October 22nd, 2004: Every year on October 22nd, thousands of people all over the United States wear black to remember people who have been killed by law enforcement. The week after the National Conference on Police Accountability comes the 9th Annual National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression, and the Criminalization of a Generation, on Friday, October 22nd. A variety of events are taking place around the Bay Area during the week, providing a way for families and loved ones of people who have been killed by law enforcement officers or while in custody to speak publicly about their losses, as well as addressing other problematic interactions between police and civilians. This year's call to action focuses on the parallels between what is happening in Iraq and Palestine, and what is happening in neighborhoods like San Francisco's Bayview/Hunter's Point; exposure of the problems related to racial profiling in the US, particularly of new groups such as Arabs and Muslims, and the criminalization of the right to protest by programs such as Homeland Security. Endorsers. People who have been killed by law enforcement in Northern California since 2001. People who were killed in New York and New Jersey since September 11, 2001.

On Thursday the 21st in San Jose, family members of people who died in police shootings spoke of their concerns at a meeting of the Justice Review Committee of the Santa Clara County Human Relations Commission. Photos Members of the Rudy Cardenas Family, Bich-Cau Thi Tran Family, and Zaim Bojcic family attended the meeting and spoke about their issues. Speakers at the meeting also addressed the use of tasers/stun guns by law enforcement, since tasers were involved in the last two killings by police in San Jose. More info about tasers Members of the Coalition for Justice and Accountability, which formed after the tragic death of Bich-Cau Thi Tran last year, the October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation, Amnesty International, and Justice for Rudy were in attendance.

On Friday, October 22nd, an event to sensitize people to the history, culture, customs, and different concerns that European immigrant communities face was held in San Jose, in order to make people more aware of the different issues that refugees have to deal with in their lives here in the US. This event was inspired by the death of Zaim Bojcic.

Also on October 22nd, over 100 people attended a press conference and rally will be held at the Idriss Stelley Foundation office in the Bayview District. (Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4)

A demonstration was also held in Fresno that day. Later in the evening on October 22nd, the No on Measure Y Campaign screened the film Every Mother's Son as a fundraiser, from 8-10 at the Humanist Hall, 390 27th Street (near 27th and Broadway) in Oakland. From 9pm till late, Lioness and Mr. E presented: SF Uprock 5, with members of October 22nd supporters Loco Bloco, as well as SAKE 1, Jennicyde, Ren, and Mr. EB-boy & B-girl Psyher; hosted by: Hound Dog Truckers-- at Club Six in San Francisco.
Indybay Coverage of October 22nd, 2003