The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.63/No.3           January 25, 1999 
 
 
Marchers Protest Police Killing In Pittsburgh  

BY CHRIS REMPLE
PITTSBURGH - Forty-five people braved subzero wind chill temperatures in a January 1 march at noon to protest the police killing of Deron Grimmitt. The marchers were led by Grimmitt's relatives and carried signs demanding "Justice for Deron Grimmitt!" and "No Police Repression!"

Grimmitt was shot in the side of his head by police officer Jeffrey Cooperstein while Grimmitt was allegedly fleeing police. The cops do not even claim that Grimmitt was armed at the time of his death.

Cooperstein is "widely believed to be the `Blue Knight,' who has anonymously posted on the Internet scathing criticisms of McNeilly [the chief of police] and police department policies," according to the Jan. 2, 1999, Pittsburgh Post- Gazette. In the past, the "Blue Knight" web page had posted names and pictures of leaders of the fight for justice for Jonny Gammage in an apparent attempt to intimidate them, according to Pete Shell, a leader of the Campus Coalition for Peace and Justice and a central figure in the Gammage fight.

The protesters marched several blocks to the Second District police station and picketed and rallied there for about 45 minutes. The march was organized by the Black Radical Congress (BRC). Sanjulo Ber, co-convener of the BRC, addressed the rally stating, "No more Black killings, no more police murders. We're sick and tired of no justice." He called for a community tribunal to investigate the killing and try the police officer who shot Grimmitt.

John Grimmitt, brother of the slain man, spoke briefly. He said, "This is bigger than any one of us. We all have to pull together" to win justice. He thanked everyone for coming out.

Claire Cohen of the Citizens for Police Accountability told the crowd, "How many more have to die for justice to be done? We won't take it anymore, not one more killing."

Speaking to this reporter, Cynthia Grimmitt stated, "It doesn't stop with Deron. This fight will go on." John Grimmitt interjected, "Until we see justice has been done for him."

 
 
 
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