Action For Akai Gurley

On November 20, 2015 what was around 300+ people were gathered at the 2724 Linden St. Section 8 housing to speak, march and remember Akai Gurley. A year ago that day he was shot to death by a NYPD officer patrolling his section 8 housing. Officers go around patrolling section 8 housing, criminalizing those of low income. It sickens me because once again we have a cop shooting out of "fear for their life". Akai would of been the same age as my brother; it's hard to imagine how this has affected his family, losing someone so unexpectedly- so wrongfully.

Though the thought of his death brings sadness, it also keeps the fight alive. For his death also reveals a truth about Section 8 housing. The conditions of the housing on Linden St. is heart breaking. Knowing folks in the community are subject to living in buildings with mold, low maintenance and hazardous unfinished construction for years on end is very disturbing. The way Section 8 housing is constructed, just the structure in itself, mimics prison culture. One has to ask their self why it is so? Why does society criminalize low income communities members? Why do they violate there privacy? Why do they devalue their lives? These are things I'm challenged to question while being angry enough to fight. I've got to fight for Akai; his family definitely does. We as the Brooklyn community must fight so the NYPD learns they cannot continue to patrol, violate and kill our people. This year anniversary of Aka Gurley's death proves that is exactly what folks are doing. He continues to live on as others fight in his name.

 

 

A young woman did a great job organizing and speaking at the march. Shut It Down NY also did a great job of fact checking Akai's story. Though it was painful reading them aloud, it was empowering calling out Officer Lang and his wrongdoings. As we marched through and around that section 8 housing we showed that Brooklyn neighborhood that we haven't forgotten about Akai Gurley. We want to shut down the constant violation of human rights that the police put citizens through. We reinforced that black lives matter and that all lives will matter once black lives matter. His case continues and we will fight until it's won.