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Black Lives Matter: "Awareness Has Been Raised; However, That Doesn't Really Translate Into Action"

WAER

Black Lives Matter says recent incidents involving police and Syracuse residents show there is still progress to be made with equality in the justice system. The group protested alleged police brutality today outside the city’s federal building. They’re calling for justice for last year’s Father’s Day shooting and an alleged rape by a police officer.

Organizer Herve Comeau believes the shooting of Terry Maddox connects Syracuse with the cases of police violence nationally.

“I do think that was an example of police racism," Comeau said. "I think so often we hear the narrative of ‘he was reaching for his belt.’ I think, more often than not, when we have videos, we see that this account is not true.”

Herve Comeau talks about the significance of the Terry Maddox shooting in the realization of the need for political action on police violence around the country.

Comeau says a gun was never found on Maddox’s body, but a grand jury found the officer acted responsibly in shooting an armed suspect.

He believes the movement’s continued notice has improved awareness and passion for the fight against police violence.

“I think the greatest progress we’re making is community cohesion. Our community is coming together. We’re supporting each other," Comeau said.  "The truth is that we don’t have that much agency, so even though we’re more solidified than ever, it doesn’t translate into political power yet, so it can’t just be us. We need all of Syracuse."

Despite this cohesion, Comeau says the area has not seen significant change on the issues. He believes this is especially prominent in the statewide issue of prosecuting 16 and 17-year-olds as adults.

“I think awareness has been raised; however, that doesn’t really translate into action," Comeau said. "We see this now with DA Fitzpatrick fighting for his right to charge 16-year-olds as adults. The awareness is there, but I think more and more white allies are aware of what’s going on, and we need to translate that into people power; into actual action.”

Organizer Rahzie Seals is the daughter of a Syracuse police officer. She says “Black Lives Matter” is just seeking justice for the people in Syracuse.

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Rahzie Seals, organizer of the rally and daughter of a Syracuse police officer, talks about how different areas of justice can affect the progress of the movement.

“If you look on the website for the movement for black lives, they have a platform there, which talks about political justice, social justice, economic justice," Seals said. "It’s a whole platform there that pretty much plans out what we should do to make everything better.”  

The Syracuse organizers are especially concerned with the treatment of kids in schools and the school to prison pipeline.

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Protesters at the Federal Building in Syracuse recount local cases they say show that more awareness needs to be raised about racist police practices.