Rev. Al Sharpton Promises Solidarity with Protestors of Deloatch Shooting

Speaking to a spirited crowd of more the 150 people at a New Brunswick church, the Rev. Al Sharpton Thursday night promised to campaign for justice in the shooting death of Barry Deloatch  by city police.

“We will bring all of those we need to bring,’’ Sharpton said from the pulpit as the crowd applauded and rose to its feet. “We are not going to let this go unanswered. New Brunswick needs justice and we will be here.’’

Sharpton also said he would join local efforts to get the United States Attorney’s Office to participate in the probe.

“We will do whatever we need to do to make him review this case,’’ Sharpton said.

Almost two months after Deloatch was killed by city police in an alley off Throop Avenue, Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan continues to investigate the shooting. The incident has spurred a series of protests and exacerbated tensions between the police department and New Brunswick’s black community.

Leaders of the Deloatch protest movements held a “Police Brutality/Street Violence Forum” at Sharon Baptist Church Thursday night featuring more than a dozen speakers, including lawyers, civil rights activists, community organizers, religious leaders and people who lost loved ones to street killings.

Members of Deloatch's family were among those at the event.

Sharpton was the keynote speaker, taking the ride to New Brunswick after he broadcast his MSNBC show in New York earlier in the evening to deliver a 25-minute speech.

“Sometimes we become complacent in the face of what is wrong and in the face of what needs to be challenged,’’ he said.

Sharpton went on to say there was a double standard in law enforcement’s behavior in minority neighborhoods and he challenged those who say the police officers in the incident, Brad Berdel and Daniel Mazan, should receive due process and be considered innocent until proven guilty.

“Why did someone try, convict and execute Deloatch without due process,’’ Sharpton said.

Sharpton also argued that local law enforcement should welcome intervention by the US Attorney. “Why would you fear being held accountable to the law when it’s your job to hold people accountable to the law?’’ he said.

Sharpton also took issue with young blacks who celebrate the street gang mentality. “Crime and thuggery is not black culture,’’ he said. “It is crime and thuggery.’’

He also bemoaned a mentality that derides studious young blacks as “acting white’’ and criticized the rampant use of “the n-word” among blacks.

“What is acting black? Is being inarticulate and stupid acting black?’’ he asked.

“We cannot demand respect from other that we don’t give ourselves,’’ Sharpton said. “We must demand that the New Brunswick police respect us. But we must show them that we respect each other.’’

The forum began with a presentation by attorneys associated with the NAACP who discussed how to behave when stopped by police officers on the street and the pros and cons of filing internal affairs complaints against cops.

For example, it’s a good idea to ask, “Am I under arrest? Am I free to leave?’’ when questioned by a officer, said attorney Chanel Hudson.

That lets the police know they are dealing with someone aware of his or her rights, Hudson said.

Another lawyer, R. Alexandra Larson, warned people in the crowd they could become targeted by police if they file a complaint against a police officer. She urged people to try to have evidence, like a video or audio recording, in seeking charges against an officer.

New Brunswick resident Gina Bowser, whose son, Zakee, was killed in 1997, spoke to the audience about street violence.

“We need to come together in New Brunswick,’’ she said. “We need to take back our streets.’’

She said there was too much violence among black youths.

“We’re killing our own selves,’’ she said. “Years ago, there used to be the Klu Klux Klan. They don’t ever have to march again.’’

Bill Davis, a man with New Brunswick roots who is a leader in the People’s Organization for Progress,  said his daughter had graduated high school with Deloatch’s son. He called the killing an assassination.

“We cannot have the police who are supposed to stop the violence inflict the violence,’’ he said.

Davis said the community should transform Deloatch’s death into a catalysts for change the same way Emmett Till’s murder triggered protest. He said the subsequent Montgomery transit strike by that city’s blacks took 381 days to achieve its goal.

“Maybe we have to go another 381 days for the police to be indicted, tried or kicked off the force,’’ Davis said.

Beverly Marshall of New Brunswick said Deloatch’s killing prompted the formation of the group calling itself” Concerned Residents of New Brunswick.’’

“It should have been done years before,’’ she said.

Marshall said the city needed an active citizenry. “The first thing you have to do is you have to start going to the city council meetings,’’ she said. “You have to register to vote. You have to go to the board of education meetings…You have to help the few who are trying to help the many.’’