Stop legal lynching of Somerville 5

“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.