Dr. Malik Zulu Shabazz, left, leader of the New Black Panther Party and other members of the party march along Jamaica avenue in the Queens borough of New York, on Dec. 2, 2006, during a rally against police brutality. Anti-police brutality supporters gathered to protest the recent shooting of Sean Bell, 23, and two other unarmed men who were attending Bells bachelor party at a Queens strip club. The three men were shot an estimated 50 times by police officers just after leaving on early Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006. Bell was killed hours before he was to have married the mother of his two children, Nicole Paultre. (AP Photo/Adam Rountree)

 

Men hold their fists up in protest against the death of Sean Bell, a 23 year old bridegroom killed by police on his wedding day, as a funeral procession passes after Bell's funeral services in New York, December 1, 2006. REUTERS/Keith Bedford (UNITED STATES)

 

www.amnestyusa.org

(New York) -- As Mayor Michael Bloomberg meets with community leaders in Queens today, Larry Cox, executive director of Amnesty International USA, released the following statement regarding the shooting of Sean Bell on Saturday by undercover police officers:

"Amnesty International offers its condolences to the family and friends of Sean Bell and hopes for the recovery of all persons injured in the incident.

Police violence has shown its ugly face in New York yet again. This tragedy is not an isolated incident -- it is part of a pattern of questionable police tactics and abuse. The question should not be 'is this case another Amadou Diallo?' but 'why is the NYPD still shooting unarmed black men?'

Whenever possible, police should use non-violent means before resorting to force and firearms. Officers should fire their weapons only when strictly unavoidable to protect human life. New York City authorities need to conduct an investigation that is thorough and fair and that will hold all parties accountable. That's the first step in stopping police abuse."

www.edoneo.org/notbush.html