A long-time civil rights and people’s attorney, Michael Tarif Warren, and his partner Evelyn Warren, also a lawyer, were beaten and arrested by police on June 21 in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Warrens, who are both Black, were held for several hours at the 77th Precinct before being released.
 Michael Tarif Warren addresses crowd outside Brooklyn’s 77th Precint at June 23 protest rally. WW photos: Arturo J. Pérez-Saad |
Their statement to the press on being released later that evening, following a long ordeal and after both having been attacked by a cop, was: “What we experienced tonight happens every day in our communities. What happened to me was the result of doing what is right—speaking out against wrongdoing.”
The doing “what is right” was to observe and try to offer assistance to a young Black man who had been chased by cops. After having caught the young man, they began kicking him while he had his hands behind his back and was on the ground.
 Larry Holmes at June 23 protest. |
The following are excerpts from an article entitled “NYPD Brutalize Human Rights Attorney” written by Amadi Ajamu, an organizer with the December 12th Movement:
“Warren, a high profile attorney who has been practicing law for 28 years, said, ‘We saw a young kid being chased by a horde of policemen across a McDonald’s parking lot. They tackled him and immediately put handcuffs on him. Then Sergeant Talvy, who appeared to be in charge, began kicking him in the head and ribs, and stomping him on the neck.’ The other police officers followed suit. ‘They literally gave this kid a beating which was unconscionable.’
 Charles Barron at June 23 protest. |
“‘Not only as people of conscience and moral decency, but as lawyers, we said this is outrageous.’ They arrived and stood ‘more than 10 feet away,’ he said. Mr. Warren told Sergeant Talvy they were lawyers, and told him to stop and just take the young man to the precinct. In response, he said, ‘Talvy shouted, ‘I don’t give a f**k who you are, get the f**k back in your car!’
“They returned to their car, and Mr. Warren began to write down the license plate numbers of the police vehicles as they watched them put the bleeding young man in a car. ‘Then Talvy comes to my car and viciously attacks me, repeatedly punching me through the window. Shouting, “Get out of the car!” he dragged me out of the car, ripping my shirt and pants. My wife, very upset, asked him, “Why are you doing this?” He then punched her in the face.’ Both were arrested and taken to the 77th precinct charged with obstruction, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.
“Michael Tarif Warren has handled many police misconduct cases in the black community, including the shocking police murder of graffiti artist Michael Stewart, and Yvonne Smallwood, who was beaten to death by police in the Bronx. He also handled the case exonerating the five young black teenagers falsely convicted of raping the white bank executive ‘Central Park Jogger.’”
Perhaps the cops didn’t know who they were attacking, maybe they did. It is entirely possible, though, that the cops thought the two were a “regular” Black couple and that, like countless other times that play out in every city around this country, they would simply get away with it.
The community might hear or read of the incident, and then again, they might not. There could be a press conference, a few rallies, outrage, marches calling for justice, but at the end of the day, just as many times before, the police chief, mayor and the corporate media outlets would speak of the difficulty of police work.
There would be no suspension, no dock in pay, no firings and cops still celebrated as heroes in popular media.
This time, though, the cops picked on two Freedom Fighters, two well-known heroes and supporters of liberation struggles around the world. This time the cops attacked people who not only have the know-how and determination to fight back, but also the popular support that comes with having been in the struggle for years and with being loved for their work, compassion and humble demeanor.
There is no greater evidence of those assets than what happened the night of their detainment.
It undoubtedly goes without utterance or written word that no cop at the 77th Precinct expected that there would be a minor rebellion, albeit a peaceful one. But that is what happened in the late evening of June 21.
As soon as word got out about the Warrens’ arrests, the call was sent out by e-mail, WBAI-FM public radio and by phone to gather at the 77th Precinct where they were being held. In just a couple of hours, the precinct was packed with political and community leaders and activists, including this writer.
Those who immediately came to the precinct were Brooklyn-based city council member Charles Barron; the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement; the December 12th Movement; FIERCE!; CAAAV; WBAI, which broadcast the incident on the airwaves; the Jericho Movement; the Safiya/Nuh Foundation; CEMOTAP, the Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition; representatives from the Muslim and Haitian communities; the International Action Center; Workers World Party; and other organizations and concerned individuals.
There was barely room to move and still more people waited in the stairwell and outside in the rain. When one cop asked if the people could make room, someone in the crowd retorted, “As soon as you let Michael and Evelyn go, we’ll give you all the room you want.”
Because of the mass of people, there was nothing the cops could do, not even when the cop who attacked Michael Tarif and Evelyn Warren was pointed out, and not even when shouts of “Michael Warren/Freedom Fighter,” resounded.
Those gathered along with the leadership, from Viola Plummer of the December 12th Movement to Charles Barron, had already decided that the night could not end without the freedom of Michael and Evelyn.
Darkness would have passed into day as nature goes unimpeded, but the masses gathered seemed to have made up their mind.
Eventually, after the summoning of the borough chief and deputy chief, before midnight, Michael and Evelyn walked out of the precinct, surrounded by throngs of supporters who chanted loudly.
Michael Warren’s clothes were torn and both had scrapes and looked tired, but were surprised and glad to see so many admirers. After giving a statement, they got in their vehicle, flanked by supporters, and drove away. From there the people marched and chanted. The cops looked on, helpless. People from the neighborhood looked out their windows, seeming to revel in the victory, though maybe not even aware of what transpired.
Another anti-police-brutality rally took place at the precinct on June 24.
This battle is not yet over, however. Michael Tarif Warren and Evelyn Warren have a court date on July 25 in Brooklyn to respond to desk appearance tickets. Supporters are asking that the courtroom be packed to show the city that justice is demanded, that the charges be dropped and once again, the cops have to be put on trial for their brutality.
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charles barron is a cop hating, race baiting, throw back revolutionary wanna-be whose racist politics and social attitudes benefit nobody but himself. Michael and Evelyn Warrens' experience may have been real, as they've described it, but their apparent associations with Barron might prompt one to call into question the legitimacy of their claims. Birds of a feather...
ReplyDeleteReasons to hate cops abound, particularly since our pop culture of the last twenty years has canonized them and put their actions (falsely) above reproach. Abuse runs rampant in many police jurisdictions across our nation and one need only to look at a daily paper for evidence of this fact. Much of this abuse runs toward the racist end of the law-enforcement spectrum.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your comment and wonder if you could provide some evidence of serial race-baiting and cop-hating to bolster your claims.
I find more reasons to respect cops than I do to hate them. I think that lumping all cops into one ball and saying that reasons to hate them abound is rooted in the same logic that might prompt one with racial issues to say that reasons to hate black folks abound. It's simply not true and it's dangerous. But you need only to open a daily newspaper for evidence of the fact that there are very real issues of violence taking place in our neighborhoods, in my neighborhood, perpetrated, not by cops, but by our young black men. Cops are being shot at and, in some cases killed, on an almost daily basis, yet there are no circus-like boycotts or protests staged by the police department. They continue to serve. I don't think society holds cops above reproach; those who walk on the wild side are being called to account for their actions in the courts. Barron, however, has indicted the entire police department and all his little lambs, many of whom fly their gang colors at the Barron rallies, readily absorb his hateful vitriol. Dangerous for the cops as well as those young men. The whole Barron/Plummer/Sonny Carson issue is embarrassing. I haven't heard much from Al Vann since his proposal to rename that section of Gates was shot down, but Plummer's behavior was hardly appropriate anywbere, no less a city council meeting. Yelling "cracker" at each white member of the council that dissented on the vote is nothing short of racist. And Barron's subsequent public support of Plummer and her comments stinks. Such behavior by Barron's white counterparts on the council would have been called out for what it was immediately - racist. As if she hadn't said enough, Plummer then felt it appropriate to call for the assassination of Comrie because he abstained on the vote. I know, I know...she later explained that she meant an assassination of his political career. That's not what she said, however. Still, Barron supports rather than admonishes her. Assuming that Plummer did mean an assassination of Comrie's political career (again, yeah right), why would she wish to end the political career of a black councilman who has served his black constituency well? Simple. Because she can't see past the tip of her black nose. For what it's worth, I live in the area where it was proposed that Gates be renamed and most are not in favor of the renaming. Sonny Carson was a divisive and caustic figure and most recognize that. The consensus amongst my neighbors is that we have so many others in our community, past and present, that are more worthy of having a street named after them than Sonny Carson. I believe Barron so emphatically supported the Vann proposal because he knew that it wouldn't pass the council vote and he would have yet another issue with which to stir up racist sentiments among his flock. Barron is an intelligent man with alot to offer the community, but unfortunately he hasn't graduated from the get "whitey" attitudes of his Black Panther days and therefore will render himself politcally irrelevant in New York. He will not be getting my vote for BBP.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's some reply! Let me just say that it is obvious that you take issue with the incident reported on in this individual post, but please be advised that I have posted many articles and opinion pieces regarding police abuse over the years. While I agree that not all cops are bad, the onus of proof is on the individual officer, due to the basic facts that they grew up wanting to enforce private property laws, which are the majority of laws written. Then they are given guns and other lethal weapons with the admonition to not use undue force, and are protected by laws of "special circumstance". He is a tool of the state by strict definition and as such worthy of great distrust.
ReplyDeleteYou also mention the violence done in your community by "young black men", that Plummer "can't see past the tip of her black nose", and talk of Sonny Carson being a divisive and caustic figure (granted, but that doesn't make him less of a hero - Andrew Jackson, Theodore Roosevelt, etc, were considered divisive and caustic in their time), among other seemingly race-based diatribes - and then you accuse Barron and his counterparts on the council of racism.
The roots of this problem run deep. Racism is still embedded into the fabric of society, like a stain. It is institutionalized in our economy in the areas of housing, employment and higher education, among many others. It can be readily seen in the disproportionate incarceration of black men in our penal institutions. It is evident in your reply. We are not past it by a long shot. As a melanin-deficient man, I feel that any benefit afforded to me due to that fact (consciously or not - directly or indirectly) takes away from someone who, through purely biological speculation, was born with a different skin-tone.
Again, thank you for your commentary. I sincerely hope you don't take offense, as I meant this to be only the discussion of individual opinion. Yours is just as valid as mine, but most never seem to see it that way.
I take no offense, nor did I intend any. I really take no issue with the incident reported in your post. If it happened as the Warrens reported it, someone should suffer the consequences. I was simply suggesting that their association with Barron and his public support of them casts some doubt as to the complete accuracy of their story. Andrew Jackson served in the 1820's and is as much a hero of mine as Barron is. Take down every Jackson St. sign in America. I am not "melanin deficient". My family is not melanin deficient. And I'm sorry that you feel my comment was a "race based diatribe". Just calling it the way I see it, but I think you missed my point regarding the tip of Ms. Plummers nose. She seems to see all things in black and white. And if you don't agree with her position you are either racist or an Uncle Tom, e.g. Ms. Quinn and Mr. Comrie. I realize that my opinion is just that, an opinion, and I respect yours as much as my own, even if I don't necessarily agree. I do think it's a shame, however, that you consider my opinion racist because I've stated that the violence being perpetrated in my neigborhood is at the hands of "young black men" or becuase Sonny Carson was divisive. That's racist? It's truth. And I don't wish for my son to grow up with people excusing his thuggery because he's supposed to be some sort of victim.
ReplyDeleteYou know, my blog is read mainly by my friends and family, and about 50% of them are sick and tired of my opinions and constant email links. It is refreshing to have someone intelligent reply to my posts, even if that person doesn't quite agree with my perspective. I live on the left coast, in California, and you live in the east. I was born near you in Paterson, NJ and lived in Butler, NJ until I was 14, when my family moved to Cranston, RI. I lived there until I was 17, when I moved to CA. I can appreciate your views, even if I don't quite agree with them, since I grew up with them. I harbor no ill will toward you or your views, in fact, I respect them , if purely for oppositional value.
ReplyDeleteThank you again for your comments. I hope you will visit my blog occasionaly in the future.