This is the juice. James Williams is a Pacifica radio affiliated journalist in the finest tradition of citizen reporting. xo L
Report from James Williams, Pacifica reporter in NY outside the Sean Bell trial
Posted: 26 Apr 2008 11:54 AM CDT
James Williams works with WBAI and the People’s Production House in NYC. ~N
Greetings! The Sean Bell verdict came down today, Friday, April 25th handed down by the 75 year old Judge Cooperman(hope I spelled it right) who is set to retire now. The officers who shot the 50 shots at Sean Bell, killing him, Joseph Guzman, and Trent Benefield who were severely injured, it was announced “NOT GUILTY” on all charges. Officers Cooper, whose shots were so far off it hit an elevated train at the Long Island Railroad, Officer Isnora, who got off the first shots, never identified himself, saying “bro, let me holla at you”, and of course, officer Oliver, who fired 31 shots(he emptied his gun then reloaded and shot again) were of course relieved. Oliver, and the others will remain on modified duties for now. Take note, the officers had been drinking liquor at the same club as Bell and his friends. Calls for the Federal Government to step in came immediately afterwards. The families of the persons shot tell me they will file a civil suit against the city, and the officers, not known when, or has it been done already. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has called for calm in and around the city, but demonstrators told me they want a call to action, saying “we’re taking it to the streets”, “shut this f—— city down, shut this m—-f—- city down, f— the police, they killing our kids, blacks will not stand for this g– d— s—- no more” this is just some of the sentiment after the verdict was read. Believe it or not, some of these were church going citizens, of all races. There was a white group of people standing in front of the courthouse their chant was “the courts, and the city of N.Y. is run by the KKK”!, amazing stuff. Also, Rev Davidson, whom I just met today calling for the bloods and the crips to call him so they can prepare for “action”. Would you believe a member of the crips walked up and handed him his business card, I mean, they got cards? What action I want to know? The New Black Panther Party saying “it’s on now, get ready N.Y.” Peoples Party declaring “it all ends now, be ready”, group of Af Ams, white, Hispanics, who claim to have several hundred members. Of all the interviews I did today, I probably can’t air any of it due to the cursing all around me, and the noise content and that’s to bad because I got some great interviews, but we can’t air them. I did a live interview on radio today and literally had to run around the corner of the courthouse! Caused my live interview to not be crisp!
I know i’m supposed to be neutral in my reporting, but I was truly touched and disturbed by this verdict. I have spent more than a year with the Bell family, Rev. Sharpton, Lawyer Hardy, Lawyer Rubinstein, Mr. Guzman, Mr. Benefield and their families, NAACP, Operation Push, made imortant contacts for the Community News Production Institute, became very close to my producers, you know who you are, editors, reporters fm FSRN, Pacifica, and of course PPH, but today, today, brought me to tears, how do you handle this, and the threats of violence to come. That being said, I will be receiving info on the coming demos from my sources, hopefully it won’t be to bad, but from what i’m told, expect the unexpected.
BLESSINGS
James B. Williams
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