This past Thursday 4/30/08 I attend a town hall meeting at Brown Memorial Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY. I was a little late at but I had the feeling I didn't miss much. The energy in was still and sober as I entered. The we're people of all backgrounds: Black, White, Hispanic, even a few Asian people. Which showed the impact of gentrification throughout North Brooklyn, which played out in different ways within the span of the meeting.










A Time To Heal & Act: A Town Hall Meeting On The Sean Bell Verdict.

The meeting was moderated by April Sliver (left) of Akila Worksongs she's done a lot of great work in the Bed-Stuy, East New York, Fort Greene sections of brooklyn and the entire country and is just generally a great sister.

It was an open forum and there were panelists also, but all we're allowed to speak and ask questions.

The Panelists were:

City Council Member, Letitia James (right) (The 35th Councilmanic District, Brooklyn NY)

A powerful sister, and an amazing speak and she give most people in the crowd a reality check. That is just isn't about the life one young brother, it's about the lives of all our young black men. She voiced how she is afraid for her 17 year old nephew, who like many of us, may wear his Jeans low from time to time, or have on a hoody, or be out late at night. She spoke generally about community accountability. And really moved me and I felt what she had to say.







Community Activist & Hip-Hop Artist, Ashanti Baptiste (Fort Greene Young Film Makers)

This brother briefly spoke on how young black men are often generalized if they speak a certain way or dress a certain way. And this fear and mis-conception among the people that police our communities creates situations like the Sean Bell murder! And being an artist and a young man from the streets mentoring other young brothers that are likewise, they are targeted.

Chair of The Fort Greene Association, Ursula Hegewisch
Was one of only two white people on the panel, and honestly I don't remember what she said. Because she read what she had to say from a paper, and it sounded a little rehearsed and I really didn't connect. Don't get me wrong she is a strong community leader and what she had to say was surely valid it just didn't register with me.


Reverend David Dyson, (left)(Pastor of The Lafayette Presbyterian Church)

The other white panelists, a terrific man of God and I have to attend one of his services when I get a chance. Spoken on his largely mixed congregation, the Sunday after the verdict was delivered how the tone and the aura of the pew had changed. People had questions and needed answers. And how his church is taking a stand on this great injustice.


Laurie Combo, (right) Founder & Executive Director of (The Museum Of Contemporary Diaspora African Art [MoCADA])

A very heartfelt speaker, she spoke on how "We are the people, We've Been Waiting for" loosely quoting Fredrick Douglass. She explained how she started her museum from the ground up soon after finishing school, and wanted to quit and leave so many times. And how black people have become accustom to disappointment and failure and how she had personal responsibility to follow through with the project. No matter how hard to was, in aneffort to end this trend by being an example ( in which she has successively done so). Which relates to the Sean Bell movement in that, we just can't let this slide because of an ill judged verdict, this has been the way for to long. And it is important to be an army of one. these were encouraging words for me being a young black entrepreneur.

Community Activist & Author, Kevin Powell (left)(2008 Democratic Candidate for Congress)

Actually spoke first, and he let us know that people were text messaging him asking, why were white people present at the meeting. And how some people felt that they shouldn't be here, that this wasn't their fight. Powell immediately condemned these messages as pure ignorance. He said, "White people have been in Brooklyn before I was born, and they will be here after I'm gone." This was not the subject of this gathering nor was it relevant. We need these people as much as they need us, we are community and therefore all in the same boat. We have to stand together if this is to end once and for all.

After all the panelist spoke, people were allowed to approach the mic and ask questions and vent their feelings on the matter.

A lot of what was said by the audience was EXTREMELY irrelevantly and hurtful jargon. I was shocked at how some seeming educated people could be so ignorant and closed minded. I was at the point of tears a few times!

Some people spoke on largely on gentrification in the area, and how since there are more white people in the community police violence would only continue to rise.

Others spoke on there own personal agendas and irrelevant personal experience with the NYPD.

In fact the only relevant comments or questions raised that I can recall are:

A gentleman asked a question about the probability of special prosecutor for police that commit these types of acts actually being created.

That is what law makers and community activist are trying for.

Another gentleman brought up the fact that there is no type of psychological screening processes for those that would like to become police officers in New York City.

(So without a screening process of this nature in place, we could have a bunch of trigger happy people with hidden agendas walking the streets in uniform.)

One women spoke on creating a master directory of community groups, and organizations (yellow pages of sorts) So people have resources at their hands when these event occur.

Kevin Powell, stated that will soon be in creation with the contact information collected at the town hall meeting.

All and all my opinion is, the time for action is now! This is greater than just one life taken. It's about the lives of millions of inner city men of color. And the fact that this has happened not ONCE but THREE times, and the perpetrators (New York City Police Men) came off nearly scott free on all occasions!

When will it end? When it's me shot coldly in the streets, by the people that are supposed be protecting me! Or when it's your father, your brother, your son, your nephew, your cousin, your husband?


The greatest asset you have in this country is your voice! Use it! Make calls, write letter, join a march, post a blog, a Myspace bulletin, a note on your Facebook! It will make a difference.

For more infomation on this movement and updates on the case and the Bell family please visit: http://www.justiceforsean.net