A variety of actions – from protests and rallies to film screenings and sermons in religious institutions – are taking place this month throughout New York City as part of a national effort to challenge injustices within the criminal justice system, said organizers of the events.
“We are aiming to change the entire conversation around what people understand and can do to stop mass incarceration,” said an organizer of the protests. “We are aiming further to come out of this month with a new political force that erects a huge stop sign to mass incarceration and all its consequences.”
A diverse group of organizations are participating in the activities designed to put an end to police violence and racial profiling and the mass incarceration that disproportionately targets Blacks and Latinos throughout the country.
Throughout the month, citizens will collectively outcry against mass incarceration, police killings, torture in prisons, criminalization of a generation and attacks on immigrants, said Dix, a representative of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA. Dix teamed with Union Theological Seminary Professor Dr. Cornel West to devise the call for the month-long protests, which is endorsed by families of those killed by police, former prisoners, clergy, academics and community organizations.
Public figures such as rapper, author and producer Chuck D and author and activist Alice Walker are also supporters. Chuck D recorded a pledge of support and Walker wrote a poem entitled “Gather” for Dix and West in support of the Month of Resistance.
“Like so many others I saw the video of police choking Eric Garner as he cried out ‘I can’t breathe,'” said Dix. “In Ferguson, Mo. I stood at the spot where a cop gunned down Michael Brown and left his body lying for hours. I protested his murder and was picked out for arrest because I spoke in support of the youth righteously demanding ‘THIS MUST STOP!’ This month, tens of thousands of people from many different backgrounds are joining together all across the country to act to stop it.”
The month of events will be followed by the 18th Annual March on the National Day of Protest to Stop Mass Incarceration, Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation on Wednesday, October 22. At 11 a.m., a rally will begin at Union Square followed by a march to Times Square. The month will culminate on October 30, declared by organizers as National Wear Orange Day in solidarity with the victims of mass incarceration.
OCTOBER CALENDAR OF RESISTANCE TO MASS INCARCERATION AND POLICE BRUTALITY
October 1, Wednesday: Pledge of Resistance to kickoff the October Month of Resistance to Mass Incarceration, Police Terror, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation!
October 3-10: Sermons on mass incarceration in religious institutions
October 6-12: Panels and Symposiums on Campuses. October 7, Tuesday, Columbia University: “Voices Against Mass Incarceration and Police Terror” featuring Cornel West and Carl Dix joined by Iris Baez and Juanita Young, mothers of police shooting victims.
October 8, Wednesday, 4 p.m.: Distribute palm cards at Radio City Music Hall, 50th and 6th Ave, at the Protest the World Business Forum, the world’s largest gathering of CEO’s in 2014.
October 10: NYC Delegation travels to Ferguson, Mo. to participate in a series of events and marches demanding justice for Mike Brown and an end to police violence and racial profiling.
October 12-18: Cultural Expressions Against Mass Incarceration, including poetry readings and concerts.
October 14, 9 a.m.: Rally in support of Noche of the Revolution Club & Stop Mass Incarceration Network, arrested on six misdemeanor charges received when the NYPD targeted him for leading an August 14 march of 1,000 from Union Square to Times Square in protest of Michael Brown’s murder in Ferguson, MO.
October 18, 3 p.m.: Rally at Rikers Island: Stop the Solitary Confinement and Killing!
October 20, 7 p.m.: Month of Resistance Film Series: “The House I Live In” at The Riverside Church, 120th and Claremont Avenue, Upper Manhattan.
October 21, Tuesday: News conference to announce October 22 National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation. Time and Location TBA.
October 22, Wednesday: National Day of Protest to Stop Mass Incarceration, Police Brutality, Repression, and the Criminalization of a Generation – 11 a.m. Rally at Union Square and March to Times Square
October 30: National Wear Orange Day in solidarity with the victims of mass incarceration.
Further information is available online at http://www.stopmassincarceration.net
