[Ppnews] NYC Police Beat Up Rap Group Members Rebel Diaz

[Political Prisoner News]

From: 
<http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcHJvZmlsZS5teXNwYWNlLmNvbS9pbmRleC5jZm0/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj11c2VyLnZpZXdwcm9maWxlJmFtcDtmcmllbmRpZD0xNTExNjE5MCZhbXA7TXlUb2tlbj03OTU2Zjc3OC1mY2QyLTRiZDktYjllNC03NTMzY2IzZGRmMGI=>Davey 
D

Date: Jun 18, 2008 2:08 PM


NYC Police Beat Up Rap Group Members Rebel Diaz

By Davey D

[]
Looks like the NYPD are living up to their reputation of being 
bonafide 'dipshits'. We are just getting word that NYC Police located 
in what was once known as Fort Apache-the 41st Precint in the Bronx, 
have shown that police terrorism is alive and well.

The word is in a unprovoked attack they badly assaulted tw o members 
of the Rap group Rebel Diaz.

The story we are hearing is that group Rodstarz and G1 were up in 
Bronx on Southern Blvd in Hunts Point, when they noticed the police 
were harassing a street vendor who was selling fruit. The two went 
over to witness the cops in action and when they saw the police being 
abusive they pulled out a cell phone to video tape the incident and 
asked for the officers badge numbers. keep in mind that part of the 
Bronx has a large immigrant community and it is also being 
gentrified. The police from the 41st Precint have made it a point to 
commit acts of terror including the shooting and killing of an 
unarmed immigrant man last year. The case brought up images of Amadou 
Diallo another immigrant was gunned down by out of control Bronx cops 
in the neighboring precint.

According to witnesses, when Rodstarz and G1 asked for badge numbers 
the police became agitated and turned around and started beating them 
with bully clubs and kicking them in full view of other vendors and 
people on the crowded street. The two were dragged off bloody, put 
into a police car and charged with resisting arrest and assault.

The backdrop to this story is that Rebel Diaz are not your ordinary 
rappers. They are well known activist who not only speak out against 
police terrorism, but have been key in helping out folks within this 
immigrant community. Hence it would not be usual for group members to 
bear witness and to speak out against the injustices. Rebel Diaz has 
committed themselves to given voice to the voiceless in that Bronx 
neighborhood.

Many feel that the assault by these cowardly Bronx police officers in 
plain view of everyone was a way to send a strong message to folks in 
the community that the police run things and they b est stay in line. 
By beating the Rebel Diaz members in front of everyone was a way to 
spark fear and remind people that no one is safe from the police. 
They wanna let folks know that they can brazenly beat up popular 
rappers in front everyone even with cell phone cameras rolling and do 
so with impunity. The whole ordeal is akin to the slave masters from 
way back sparking fear in the hearts of other slaves by beating the 
strongest among them in front of everyone for all to see.

Over the past year NY Police have been man handling, arresting and 
terrorizing politicized Hip Hop artists, activists and news reporters.

For example, last year in Brooklyn well known attorney Michael Tarif 
Warren who routinely represents people in police abuse cases was 
badly beaten along with his wife when they stopped to watch and bear 
witness to NY cops terrorizing a unarmed tennage boy at a gas station.

During the protests immediately following the acquittal of the 
officers on trial for the Sean Bell shooting, journalists who had 
been speaking out against the police were harassed and roughed up.

Hopefully folks will read this and understand that what the police 
are doing will not work.. A police state will not take place on our 
collective watch..

Tonight there will be a rally infront of the 41st Precint Police station

bring drums, noise makers, banners, and people power!

***please forward widely***


ACTION ALERT!

COPS BEAT REBEL DIAZ RODSTARZ & G1

ALL OUT TO PROTEST THE 41ST PRECINCT!!!!

bring drums, noise makers, banners, and people power!

1035 Longwood Avenue (@Southern Blvd.



) 6PM TODAY June 18, 2008

take the 6 train to Longwood



Please call the 41st precinct 718-542- 4771 and the arresting Officer 
MacHugo 718-542-8745 to demand:

1.  Drop All Charges

2.  Release Rebel Diaz!



Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

415 863-9977

www.Freedomarchives.org  
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