. Committee Against Bigotry, People on the Move, and several area churches.
It also sought to highlight what organizers termed the disparity in which the DA applies the law.
During the planning meeting, activists said they were angered by Donovan's failure to apply hate crime charges against two white men who have been accused of beating a 20-year old Black male.
Organizers were also outraged over the DA's failure to put bail conditions on either of the two men, who each have only been formally charged with second degree assault.
In the days leading up to the demonstration, two more racial incidents were reported in the area, each of them involving white police as the central characters.
The incident, which seems to appall activists most took place on Halloween night. That's when high school freshmen Rayshawn Moreno was accosted by police over allegedlly throwing eggs at moving vehicles.
''Rayshawn was taken to a secluded wooded area, stripped of his clothes, beaten and left by the officers,'' James ''Whammy'' Hazel said of his son.
''What kind of person does this to a child?'' Telisa Hazel asked in defense of her 14-year-old son.''They were going to teach him a lesson?''
According to local Staten Island news reports, the officers have indicated that was indeed their intention, adding that when they returned to the area to pick him up he wasn't where they left him.
James Hazel also shot down a Staten Island Advance report that Moreno took off his own clothes ''because he wanted to blend in with the woods.'' Hazel said not only did officers take his son's clothes, they used racial epithets while threatening him.
''It's nothing more than a kidnapping. It's outrageous. It smacks of something from the Deep South in the '40s and '50s, not modern-day New York,'' observed the family's attorney, Jason Rosenthal.
The officers have been Identified as Thomas Elliassen and Michael Danese, both of the 120th Precinct. Each has been charged with unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a minor, both misdemeanors carrying up to a year in jail. Both men joined the force in 2004.
''We have to stay the course and remained focus, because there are forces attacking us from all sides,'' long-time community activist Dow Kevin Buford told the AmNews.
The NAACP is making a ''call to action,'' Josey told the crowd. ''We are asking people to pressure their elected officials to pass effective legislation banning racially motivated crimes,'' he said.
''This is a wake-up call for Staten Island,'' shouted the Rev. Demetrius Carolina, pastor of the First Central Baptist Church.
Rev. Carolina called for sweeping reforms in the judicial system to make sure justice is meted out fairly across the board.
''I'm seeking justice,'' claimed cab driver Stephen Springle, of Queens, who said Staten Island police officers, beat, kicked and sprayed mace in his face, as he sat in his cab on Oct. 28.
''We are here today to sound the alarm,'' Josey said.''Enough is enough.''
Added retired police detective Marq Claxton, these police officers should have been charged with nothing less than kidnapping.''
In recent days, Rosenthal said he happened across Eliassen's MYSpace.com page in which the officer describes himlself as a ''gansta'' and poses with a woman on each arm.Ablaring headline reportedly reads: ''Let's Do Lines Off A Strippers A-A--!''Rosenthal termed both officer's actions as ''outrageous'' and a disgrace to the badge.''
It also sought to highlight what organizers termed the disparity in which the DA applies the law.
During the planning meeting, activists said they were angered by Donovan's failure to apply hate crime charges against two white men who have been accused of beating a 20-year old Black male.
Organizers were also outraged over the DA's failure to put bail conditions on either of the two men, who each have only been formally charged with second degree assault.
In the days leading up to the demonstration, two more racial incidents were reported in the area, each of them involving white police as the central characters.
The incident, which seems to appall activists most took place on Halloween night. That's when high school freshmen Rayshawn Moreno was accosted by police over allegedlly throwing eggs at moving vehicles.
''Rayshawn was taken to a secluded wooded area, stripped of his clothes, beaten and left by the officers,'' James ''Whammy'' Hazel said of his son.
''What kind of person does this to a child?'' Telisa Hazel asked in defense of her 14-year-old son.''They were going to teach him a lesson?''
According to local Staten Island news reports, the officers have indicated that was indeed their intention, adding that when they returned to the area to pick him up he wasn't where they left him.
James Hazel also shot down a Staten Island Advance report that Moreno took off his own clothes ''because he wanted to blend in with the woods.'' Hazel said not only did officers take his son's clothes, they used racial epithets while threatening him.
''It's nothing more than a kidnapping. It's outrageous. It smacks of something from the Deep South in the '40s and '50s, not modern-day New York,'' observed the family's attorney, Jason Rosenthal.
The officers have been Identified as Thomas Elliassen and Michael Danese, both of the 120th Precinct. Each has been charged with unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a minor, both misdemeanors carrying up to a year in jail. Both men joined the force in 2004.
''We have to stay the course and remained focus, because there are forces attacking us from all sides,'' long-time community activist Dow Kevin Buford told the AmNews.
The NAACP is making a ''call to action,'' Josey told the crowd. ''We are asking people to pressure their elected officials to pass effective legislation banning racially motivated crimes,'' he said.
''This is a wake-up call for Staten Island,'' shouted the Rev. Demetrius Carolina, pastor of the First Central Baptist Church.
Rev. Carolina called for sweeping reforms in the judicial system to make sure justice is meted out fairly across the board.
''I'm seeking justice,'' claimed cab driver Stephen Springle, of Queens, who said Staten Island police officers, beat, kicked and sprayed mace in his face, as he sat in his cab on Oct. 28.
''We are here today to sound the alarm,'' Josey said.''Enough is enough.''
Added retired police detective Marq Claxton, these police officers should have been charged with nothing less than kidnapping.''
In recent days, Rosenthal said he happened across Eliassen's MYSpace.com page in which the officer describes himlself as a ''gansta'' and poses with a woman on each arm.Ablaring headline reportedly reads: ''Let's Do Lines Off A Strippers A-A--!''Rosenthal termed both officer's actions as ''outrageous'' and a disgrace to the badge.''
by SAEED SHABAZZSpecial to the AmNewsOriginally posted 11/9/2007
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