VTMBH Article: Body
It didnt take long for two of the most prominent civil and human rights activists to respond to last weeks decision by a federal appeals court to overturn the conviction of police officers in the Abner Louima case.
On Sunday, the Rev. Herbert Daughtry, pastor of the House of the Lord Church, led a group of protesters from his church to the federal courthouse where the officers were originally tried and convicted, vowing to keep the pressure on until there is justice.
"Fighting against this criminal justice system is pretty close to being hopeless," Daughtry told the press. "But at the same time, we will continue to fight against the system and, in particular, this decision. We will not quit, we will not give up, we will not falter, we will not fail," Daughtry insisted.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the Rev. Al Sharpton, with a number of notables, met with Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. Sharpton expressed his outrage at the decision and voiced his position on the possible reinstatement of Thomas Bruder and Thomas Wiese, who were acquitted of obstruction of justice charges. "It is no question to anybody that they lied," Sharpton said of the two officers, "and that should be the basis for them never to be police officers again."
When asked what he wanted to be done, Sharpton said, "I want the guilty to pay."
"Abner wanted to go on with his life, putting all this behind him," said attorney Sandford Rubenstein, Louisma?s counsel. "Now, he will have to testify again, which he will do."
Louima?s brother, Jonas, said that if the police officers are reinstated, "we will never be able to begin the healing from this tragedy."
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the issue was matter of law. "There is a procedure that calls for fact-finding and a hearing," he said. The mayor was reluctant to add any further comment.
Kelly was equally reticent, but did say, through a press release, that he could not offer an opinion one way or the other, because "I may have to make a decision on the issue later." The commissioner has the last word on the reinstatement, after reviews are completed by the police boards.
"This could have happened to me or any one of us," said Ed Lewis, publisher of Essence magazine, who has been very outspoken about the appeals court reversal. "I grew up in the Bronx, so I know what?s going on."
Sharpton told the press that his next action would be on Capitol Hill, where he will continue to complain about this "miscarriage of justice."
On Sunday, the Rev. Herbert Daughtry, pastor of the House of the Lord Church, led a group of protesters from his church to the federal courthouse where the officers were originally tried and convicted, vowing to keep the pressure on until there is justice.
"Fighting against this criminal justice system is pretty close to being hopeless," Daughtry told the press. "But at the same time, we will continue to fight against the system and, in particular, this decision. We will not quit, we will not give up, we will not falter, we will not fail," Daughtry insisted.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the Rev. Al Sharpton, with a number of notables, met with Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. Sharpton expressed his outrage at the decision and voiced his position on the possible reinstatement of Thomas Bruder and Thomas Wiese, who were acquitted of obstruction of justice charges. "It is no question to anybody that they lied," Sharpton said of the two officers, "and that should be the basis for them never to be police officers again."
When asked what he wanted to be done, Sharpton said, "I want the guilty to pay."
"Abner wanted to go on with his life, putting all this behind him," said attorney Sandford Rubenstein, Louisma?s counsel. "Now, he will have to testify again, which he will do."
Louima?s brother, Jonas, said that if the police officers are reinstated, "we will never be able to begin the healing from this tragedy."
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the issue was matter of law. "There is a procedure that calls for fact-finding and a hearing," he said. The mayor was reluctant to add any further comment.
Kelly was equally reticent, but did say, through a press release, that he could not offer an opinion one way or the other, because "I may have to make a decision on the issue later." The commissioner has the last word on the reinstatement, after reviews are completed by the police boards.
"This could have happened to me or any one of us," said Ed Lewis, publisher of Essence magazine, who has been very outspoken about the appeals court reversal. "I grew up in the Bronx, so I know what?s going on."
Sharpton told the press that his next action would be on Capitol Hill, where he will continue to complain about this "miscarriage of justice."