Amadou Diallo Case
The Amadou Diallo case: The social and political roots of police violence By the Editorial Board 28 February 2000 The four New York City police officers acquitted February 25 in the shooting death of Amadou Diallo may still face departmental trial and could be removed from the force if it is found that the shooting violated police department guidelines. In addition, Diallos parents intend to file a civil suit against the police and the city, and the Justice Department announced, through the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, that it would review the case “to determine whether there were any violations of the federal criminal civil rights laws. ... The firing squad-style killing of Diallo is only the most appalling expression of the effective denial of basic democratic rights to working class and poor people, especially, but not only, the black, Hispanic and immigrant populations. ... In an earlier letter to the Patrolmens Benevolent Association, the police union representing the four Street Crime cops, she apologized for having referred to the Diallo shooting as "murder," saying she "clearly misspoke. ... The central demands put forward by the Democratic politicians were for a federal civil rights case against the four cops and the establishment of an independent civilian oversight board for the NYPD. ... A jury of eight whites and four blacks on Friday acquitted four white New York City police officers for the February 1999 slaying of Amadou Diallo, a black West African immigrant. ... Diallo died in a hail of 41 police bullets, 19 of which penetrated his body, after he was cornered by officers in his Bronx apartment building. ... The case was removed from the racially-charged environment of New York City to the state capital, 155 miles away. The verdict was expected to set off a wave of protest from civil rights groups, which criticized the Diallo slaying as an example of an uncontrolled police department under Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. ... " Kadiatou Diallo, the victims mother, thanked those who have supported her and asked for "calm and prayers. ... New York Police Commissioner Howard Safir said the officers will remain on modified duty until a shooting hearing board completes its work on the case. The Department of Justice said it will review the case for possible federal violations. A jury of eight whites and four blacks on Friday acquitted four white New York City police officers for the February 1999 slaying of Amadou Diallo, a black West African immigrant. ... Diallo died in a hail of 41 police bullets, 19 of which penetrated his body, after he was cornered by officers in his Bronx apartment building. ... The case was removed from the racially-charged environment of New York City to the state capital, 155 miles away. The verdict was expected to set off a wave of protest from civil rights groups, which criticized the Diallo slaying as an example of an uncontrolled police department under Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. ... Ahmed Diallo, 22, an unarmed Bronx street peddler who immigrated from Guinea in West Africa, had returned home from selling his wares hats, gloves and video tapes at 11:30 p. ... His roommates had gone to sleep, and Diallo left the apartment. ... , the cops had an encounter with Diallo near his apartment. ... Diallo was pronounced dead at the scene, his bullet riddled lay body face up in the lighted vestibule of his apartment building. ... merchants, most of whom are Bangladeshi, made change for Diallo, watched his wares while he prayed and chatted with the 22-year-old West African immigrant on his favorite subjects: basketball and Islam. Amadou Lives at Marie Runyons Dinner Table A US federal appeals court overturned the convictions of 3 white police officers in the Abner Louima torture case, finding insufficient evidence they obstructed justice.