October 22nd Coalition Statement about February 20th

The October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality,
Repression, and the Criminalization of a Generation
expresses its total support of the National Day of
Solidarity with Muslim, Arab, and South Asian
Immigrants on February 20th, 2004. We call on all our
supporters nationwide and people of conscience in
general to do the same.


The same cruel escalation of attacks by law
enforcement that we have felt in the form of police
brutality and murder since September 11th, 2001 is now
being experienced by immigrant communities. Like the
victims of COINTELPRO a generation ago, immigrants are
being subjected to unceasing scrutiny and harassment
by federal agencies, trumped-up charges, mass arrests,
and even deportations. We see Arab, Muslim, and South
Asian men and women demonized in the press, and think
of the victims of police murder who are also portrayed
as criminals who must have deserved what they got.

We hear of new, repressive government policies like
the US-VISIT program. It requires millions of visitors
to the US to be fingerprinted and photographed at its
borders, treating them all as potential terrorists. It
reminds us of the so-called gang databasesof cities
like Los Angeles. These lists are really set up to
treat youth, especially youth of color, as potential
criminals. We learn about the harassment of Muslim,
Arab, and South Asian immigrant communities by federal
agencies, and we are reminded of the long history of
racial profiling against Black, Latino, and other
communities of color.

We take no comfort in knowing that there are now more
people in the same boatin terms of racial profiling.
We do not believe that things will get any better for
the traditional victims of law enforcement abuse poor
communities and communities of color just because law
enforcement now has its hands full in profiling
immigrants. In fact, we know that its actually getting
worse for everyone.

As racial profiling and repression has increased
against Arab, Muslim, and South Asian communities,
instances of police brutality and murder across the
boards have skyrocketed, particularly in poor
communities and communities of color. Repression
against those who fight back is also increasing. As
the mother of a Black man who was killed by a North
Carolina sheriffs deputy said, Don't think that just
because law enforcement has put some new people on the
list for racial profiling that they're going to take
anyone off the list.

Perhaps above all else, we feel very intensely the
pain of immigrant families that are being torn apart
by deportation. We know that pain. It's the feeling
that your loved ones are being stolen from you by the
very people who are supposedly sworn to protect you.
It's the feeling that you are alone, facing doubt and
suspicion from what seems like the entire community,
often fueled by racism. It is the fear that there is
no one who can help you. The families and loved ones
of those whose lives have been stolen by police murder
have experienced that very same isolation, fear, and
pain.

Yet we know that the unity and determination of the
people is powerful enough to break through the pain,
isolation and fear, and mount a powerful challenge
against injustice. We have learned through our
struggle that solidarity is not only possible, but
that it is necessary, and that it gets results. Day to
day we work to build bridges between communities that
are the most under the gun of police brutality and
people of conscience who are willing work together to
challenge injustice. When we stand up strong, law
enforcement is forced to back down.

We pledge our support to the National Day of
Solidarity with Muslim, Arab, and South Asian
Immigrants on February 20th. We call on our
supporters and people of good conscience to make that
solidarity real by supporting the events that are
planned in cities and towns across the US. Where an
event is not planned, find a way to reach out to the
immigrant communities that are now also under the gun.

Stand with them against the attacks coming down on us
all. Wear a blue triangle on Feb 20th with the name of
one of the newly disappeared! Stand against police
state tactics, racial profiling, and the unjust
registration and deportation of immigrants!

The October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality,
Repression, and the Criminalization of a Generation
says: There is No Safety for Anyone in a Police State!
FIGHT BACK, WEAR BLACK ON OCTOBER 22nd!

http://www.bluetriangle.org