The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.61/No.7           February 17, 1997 
 
 
Protest Demand Justice In N.Y. Police Brutality Cases  

BY JASON CORLEY
NEW YORK - Hundreds of people have joined in recent actions here protesting incidents of police brutality. About 150 people gathered January 13 at the home of David Munoz and Lilian Flores, in the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn, to protest the police killing of the couple's 15- year-old son Frankie Arzuaga a year earlier.

According to the parents, on Jan. 12, 1996, Arzuaga and two friends were in a car that was approached by three undercover police. The driver had just stopped for a red light. According to witnesses, one of the cops, James Hand, fired in the back windshield of the car, killing Arzuaga. Only after the shooting, did the three identify themselves as police officers, according to the other two occupants and other witnesses.

Recently a grand jury decided not to indict Hand. The family says they will continue to fight for charges against the cop. The rally and march consisted of mostly youth. A number of members of Parents Against Police Brutality spoke, as well as others including David Munoz; Alta Gracia Mayi, mother of Manual Mayi, a 19-year-old student killed by a racist gang in March 1991; and Margarita Rosario, whose son was killed by cops.

On January 20, 100 people participated in a rally and march to commemorate 18-year-old Anthony Rosario and his 21- year-old cousin Hilton Vega, who were killed by cops in the Bronx on December 12, 1995. Margarita Rosario, Anthony's mother, opened the rally in front of her home, which is painted with portraits of the victims and lists the names of many victims of police brutality. "We founded Parents Against Police Brutality to see that justice is done," said Rosario. "It's been two years since my son was killed and nothing has been done." Several other relatives of people killed by the cops also spoke.

Two days later, 100 people held a march and rally in Brooklyn to protest the murder of Anibal Carrasquillo by New York police officer Marco Calderone. No charges have been brought against Calderone, who shot Carrasquillo in the back while his hands were in the air two years ago.  
 
 
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