On Monday, August 10th, over one hundred members and supporters of the Philly Coalition for REAL Justice took over Broad Street to demand justice for all victims of police murder. This demonstration in particular was organized to mark the one-year anniversary of Mike Brown’s vicious execution by then Officer Darren Wilson of the Ferguson, Missouri PD.
This action was one in which a decidedly militant tone was adopted by all present. It is clear that the battle-hardened veterans of this struggle in attendance that day had lost all patience. The movement has reached a high stage and the people are ready to fight back.
The march began at roughly 6:30pm at the intersection of Broad and Erie, and swiftly took over all four lanes of traffic while the marchers broke into elevated chants. Gone was the familiar “Hands up, Don’t shoot!”, replaced by “Fists up, Fight Back!” Even further, the people began to roar “Take it to the Streets, and Fuck the police!” It was quite clear that this was not a funeral procession. These people were alive, and fighting for their lives and the lives of all those victimized by the police in the US. There was no compromise on this march and the politics of confrontation were on full display by its participants.
The action came to a close at the intersection of Broad and Cecil B. Moore, where the Temple University is located. The people were quick to point out the seizure of large swaths of this area of North Philly by Temple, along with the displacement of long time residents by the gentrification schemes of the university.
The intersection was held for at least thirty minutes, during which time the names of dozens women murdered by the police were read off in succession. In addition to this, 4.5 minutes of silence were observed to honor the memory of Mike Brown, whose body was maliciously left to rot in the street for 4.5 hours after his execution by then Officer Wilson on August 9th, 2014. Shortly after the people dispersed, though not without leaving an indelible mark in the history of the struggle to disarm, disempower and disband the PPD.
OFF THE PIGS!
BLACK LIBERATION MATTERS!
ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE!
Revolutionary Student Coordinating Committee, PHL 