For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Contacts:
Theresa El-Amin, Director, Southern Anti-Racism Network
919-824-0659, TheresaElAmin@aol.com
Elena Everett, Media Coordinator, Southern Coalition for Social Justice
919-323-3380×112, cell 919-413-1276, Elena@southerncoalition.org
DURHAM COMMUNITY AND MURDER VICTIMS’ FAMILIES RALLY ON JAN 15 TO PROTEST POLICE VIOLENCE AND THE KILLING OF OSCAR GRANT
DURHAM, NC – Community leaders, human rights attorneys, and families of the victims of police violence will hold a rally on Thursday, January 15, at 4:30 p.m. in front of the Durham Police Department (505 W. Chapel Hill St., Durham) as part of nationwide protests in the killing of Oscar Grant by a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) police officer.
Oscar Grant was a 22-year-old unarmed African American youth who was shot to death on New Year’s Day on a subway platform in Oakland, CA. Since that time, there has been a nationwide outcry in response to the killing, including popular unrest in Oakland that lasted several days.
Communities are calling for justice and an end to police violence – particularly against youth of color. Speakers include:
• Brenda Howerton, Durham County Commissioner whose 19-year-old son was killed by Greensboro police
• Theresa El Amin, Southern Anti-Racism Network
• Anita Earls, Attorney and Director, Southern Coalition for Social Justice
• Arthur Romano, organizer, Gathering for Justice
• Nia Wilson, Director, SpiritHouse NC
• Al McSurley, Chapel Hill Human Rights Attorney and legal counsel for the NC NAACP
• Fred Battle, long-time past president of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP
• Sandi Velez, community and prison ministry activist
“January 15 is the 80th birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This is a fitting celebration of his life as we gather, our minds and hearts united with all those who have been lost to police brutality and the many more whose lives have been stolen from us as a result of unequal and segregated communities, inadequate education, unjust judicial systems and prisons for profit,” said Theresa El-Amin, director of the Southern Anti-Racism Network.
MORE INFORMATION
Southern Anti Racism Network; http://www.projectsarn.org
Southern Coalition for Social Justice; http://www.scsj.org; 919-323-3380
Spirithouse; http://spirithouse-nc.org
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