Revolution #182, November 8, 2009
NYPD Raids Home of Anti-Police Brutality Activist Juanita Young—Again
From a reader:
Shortly after 6 a.m. on October 27, just five days after this year’s National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, the NYPD raided the home of Juanita Young—again. For those who don’t know, one of Juanita’s son’s, Malcolm Ferguson, was killed by police on March 1, 2000. Since that day, Juanita has been a major activist in the fight against police brutality and to expose the stolen lives—thousands killed by law enforcement across this country.
This past August, police raided her home and beat and arrested her son, JJ, and a number of other family and friends who were in the apartment (see report online at revcom.us/a/174/juanita_young-en.html). This did not stop her from helping to organize and take part in this year’s National Day of Protest.
Now the police have raided her home a second time in a couple of months, this time arresting another son, Buddy. What the cops did was totally illegal, according to their own laws. They tried to break open the door and to climb through the bedroom window. When the door was opened, they searched the apartment with guns drawn and waved a gun in Juanita’s face, refusing to even show the warrant for an alleged missed court date. Buddy was held for two days and released, the misdemeanor charge resolved.
The following is a statement from Juanita Young after this latest raid:
October 29, 2009
Statement From Juanita Young
By now most of you have heard details of the latest attack on my family by police officers assigned to the 43rd Precinct. It is important that you hear, first-hand, how this continued and escalating harassment is impacting me. Though I have been diligently fighting against police brutality for nine years, this most recent string of attacks—three incidences in as many months—has left me shaken to the core.
Not only have my rights been violated in the most blatant ways, but I feel physically and psychologically terrorized. I fear for my safety, my very life, and the lives of my children and grandchildren. We are not safe. And, at this point, I am unconvinced that relocation will make us any safer. The reality is painfully, frightening clear: I am a target.
I appreciate outpouring of support that’s come from so many places—California, Seattle, Detroit and of course, my home, NYC. It makes me feel good knowing people see that my struggle is a universal struggle for peace and justice. This is not just about me. This is about the rights of every citizen to live safely in their community, with a police force that works with families not against them.
I will take appropriate action with the Civilian Complaint Review Board. And I need you to write, call, march, protest in whatever way that you can to show your outrage.
Yours in Solidarity,
Juanita Young
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