Stop legal lynching of Somerville 5
By
Phebe Eckfeldt
Boston
Published Jul 1, 2005 9:36 PM
“Racial profiling is a
polite name for racial hatred and racial prejudice. I feel the pain that it
carries—it hurts!
“What we have to endure: driving while
Black, walking while Black, the beatings, maiming, imprisonment, even death. All
directed at our Black children. Yes, it hurts to endure low-quality schools with
military recruiting offices, and the return of segregated schools again here in
Boston. It hurts that our children are expelled from school and evidence
disappears before trial.”
So stated Dorothea Peacock of the
Women’s Fightback Network. She was speak ing at a June 21 meeting of the
Committee to Defend the Somerville 5.
Peacock continued: “Ask
ourselves! Isn’t it ironic that today a trial is held in Mississippi for
the lynching of three civil-rights workers. Lynching? Yes, the ropes of
injustice are still around our children’s necks, resulting in harsh
punishment before investigation, because of the color of their
skin.
“Are we going to sit silently by and let racial prejudice
assault our children? No! Let’s nip it in the bud by standing and speaking
out for the Somerville 5—by any means
necessary!”
Peacock’s remarks drew loud applause from the many
people who’d come to the meeting to lend their support and roll up their
sleeves to help out.
The Somerville 5 are Black youths. On April 20, they
were beaten, maced and clubbed by Medford, Mass., police. They were
gang-profiled and called racist names. This unprovoked violent attack by the
police resulted in the 5 youths being arrested, jailed and expelled from
school.
Family members of the Somerville 5 talked proudly and with love of
their sons and their accomplishments, goals and futures. They were full of hope
and promise, but the night of April 20 plunged them all into a
nightmare.
Relatives discussed this nightmare of police lies, media
frame-up and legal lynching. They thanked people for coming out in support of
the Somerville 5 and their families. And they urged supporters to continue to
fight the crime of racial profiling and police brutality that has reached
epidemic proportions around the country.
The committee then spent the rest
of the meeting discussing concrete plans of action. There will be two pickets
outside the next two court hearings, on July 5 and July 6. Supporters are urged
to bring signs and banners and demonstrate at 8:30 a.m. on both days, outside
Cambridge District Court, 40 Thorndike Street in Cambridge.
Drop all
charges now! Investigate the Medford Police! End racial profiling and police
brutality! For more information call: (617) 522-6626.
Articles copyright 1995-2012 Workers World.
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