THE AMADOU DIALLO MARCH

Diallo

The mother

Protestors in NY

Friday, Feb. 25, 2000:
A jury of eight whites and four blacks found four NY policemen not guilty of all charges in the killing of Amadou Diallo, an African immigrant. Mr. Diallo was shot 19 times out of 41 shots having been fired. He was was slain last year after police cornered him in his Bronx apartment building.

The testimony of the policemen was that they thought Amadou's wallet was a gun, and the fired 41 times to stop him from using  what they supposed was a gun. The Governor of  NY, Governor Pataki said: "I have confidence in our system of criminal justice in New York state, I think it is a fair system and a just system."

Democratic Presidential candidate Bill Bradley said he was "stunned" by the acquittal. On "Face the Nation," Bradley said the verdict showed that racial profiling has become deeply pervasive in the U.S.  " And it shows how a wallet in the hands of a white man looks like a wallet. But a wallet in the hands of a black man looks like a gun. It's a real tragedy and I'm glad the Justice Department is looking into it now."

Sen. John McCain, a Republican presidential hopeful,  said: " I don't like to second-guess our court system. But it was a racially mixed jury. I know that this is a terribly emotional issue. But for me to second-guess what a jury concluded and what is viewed as a free and fair trial, I don't think I can do that."

New York Police Commissioner, Howard Safir, says that "the NYPD is the most restrained police force in the world." (?) Remember Abner Louima, the Black Haitian immigrant? The restrained NYPD was at work again. Of course the list could go on.

See Colorblind justice?

See Obsession with OJ Simpson