Would You be Willing to Protest?
interviews by Malik
Wilson and Laura
Cespedes
Photographs by Shem
Rajoon
With all the multiple protests against police conduct
in New York City, HarlemLive conducted "man on the street" interviews.
Look for this feature each week in HarlemLive
 Name:
Michael
Age: 43
Residence: Manhattan
Occupancy: Unemployed
Which was the last protest you participated in?
I have never participated in any protest
What is your more important cause? Unity
Would you be willing to get arrested? Yes I would
How do you feel about the Diallo shooting? I
feel that it was an injustice, it was very wrong. I don't believe in
no way that you could shoot somebody 41 times and think that
they have a gun. It's impossible.
Would you be willing to protest in the future?
Yes.
 Name:
Jerry
Age:40
Residence: Manhattan
How do you feel about the Diallo shooting? Shouldn't
have happened. It took too long for them to indict the people. They're
murderers.This has been going on for too long. It's about time that
the commissioner notices what happens, all this mishap that's been going,
and the people that have been marching downtown. It's been a long time
coming and we just have to do more.
How do you feel, as a black man in your neighborhood,
do you feel safe? No I don't. Any given time, I can fall under that
police regime about doing anything they want to, I really don't feel
safe. I would think that my best bet is to try to run. It's scary.
Would you be protesting on thursday? All the
time.
 Name:Tiffany
Levy
Age:16
Residence:Brooklyn
How do you feel about the Diallo shooting? I
feels that police chose their victims by the area they happen to be
in and their race. If the police walk I feel that there will be a riot
like there was in L.A.
How do you feel, as a black man in your neighborhood,
do you feel safe? I do not feel safe in my neighborhood and I too
has been manhandled from the police and I read that there were a few
Puerto Rican and African American women who also have been shot by the
police.
Would you be protesting on thursday? There is
no doubt that I would be willing to get arrested during the protest
happening on thursday April 15, 1999 but my mother will not let me go.
 Name:
Raheem
Age: not given
Residence: Harlem
How do you feel about the Diallo shooting?I feels
that there was a cause for it but it seems to make no sense to shoot
41 times and only hit him 19. I feel that the police are guilty and
should be charged like everyone else. I think the police actions are
f*#=ked up towards the people in the community.
How do you feel, as a black man in your neighborhood,
do you feel safe? I do not feel safe in my neighborhood.The other
day I was pulled over. I admit I did give them a hard time but the way
they came to me I felt angry. Because I'm black they just feel that
I'm doing something wrong.
Would you be protesting on thursday? I will join
the protest even though I am a new resident in the Bronx.
 Name:Tawana
Thomas
Age: 23
Residence: Harlem
How do you feel about the Diallo shooting?I think
that the situation was caused and happen because the fact of his color.
Just because the police are here to protect, which they have not done,
does not give them the right to go off and shoot people especially people
of color.
How do you feel, as a black man in your neighborhood,
do you feel safe? I do not feel safe and just because I'm a women
I am no different than a man.
Would you be protesting on thursday?I will be
joining the the protest.
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