Plans Finalized For Wednesday's Protest

Organizers of Wednesday afternoon's protest in Highbridge-- against the acquittal of officers who killed Sean Bell-- met with police a short time ago to secure approval for their plans.

Protestors will block traffic at 170th Street and Jerome Avenue between 5:01 and 5:05 Wednesday afternoon, with a rally to follow at the same location. The starting time of 5:01 is to symbolize the 51 shots fired at Sean Bell, event organizers said.

Demonstrators will begin gathering around 4:30pm Wednesday.

Joel Rivera, director of a youth program at the Latino Pastoral Action Center (LPAC)--one of the groups organizing the demonstration--said he met for roughly 40 minutes with Community Affairs officers from the nearby 44th Precinct, and that the officers gave permission for demonstrators to shut down traffic.

"They know what’s happening," Rivera said. "They gave us the approval, and their concern was just safety and so forth."

Rivera said that speakers at the rally would include several community religious leaders, as well as representatives for local politicians.

Besides LPAC, others on board for the demonstration include Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, NY Faith & Justice, and Walker Memorial Baptist Church.

Rivera said that, besides expressing dissent with the acquittal of Officers Cooper, Isnora, and Oliver, tomorrow's demonstration also provides an occasion for leaders to network with one another, providing a potential foundation for larger protest actions in the future.

Minister Derrick Boykin of Walker Memorial Baptist Church -- who is another key organizer of Wednesday's action--similarly viewed the protest as one part of a larger picture.

"This demonstration is one point in history," Minister Boykin said. " What’s most urgent to me is this demonstration translate into something even greater than the moment- a real dialogue for change."