NEW YORK, May 3, 2008

Sharpton Will Lead Sean Bell Protests

Planned Day Of Civil Disobedience Should End With Arrests, Sharpton Says

  • Protesters reacted to the verdict in the Sean Bell case on April 25, 2008. An organized protest is scheduled in New York City on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 Photo

    Protesters reacted to the verdict in the Sean Bell case on April 25, 2008. An organized protest is scheduled in New York City on Wednesday, May 7, 2008  (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

(AP)  An upcoming day of civil disobedience to protest the Sean Bell verdict will hopefully end with participants arrested while on their knees praying, the Rev. Al Sharpton said Saturday.

For the massive pray-in, Sharpton is asking protesters to gather Wednesday at 3 p.m. in at least six places around the city: 125th Street and Third Avenue; 60th Street and Third Avenue; 34th Street and Park Avenue; Varick and Houston streets; One Police Plaza; and House of the Lord Church on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn.

"Where we go from there is anybody's guess," Rachel Noerdlinger, Sharpton's spokeswoman, said later, adding that wherever protesters end up, "they'll be arrested praying."

Sharpton said the protesters would fan out from their meeting points, but he would not disclose their destinations.

He has promised to "close this city down" to protest the April 25 acquittals of three police detectives in the 50-shot barrage that killed the unarmed Bell on his wedding day in 2006. Two friends were wounded.

Sharpton was joined Saturday at his Harlem headquarters by Bell's fiancee, Nicole Paultre Bell, and Trent Benefield, one of the wounded men.

Paultre Bell will participate in Wednesday's protest and any other action "'til justice is done," she told several hundred people gathered at Sharpton's National Action Network headquarters in Harlem.

He said that the planned pray-in is only the start of whatever actions are necessary to oppose the verdict.

"It's going to be a long struggle, but the race isn't given to the swift or the strong, but to those who endure," Sharpton said.


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Add a Comment See all 52 Comments
by paris1969 May 3, 2008 11:31 PM PDT
wonder what Rev Al has in mind if NObama doesn''t get the Dem nomination? ... close down the country?
Reply to this comment
by gmond May 4, 2008 12:15 AM PDT
poor city
Reply to this comment
by pesojoe May 4, 2008 1:21 AM PDT
Al is not news worthy, he is just a pathetic little no body that thinks he is important. This guy gets it wrong more than rev. wright does. He is the same as david dukes except blacks listen to him for some ungodly reason. All he has is his egotism,if he ever apologized when he was wrong he wouldn''t have time to do anything else!
Reply to this comment
by magoo2u1 May 4, 2008 1:41 AM PDT
WOW. For the first time I have to be on Al''s side. I wasn''t at the trial however news reports indicate the cops did not identify themselves and fired 50 bullets at 3 unarmed men in a car. I know, the cop huggers out there will claim the 90 yr old woman in wheel chair needed tazing , but I say the cops are out of control and lie to cover up their crimes. The man had no gun and when the cop in street clothes brandished his the guy tried to drive away.
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by twogunsono1g May 4, 2008 1:56 AM PDT
Sharpton, What a dullard!!!!
Reply to this comment
by grammawhamma May 4, 2008 3:56 AM PDT
I didn''t see protests after O J Simpson''s rigged trial.
Reply to this comment
by ranger1948 May 4, 2008 4:37 AM PDT
MAGOO2U1
YOUR RIGHT, YOU WERENT THERE AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED AT THE TRIAL. AND WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HEARD THE NEWS REPORT ANYTHING ACURATELY. SHARPTON ONLY SHOWS UP WHEN HE CAN MAKE MONEY OFF THE DEAL. HE IS WORSE THAN A MAGGOTT.
Reply to this comment
by prinzowhales May 4, 2008 5:46 AM PDT
Sharpton is a parasite...he latches onto anything. In Durham he tried to increase racial tensions on behalf of a lying wh.ore. In New York he furthered thr Twana Brawley fraud. Watch him! This fraudster will bring discredit on the case for Bell.

Bell and his friends may well have been swine, but they did not deserve to be gunned down and they deserve to have better advocates than this gas bag... and we deserve to have better leaders to stand up for our civil rights against a government that fancies itself our master rather than our servant as is its place in a democracy.
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by dowjones20k May 4, 2008 7:48 AM PDT
If Rev AL wants to cause all this mayehm .. and have the NYPD arrest all of these so called protesters then his foundation should have to PAY for all the fines and fees.

If he was slapped with this kind of civil penalty .. then he might rethink his call for civil disobedience.

Sharpton is a windbag that the media has given a pulpit to .. for what ever reason. He has no crdibility with most law abiding citizens.

We shall see how many join him .. he certainly is calculating as he has called for his march to begin in the afternoon ... rush hour& folks are out of work.

Pitiful!!!
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by joe1022joe May 4, 2008 8:39 AM PDT
1) I would like to know what Sharpton''s sources of income are. 2) Has Jesse Jackson''s Rainbow Coalition or his other enterprises ever been audited? Are these guys Isn''t it time these sorts of rocks were turned over?
Reply to this comment
by rowdytexan2 May 4, 2008 8:48 AM PDT
I guess somebody forgot to tell Sharpton that if the kid had been home preparing for his wedding instead of on the parking lot of a sleazy strip clue, in a car with his drunk friend trying to run over a cop and smash vehicles, then drive on public streets, the young man might still be alive!

People who don''t take responsibility for their own actions lots of times wind up without the ability to, once they''re dead!

Sharpton and his liberation theology krap doesn''t help American at all! He makes it worse!
Reply to this comment
by abmitus May 4, 2008 8:49 AM PDT
This is not about A. Sharptons income, its about justice! Ther is no way to justify what they did to Sean Bell. If you think it si, you are just stupid and probably a racist!
Reply to this comment
by generey May 4, 2008 8:51 AM PDT
Wierd Al is nothing for me to waste my time with. (Ugly little bahstard too).
Reply to this comment
by lqqkdusty May 4, 2008 8:55 AM PDT
SHARPTON IS A SCAB... HE SHOWS UP AFTER THE SORE IS INFECTED... HE IS THE BIGGEST BIGOT THAT I KNOW OF BESIDES JACKSON... THIS MAN IS DANGEROUS... HE MAKES TROUBLE FOR PEOPLE...HE IS NOT A PEACEFUL MAN...HE IS A BIGOT AND CAUSES HAVOC WHEREVER HE GOES... WHY DO PEOPLE EVEN LET HIM GET AWAY WITH HIS COMMENTS? HE IS NOTHING BUT A TROUBLE MAKER AND LOSER...
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by ranger1948 May 4, 2008 9:25 AM PDT
abmitus
Talk about the kettle calling the pot black. You are the racist. Just because you are black and the victims are black does not mean he was murdered. It was two black officers and a Mexican officer who did the shooting, no whites involved. You were not there, the judge weighed the evidence and ruled not guilty. If the judge would have been black you would still be yelling racism. It is time to get off the racism BS and face facts. If the victims had been white i doubt you would be yelling it is an injustice.
Reply to this comment
by ranger1948 May 4, 2008 10:34 AM PDT
salty1954
If you have all the answers then how do you fix this problem ? How is this a racial issue? If you have a legitimate statement and want to be taken seriously then get off the racial kick everytime something happens. Then people might take you serious. I am white but i have black friends. All the facts were not given here so i am niot about to second guess the police or the judge. If there was an injustice i would want it addressed regardless of what race is involved.
Reply to this comment
by rodgert-2009 May 4, 2008 11:15 AM PDT
That''s going to endear the blacks
Reply to this comment
by rodgert-2009 May 4, 2008 11:18 AM PDT
How come thousands of blacks can protest and there''s not a lost work day
Reply to this comment
by xlib May 4, 2008 11:21 AM PDT
This situation shows al and jesse (he''ll be there) at their best. They just relish situations like this. I bet he was wondering when he would work again. Now, I note the fact that the officers were not white doesn''t matter anymore to the professional racists.
Way to go al! Destroy neighborhoods, burn businesses, yep, that always solves problems, doesn''t it.
Reply to this comment
by xlib May 4, 2008 11:22 AM PDT
rodgert-great question there, great question. Any takers on the answer??
Reply to this comment
by ranger1948 May 4, 2008 11:53 AM PDT
xlib
To answer rodgert''s question is just asking to be called a racist. IT DOESN''T TAKE MUCH FOR THAT TO HAPPEN ANYWAY ON THESE FORUMS, JUST TELL THE TRUTH AND WATCH FOR THE BACKLASH.
Reply to this comment
by prinzowhales May 4, 2008 12:01 PM PDT
A man is gunned down on the streets of New York and instead of responsible advocates, Sharpton''s Circus arrives...Where is Obama, Clinton and McCain?...It would be amusing to watch them try and walk between the rain drops on this issue.

And where are these candidates when a farmer is arrested for selling milk?

http://www.counterpunch.com/cohen04262008.html
Reply to this comment
by chad55555 May 4, 2008 1:08 PM PDT
This person does not deserve respect,this is the same person that wantd to hang 4 whites in a rape case (Brawly)in N Y to find out the girl lied(case dropped).He with many others just hates whites and there is no other way to put it and our government is so scared a city will burn they always get their way,job, promotion in the military no matter what they will overcome the whites as the song says.It is ashamed America''s fate has come down to this,we are now more Mexican and African then American,That makes us AFRICO now. This man should not even have the right to speak in public with his message of hate.
Reply to this comment
by rational_1 May 4, 2008 1:24 PM PDT
"Sharpton Will Lead Sean Bell Protests"

What a way to lend legitimacy to your protest. Get a clown to lead the protest march. LOL.
Reply to this comment
by rohink-2009 May 4, 2008 1:52 PM PDT
He also threatened a "protest" if Obama doesn''t get the nomination. Big Al is gonna be busy.......

That is if the super delegates aren''t a bunch of scaredy cats. Obama hasn''t won a state since Feb and won Guam by 7 votes. Doesn''t quite sound like the sure thing, he was prior to "Black Liberation Theology" and his bitter comments. So much for being the great uniter.
Reply to this comment
by writescripts May 4, 2008 5:21 PM PDT
I agree the verdict was wrong too, and I am a white guy. However, Sharpton is a parasite feeding off his people. Neither he or Jesse Jackson were elected to represent anyone. I wish they would get a real job.
Reply to this comment
by cmp271 May 4, 2008 7:17 PM PDT
This imbecile gives black people a bad name. Can''t anyone stop this idiot from causing all the trouble he causes? it should be a criminal offense to threaten the safety of the citizens of NYC. Why doesn''t anyone sue him? Considering what the city has been through, the FBI should take him into custody. He is aiding and abetting a possible terrorist threat. He should be apprehended and charged with vocalizing a threat to NYC and the country!!!
Reply to this comment
by lefeaoux May 4, 2008 7:52 PM PDT
This imbecile gives black people a bad name. Can''''t anyone stop this idiot from causing all the trouble he causes? it should be a criminal offense to threaten the safety of the citizens of NYC. Why doesn''''t anyone sue him? Considering what the city has been through, the FBI should take him into custody. He is aiding and abetting a possible terrorist threat. He should be apprehended and charged with vocalizing a threat to NYC and the country!!!

Posted by cmp271 at 07:17 PM : May 04, 2008

Oh, this situation is still in it''s infancy! What you people are witnessing here is the beginning of Domestic Terrorism in this country as it has never been seen before. Sharpton and Jackson are TRYING as hard as they can to "fire-up" the Black population of this nation and nudge them towards violence and terrorism. We are but a few steps away from experiencing a full-blown revolution and any BS from the Black Community will surely lead to a race-war and that is exactly what Sharpton wants!
Reply to this comment
by ranger1948 May 4, 2008 9:51 PM PDT
Has anyone considered maybe the govt is behind this. If they keep the blacks and the whites at each others throats, then we are less likely to watch what they are doing.
Reply to this comment
by lefeaoux May 4, 2008 9:53 PM PDT
Has anyone considered maybe the govt is behind this. If they keep the blacks and the whites at each others throats, then we are less likely to watch what they are doing.

Posted by ranger1948 at 09:51 PM : May 04, 2008

No, I don''t think that is it. Don''t start with all the Conspiracy Theories ... we have enough of those and less than 2% of them are actual.
Reply to this comment
by ranger1948 May 4, 2008 10:34 PM PDT
lefaeoux
Yes we have enough conspiracy theopries, however to m,any of them are true. I am hoping our elected officials will finally do something before we end up at no return and have a revolution. That is why i urge everyone to right their senattors and tll them to get off their ases and do their jobs now.
Reply to this comment
by lawresn May 4, 2008 11:29 PM PDT
I agree. I''m a white guy and I think the verdict was wrong too. But once Sharpton or Jackson take up the "fight" I think alot of people just think "here we go again". The crime or cause becomes secondary to Sharpton or Jackson''s soundbites. I think they are wasting the attention they are given for self glorification in a vain attempt walk in the foosteps of MLK.
Reply to this comment
by ranger1948 May 4, 2008 11:58 PM PDT
lawresn
I think everyone knows a reporter writes a story to sell, not necesarily the way it happened. I will not second guess a policeman when i was not there to know the circumstances, nor will i second guess a judge who has the actual facts to the case.
Reply to this comment
by lawresn May 5, 2008 12:47 AM PDT
ranger1948
Well thats the thing too isnt it? Every good American wants to believe that the police are out there doing the right thing. We depend on them to protect our daily way of life. I personally believe that 99.99% of them are officers because they want to do good things. I just think in this situation 50 shots from these officers on an unarmed person, regardles of color is excessive.
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by ranger1948 May 5, 2008 1:29 AM PDT
lawresn
Since i wasn''t ther i cannopt say what happened. If the driver continued to rev his engine in an attempt to hit the officer an d fllee i can see the oficer firing continuously. I would hope that when the judge saw the evidence of what happened he would make his ruling on fact rather than on race.
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by ranger1948 May 5, 2008 1:36 AM PDT
I am retired law enforcement and want to believe the officers. However i also question the necessity of fifty rounds. I also heard the officer placed his foot on the hood of the car to continue firing, if so i think there was a procedure violation. At any rate i think they went to trial way to soon and should havce made sure they had all the facts and the actual facts. if the victims had been white i would be saying the same thing.
Reply to this comment
by ranger1948 May 5, 2008 1:40 AM PDT
It was also reported one of the officers heard one of the victims say he was going to get his gun and when in the car the victim reached for something in his pocket. Anyone with common sense knows not to make sudden moves when confronted by an officer. Their job is dangerous and they have to be alert at all times.
Reply to this comment
by grammawhamma May 5, 2008 4:03 AM PDT
Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson need to keep a low profile (for now) if they want Obama to win the democratic nomination. You don''t want the racial pot stirred any more then Rev Wright has already done.
Reply to this comment
by brianbwb-2009 May 5, 2008 6:42 AM PDT
"Has anyone considered maybe the govt is behind this. If they keep the blacks and the whites at each others throats, then we are less likely to watch what they are doing." Posted by ranger1948

Well Ranger, since the officers that killed Mr. Bell are agents of law enforcement, that makes them an arm of the government. (looks like a duck)

The judges that acquitted the officers are also agents of the judiciary. (walks like a duck)

Therefore your logic has merit. (probably is a duck)

However the true motive may be rooted in generations of brainwashing that have made both sides believe that a "Black" man''s life is worth very little.

As for your more recent post, had the victim been "White" with the same officers involved, statistics strongly suggest that they would probably be in some serious trouble.
Reply to this comment
by advanceus May 5, 2008 7:52 AM PDT
Seems like one, if not two, of the officers were black. How does that make it racist? Maybe, the cops actually thought these guys were armed and were protecting themselves. I don''t think anyone has thought of that, you know Sharpton hasn''t. He hasn''t crawled out from under his rock in quite some time, and apparently he thinks Wright is doing a good enough job that he isn''t needed in that fight.
Reply to this comment
by tomanyt May 5, 2008 8:47 AM PDT
I was wondering when Al was going to show up.
Reply to this comment
by klingon69 May 5, 2008 9:54 AM PDT
How come thousands of blacks can protest and there''''s not a lost work day
Posted by rodgert at 11:18 AM : May 04, 2008
Because, either they are unemployed, employed by Sharpton or their employers are afraid of the negative publicity they would receive if they docked a days pay.
Reply to this comment
by forthepeopl1 May 5, 2008 10:24 AM PDT
we the people can STOP all in CONGRESS and the WHITEHOUSE with something so easy, and we would not have to fire a shot at anyone to have this REVOLUTION, THATS RIGHT A REVOLUTION IS WHAT IS NEEDED TO STOP THEM ALL IN THEIR TRACKS.

HOW. WE THE PEOPLE DONT WORK OR DO ANYTHING FOR A FEW WEEKS, SEE HOW FAST THEY START DOING SOMETHING FOR AMERICANS, WHEN NO MONEY IS GOING ONTO THE GOVERNEMNT FOR A FEW WEEKS, SEE NO FOOD BEING DRIVEN TO STORES, THIS IS THE ONLY WAY WE AS AMERICANS CAN TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK.. SO AMERICANS BETTER WAKE UP AND LETS START A COMPLETE BOY-COTT OF WORK..THIS WILL ONLY WORK IF ALL DO IT.

for-america@hotmail.com
Reply to this comment
by obamawhama May 5, 2008 6:51 PM PDT
50 shots... Sounds like the Boys need to go to the firing range for a LOT of practice.. No more pay raises until you can hit a dime @ 50 yards.. with a hand gun.. Were they trying to make him do the mexican hat dance? Is that why it took so many rounds?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by cornbiker at 06:12 PM : May 05, 2008
+ report abuse

*********************

let me see..an average law enforcement issued hand gun carries about 15 1 rounds..the tension was uneasy..it was dark..the victim gave a perception that he is armed..and about to commit an ''arse kicking''..AND THE COP WANTS TO GO HOME ALIVE and still do thier job..

WHAT DO YOU THINK??
Reply to this comment
by stupidrules3 May 6, 2008 7:13 AM PDT
If this thing turns violent, I hope they charge Sharpton with inciting a riot. I guess he''ll show up in Knoxville TN to protest the conviction of the African-Americans who tortured a young white couple (Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom) to death sfter carjacking them. You still see very little coverage of this heinous crime.
Reply to this comment
by honestabe8 May 6, 2008 9:16 AM PDT
F Al Sharpton. Where are his protests when the black mayor of Detroit, an overwhelmingly black city, screws his mistress, screws the city to the tune of $9 Million (and counting), lies to his wife, fires black police officers for doing their jobs, goes into a church with his wife and some TV cameras and lies to the residents and otherwise publicly makes racially divisive comments? Oh yeah, that''s all okay to Master (race)Baiter Sharpton.
Reply to this comment
by ranger1948 May 6, 2008 9:25 AM PDT
forthepeople1
I am all for your idea, i am retired, letsd do it.
Reply to this comment
by bdrlnt4rl May 6, 2008 11:28 AM PDT
As for Al Sharpton.. he is a looser.. worthless bag of trash...

Posted by cornbiker



he is the reason racism is still around. and yes i am black. and yes, i am ashamed of him and what he stands for.
Reply to this comment
by thatsurword May 6, 2008 12:23 PM PDT
To say that Al Sharpton is the reason racism is still here is ignorant. Thats why we are in the state that we are in because there is no unity among blacks everyone wants to be the leader and doesnt want to get lead if people thought Martin Luther King was the reason for racism our black ***** would still be on the back of the bus, and all those places that we like to eat from buy clothes from buy furniture from we would not have been able to set foot in so Before u belittle Al Sharpton take a look at urselves what have u done to try to make a change when have u pushed for equal rights equal opportunity most of us move like robots and are afraid to speak out just for that i applaud al sharpton
Reply to this comment
by bdrlnt4rl May 6, 2008 1:40 PM PDT
Dapperjus

people like sharpton has taken MLK''s dream and twisted in a sick way to make the black community suffer for his own popularity and financial gain. the ignorant thing is that doors are open, education is there, oportunity is knowcking, and people like sharpton fuel the fire of hatred in the minds of my black community.

my direct grandfather joined the revolutionary war to gain his freedom. my black forefathers fought for freedom, and they fought in vein.

and yes, i have done a lot to try to change how people view the black community and i have done quite well. i have an education, i teach my children not to be a slave to the government or to drugs. i stress education and staying clean with the law, morally, drugs, alcohol, you name it.

it starts with me, the parent. it starts with wanting to better yourself so idiots like sharpton do not have a reason to fuel a hatred march.

there is no ''wrong place at the wrong time'' thought when it comes to illegal matters, such as excess drinking, drugs, partying, prostitution, etc. if you know, and you will know, get the helllll out. that is the sure fire way to stay alive and stay out of jail.
it is goes with taunting the police as well.

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