Rev. Al Sharpton Promises Solidarity with Protestors of Deloatch Shooting

Speaking  to a spirited crowd of more the 150 people at a New Brunswick church,  the Rev. Al Sharpton Thursday night promised to campaign for justice in  the shooting death of Barry Deloatch  by city police.

“We  will bring all of those we need to bring,’’ Sharpton said from the  pulpit as the crowd applauded and rose to its feet. “We are not going to  let this go unanswered. New Brunswick needs justice and we will be  here.’’

Sharpton  also said he would join local efforts to get the United States  Attorney’s Office to participate in the probe.

“We will do whatever we  need to do to make him review this case,’’ Sharpton said.

Almost  two months after Deloatch was killed by city police in an alley off  Throop Avenue, Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan continues to  investigate the shooting. The incident has spurred a series of protests  and exacerbated tensions between the police department and New  Brunswick’s black community.

Leaders  of the Deloatch protest movements held a “Police Brutality/Street  Violence Forum” at Sharon Baptist Church Thursday night featuring more  than a dozen speakers, including lawyers, civil rights activists,  community organizers, religious leaders and people who lost loved ones  to street killings.

Deloatch’s three brothers were among those at the  event.

Sharpton  was the keynote speaker, taking the ride to New Brunswick after he  broadcast his MSNBC show in New York earlier in the evening to deliver a  25-minute speech.

“Sometimes we become complacent in the face of what is wrong and in the face of what needs to be challenged,’’ he said.

Sharpton  went on to say there was a double standard in law enforcement’s  behavior in minority neighborhoods and he challenged those who say the  police officers in the incident, Brad Berdel and Daniel Mazan, should  receive due process and be considered innocent until proven guilty.

“Why  did someone try, convict and execute Deloatch without due process,’’  Sharpton said.

Sharpton  also argued that local law enforcement should welcome intervention by  the US Attorney. “Why would you fear being held accountable to the law  when it’s your job to hold people accountable to the law?’’ he said.

Sharpton  also took issue with young blacks who celebrate the street gang  mentality. “Crime and thuggery is not black culture,’’ he said. “It is  crime and thuggery.’’

He  also bemoaned a mentality that derides studious young blacks as “acting  white’’ and criticized the rampant use of “the n-word” among blacks.

“What is acting black? Is being inarticulate and stupid acting black?’’ he asked.

“We  cannot demand respect from other that we don’t give ourselves,’’  Sharpton said. “We must demand that the New Brunswick police respect us.  But we must show them that we respect each other.’’

The  forum began with a presentation by attorneys associated with the NAACP  who discussed how to behave when stopped by police officers on the  street and the pros and cons of filing internal affairs complaints  against cops.

For  example, it’s a good idea to ask, “Am I under arrest? Am I free to  leave?’’ when questioned by a officer, said attorney Chanel Hudson.

That  lets the police know they are dealing with someone aware of his or her  rights, Hudson said.

Another  lawyer, R. Alexandra Larson, warned people in the crowd they could  become targeted by police if they file a complaint against a police  officer. She urged people to try to have evidence, like a video or audio  recording, in seeking charges against an officer.

New  Brunswick resident Gina Bowser, whose son, Zakee, was killed in 1997,  spoke to the audience about street violence.

“We need to come together  in New Brunswick,’’ she said. “We need to take back our streets.’’

She  said there was too much violence among black youths.

“We’re killing our  own selves,’’ she said. “Years ago, there used to be the Klu Klux Klan.  They don’t ever have to march again.’’

Bill  Davis, a man with New Brunswick roots who is a leader in the People’s  Organization for Progress,  said his daughter had graduated high school  with Deloatch’s son. He called the killing an assassination.

“We cannot have the police who are supposed to stop the violence inflict the violence,’’ he said.

Davis  said the community should transform Deloatch’s death into a catalysts  for change the same way Emmett Till’s murder triggered protest. He said  the subsequent Montgomery transit strike by that city’s blacks took 381  days to achieve its goal.

“Maybe we have to go another 381 days for the police to be indicted, tried or kicked off the force,’’ Davis said.

Beverly  Marshall of New Brunswick said Deloatch’s killing prompted the  formation of the group calling itself” Concerned Residents of New  Brunswick.’’

“It should have been done years before,’’ she said.

Marshall  said the city needed an active citizenry. “The first thing you have to  do is you have to start going to the city council meetings,’’ she said.  “You have to register to vote. You have to go to the board of education  meetings…You have to help the few who are trying to help the many.’’