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Activists, victims, victims family members of police brutality, Black elected officials to host "The First Anniversary of the Cleveland Police 137 Shots and Stop Police Brutality Rally and Candlelight Vigil," Friday, Nov 29, 5 pm, Heritage Middle School

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Pictured are Cleveland police deadly shooting victims Malissa Williams and Timothy Russell, Cleveland Criminal Defense and Civil Rights Attorney Terry Gilbert (in blue suit) and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty. Both Black and both unarmed, Williams and Russell were gunned down by 13 non-Black Cleveland police officers on November 29, 2012 with 137 rounds of ammunition following a car chase that began in downtown Cleveland and ended at Heritage Middle School in neighboring East Cleveland. Friday, November 29, 2013 marks the first anniversary of the unprecedented tragedy. Community activists are outraged because the 13 police officers at issue have not been punished or criminally charged, and remain on the job.


By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor-in-chief, Cleveland Urban News.Com


CLEVELAND, Ohio- Community activists groups, victims and victims family members of police brutality, and Black elected officials will host "The First Anniversary of the Cleveland Police 137 Shots and Stop Police Brutality Rally and Candlelight Vigil" on Friday, November 29, 2013, at 5 pm outside of Heritage Middle School in East Cleveland at 14410 Terrace Road. Friday marks the first anniversary of the gunning down by 13 all non-Black Cleveland cops of unarmed Blacks Malissa Williams, 30, and Timothy Russell, 43, both of whom were killed on November 29, 2012 following a car chase that began in downtown Cleveland and ended at Heritage Middle School in neighboring East Cleveland, a largely Black impoverished suburb of Cleveland.


"The 13 police officers that did the shooting  should be charged at least with negligent homicide," said Cleveland Civil Rights Attorney Terry Gilbert, during an interview with Cleveland Urban News.Com, Ohio's most read online Black newspaper."


A criminal defense and Civil Rights lawyer, Gilbert represents the estate of Russell, who left behind a 17-year-old son.


Organizers and contacts for the rally include Oppressed People's Nation Chairman Ernie Smith at 216-218-3948, Black on Black Crime Founder Art McKoy at  216-253-4070, Imperial Women Activists Group President Kathy Wray Coleman at 216-659-0473, Greater Cleveland Immigrant Support Network President Don Bryant at 216-772-6788, and Peace in the Hood President Khalid Samad, who also leads the grassroots group The Task Force for Community Mobilization, at 216-538-4043.

 

The officers at issue have not yet been punished and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty, who is White and an ally to police in greater Cleveland, has refused to push for an indictment before a Cuyahoga County Grand Jury of the all non-Black 13 police officers that did the shooting.


Rally speakers include members of the Russell and Williams family, Black clergy, community activists, family members of victims of police brutality, and Black elected officials.


The deadly car chase that ultimately included 104 Cleveland and other police ended with the car Russell was driving and Williams as a passenger shot at with 137 rounds of ammunition, gangster -style.


One of the police officers , who is still on the job like the other 12 officers, jumped aboard the hood of Russell's 1979 Chevy Malibu Classic and fired 49 rounds through the front windshield.


Community activists said that while the gathering is to remember Russell and  Williams and to pray for justice for them, that they will also rally to call for action and to bring more attention to the unprecedented tragedy.


"We will be there to honor Malissa and Timothy, to call for an end to police brutality, and to call for criminal charges to be brought against the 13 police officers that did the shooting," said Oppressed People's Nation Chairman Ernie Smith, one of several organizers of the rally.


"I think it is very important not to let up and we want justice for Malissa and Timothy," said community activist Bill Swain.

 

Participating activists groups include The Oppressed People's Nation, Black on Black Crime Inc, The Imperial Women Activists Group, The Carl Stokes Brigade, Peace in the Hood, The Task Force for Community Mobilization, The People's Forum, Revolution Books, Survivors/Victims of Tragedy, The Greater Cleveland Immigrant Support Network, Sister to Sister, Stop Targeting Ohio's Poor, People for the Imperial Act, The Joaquin Hicks Real People's Movement, The Cleveland Chapter of the New Black Panther Party, Ohio Family Rights, The Fairfax Business Association, and The National Association for Parental Equality.(www.clevelandurbannews.com)

 

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