From: Herschel, Lucy
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2012 12:28 PM
To: 1199 Members
Cc: ALAA MEMBERS
Subject: Proposed 1199 resolution for Ramarley Graham
Dear union sisters and brothers, if folks aren’t aware, Constance Malcolm, Ramarley Graham’s mother, is an 1199 member, working at a nursing home in Ossining. Some of you may have seen the article about her in the May/June edition of 1199’s magazine.
Jess and I are planning to put forward the following resolution (below) to the 1199 Executive Board that we as a union both condemn the killing but also commit to mobilizing and providing material support for the protests and vigils. If you are an 1199 member and would like to sign on to this proposed resolution, please let me know ASAP.
That being said, I want to encourage folks again to come out to the vigils tonight and next Thursday in the Bronx (see email below)
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Proposed resolution:
WHEREAS, on February 2nd, 2012, in the Wakefield neighborhood of the Bronx, Officer Richard Haste and other members of the NYPD knocked down the door and entered the apartment where Ramarley Graham lived with his mother, 1199 member Constance Malcolm, and shot the 18 year old African American young man in front of his grandmother and 6 year old brother; and
WHEREAS Ramarley Graham was unarmed and Haste had no warrant; and
WHEREAS Ramarley Graham is but one of millions of African American and Latino youth to have fallen victim to racial profiling and aggressive police tactics; and
WHEREAS 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East has put itself forward in the fight against this type of injustice, from the protests for Trayvon Martin to the June 17th March against Stop and Frisk in New York City; therefore be it
RESOLVED, that 1199SEIU condemn the murder of Ramarley Graham, the NYPD’s consistent use of racial profiling to target young people of color throughout the city, and the police policies and practices that set the stage for his killing; and be it further
RESOLVED, that 1199SEIU mobilize its membership for both the July 19th vigil and march in honor of Ramarley at Constance Malcolm’s home in Wakefield, as well as for Richard Haste’s initial trial date on September 13th; and be it further
RESOLVED, that 1199SEIU lend material support and where possible participate in press conferences and other actions to continue to mobilize people in the struggle for justice for Ramarley Graham.
Lucy Herschel, Paralegal
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From: Arafa, Noha
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2012 10:57 AM
To: Gusberg, Jessica; 1199 Members; ALAA MEMBERS
Subject: RE: Reminder: THIS THURSDAY, JULY 12TH – JUSTICE FOR RAMARLEY GRAHAM
Thank you Jessica for this. I will be attending on the 19th and I hope others will come as well. We all know our reputation in the community and it’s time to change that reputation. Our advocay for our clients extends beyond the court room. This is the perfect opportunity to do both. Also, we as an organization need to voice our horror regarding how this young man was racially profiled and brutally murdered in front of his 6 year old brother and grandmother in his own home.
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From: Gusberg, Jessica
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2012 10:05 AM
To: 1199 Members; ALAA MEMBERS
Subject: Reminder: THIS THURSDAY, JULY 12TH – JUSTICE FOR RAMARLEY GRAHAM
A reminder that THIS THURSDAY, July 12th, there will be a vigil for Ramarley Graham, who was murdered in his own bathroom by the NYPD. At the first court date for Richard Haste, the cop who executed Ramarley, the NYPD showed up in full-force, literally laughing in the faces of the family. Frank and Constance, Ramarley’s parents, are asking everyone to please come to their home to support their efforts to get justice for their son on Thursday. They have been so strong through this struggle for justice, let’s support them in any way that we can.
Thursday, July 12th from 5pm – 9:30/10pm (arrive at any time)
749 E 229th Street, take the 2 train to 225th Street, walk up White Plains Rd and take a right on 229th (you’ll see the home from the corner)
There are only two more vigils for Ramarley, this Thursday, July 12th and next Thursday, July 19th. Please join us!! Come with friends, come to pay respects to the family, to be a loving presence in the midst of unimaginable loss, and to stand against police brutality & violence. We have been holding weekly vigils every Thursday for 18 weeks, one week for every year of Ramarley’s life. As an LAS Stop Stop + Frisk Union initiative, we are attending the vigils en masse to stand up against NYPD violence and terror, to end racial profiling, and to support a mourning family as they push forward in their fight for justice for their son. Please join us!!
If you have any questions about this initiative, feel free to email me back. If you engage in no other outside-of-work-activism around racist, pre-emptive policing, I can say that supporting the Grahams in their struggle for justice is something you will not regret. The Grahams have consistently simply asked folks to come join us on Thursdays. Your presence will mean the world to the family and community. And let’s show the 47th precinct that they cannot indiscriminately murder children with no response from Legal Aid staff! We hope to see you there on Thursday!!
Peace,
Antonia, Lisa, and Jess
http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2012/6/19/video_police_detained_ramarley_grahams_grandmother_for_hours_after_officer_shot_teen_deadv
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From: Gusberg, Jessica
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2012 1:00 PM
To: 1199 Members; ALAA MEMBERS
Cc: Codling, Antonia; Edwards, Lisa
Subject: Reminder: THIS THURSDAY, June 28th – JUSTICE FOR RAMARLEY GRAHAM
Hi All,
This is a reminder that THIS THURSDAY, June 28th, we are planning to attend the vigil, rally, and march in honor of Ramarley Graham, who was murdered by the NYPD in his own home, in front of his grandma and 6-year-old brother in the Bronx. Ramarley’s parents, friends, and allies hold weekly vigils that end in a march to the 47th precinct every Thursday in honor of Ramarley’s life. His parents have been incredibly strong in the face of unimaginable trauma, and they are calling on us to simply bring our presence up to the Bronx to support the effort to hold the NYPD accountable for the murder of their son.
As an LAS Stop Stop + Frisk/union initiative, we are planning to attend the vigils en masse on Thursday, June 28th and on Thursday, July 12th, to join in the struggle to hold the NYPD accountable, to end racist policing, and to support a mourning family as they push forward in their fight for justice for their son. Please join us!!
Thursday, June 28th from 5pm – 9:30/10pm (arrive at any time)
749 E 229th Street, take the 2 train to 225th Street, walk up White Plains Rd and take a right on 229th (you’ll see the home from the corner)
If you have any questions about this initiative, feel free to email me back. If you engage in no other outside-of-work-activism around racist, pre-emptive policing, I can say that supporting the Grahams in their struggle for justice is something you will not regret. The Grahams have consistently simply asked folks to come join us on Thursdays. Your presence will mean the world to the family and community. And let’s show the 47th precinct that they cannot indiscriminately murder children with no response from Legal Aid staff! We hope to see you there on Thursday!!
Peace,
Antonia, Lisa, and Jess
http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2012/6/19/video_police_detained_ramarley_grahams_grandmother_for_hours_after_officer_shot_teen_dead
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From: Gusberg, Jessica
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2012 6:53 PM
To: 1199 Members; ALAA MEMBERS
Subject: Mark Your Calendars!!! June 28th and July 12th: Ramarley Graham Vigils
Hi All,
At the most recent LAS Stop Stop + Frisk Action Coalition Meeting, we voted to support the family of Ramarley Graham (who was murdered by the NYPD in his own home), but attending one (or two!) of the weekly Thursday vigils en masse. Please consider marking the calendar and attending the vigil/rally/march to SUPPORT the family of this young man shot dead at 18 years old by the cops. Let’s come together and show our support for this family and community; let’s stand against violence and police murder. The cop who murdered Ramarley was just indicted and he will be in Bronx court on Wednesday. The Graham family continues their fight for justice — against police violence across this city. Join family, friends, community and allies: THURSDAY, JUNE 28th or THURSDAY, JULY 12th!!!! 749 E 229th Street, Bronx. (2 train to 225th street – walk up White Plains Rd and make a right onto 229th. You’ll see us right there…)
The vigils begin at 5pm, but you can arrive at any time. They usually go until 9:30 or 10pm (but you can leave at any time)… Check out this video (you may see some familiar faces!) to hear from Ramarley’s parents about why they are asking folks from all over New York to come support these vigils, and to get a sense of what it has been like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwY1WC9CYpU&feature=youtu.be
Hope to see everyone on June 28th and/or July 12th!
Jess
P.S. Feel free to write or call (718-250-4286) with any questions or ideas!
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Choose a Date and Bring Your Group to Support the Struggle for Justice for Ramarley Graham
On February 2, 2012 Ramarley Graham was shot to death in front of his grandmother and 6 yr. old brother by the NYPD. The NYPD broke into Ramarley’s house and shot him in the bathroom where he was allegedly flushing a small bag of marijuana down the toilet. The murder of Ramarley Graham is another example of the stop and frisk terror tactics used by the NYPD when dealing with Black and Brown youth in NYC.
Ramarley’s family has responded with dignity and courage. Every Thursday, from 5 pm on there is a vigil in front of the family’s house and then a march to the 47th police precinct. To date the Bx. district attorney has failed to provide any indication that he will indict officer Richard Haste who fired the shot killing Ramarley. Police Commissioner Kelly and Mayor Bloomberg have only said that an investigation will take place, but how many times have we heard that before?
The Ramarley Graham and Trayvon Martin murders are both examples of the racist attitudes in this country, particularly on the part of police and so called community watchmen like George Zimmerman for whom People of Color look suspicious. It will only end when we, the people, stand up and say there can no longer be any killings of our Black and Latino youth by the police and by white supremacists.
Therefore we are calling on all organizations, unions, co-workers, and even family and friends to support the Ramarley family by choosing one or more Thursdays from May 24 through July 19 to attend the vigil and march from 5 to 9 PM starting at 749 east 229th st. At approximately 7 PM the family will be marching to the 47th precinct. Please bring your flags and instruments in a show of unity between the African American and Latino community. The remaining vigil dates are May 24, 31, June 7,14,21,28 & July 5, 12 & 19. Please choose a Thursday and contact José Alfaro from the Latino Coalition for Racial Justice at joalfaro49@aol.com so we can coordinate with other groups.
In Solidarity: Frank V., Ramon S., Esperanza M., Rafael S., & José A.
Jessica Gusberg, LMSW
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