Trial Postponed for "Noche" Diaz
Translated from El Diario, July 28, 2012
Around 30 people congregated yesterday in the court in the Bronx to show their support for the well-known activist "Noche" Diaz who appeared before the judge after being arrested in March just for being a witness of how the police beat a Black individual, according to his version.
Diaz has been arrested a total of 5 times since October, always in similar circumstances in which he tried to observe and protest against what he condieres iligitmate actions of the the NYPD. He has also organized a large part of the demonstrations in Harlem against "Stop and Frisk" by the police.
He faces charges of disorderly conduct and after a short appearance before the judge, his case was postponed until October 2.
"It's a victory for us, because we needed more time to prepare my defense" said Diaz. "I want to thank everyone for their support. When I went into the court I felt like all the people who fight for human rights and for freedom of speech were in there with me."
According to Diaz' version, on March 13 he was walking by the intersection of Westchester and Boynton, in the Bronx, when he saw the police drag out of his car and repeatedly beat the African-American Jeffeth James. He and several other witnesses gathered around and started to film the scene with their cellular phones and some began to protest, which is what led to the agents detaining Diaz and another 2 people.
"If we hadn't been there, they could have killed him," assured Diaz. "It could have become another case like Amadou Diallo or Malcolm Ferguson, two unarmed African-Americans who were shot down in that same area."
The activist and the organization that he helped found, Stop Mass Incarceration Network, said that they plan to continue the struggle against "Stop and Frisk".
"Truth is on the side of those that protest like Noche, not the authorities who put hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers in danger with their illegal and racist practices," stated Jamel Mims, representative of the organization.
Around 30 people congregated yesterday in the court in the Bronx to show their support for the well-known activist "Noche" Diaz who appeared before the judge after being arrested in March just for being a witness of how the police beat a Black individual, according to his version.
Diaz has been arrested a total of 5 times since October, always in similar circumstances in which he tried to observe and protest against what he condieres iligitmate actions of the the NYPD. He has also organized a large part of the demonstrations in Harlem against "Stop and Frisk" by the police.
He faces charges of disorderly conduct and after a short appearance before the judge, his case was postponed until October 2.
"It's a victory for us, because we needed more time to prepare my defense" said Diaz. "I want to thank everyone for their support. When I went into the court I felt like all the people who fight for human rights and for freedom of speech were in there with me."
According to Diaz' version, on March 13 he was walking by the intersection of Westchester and Boynton, in the Bronx, when he saw the police drag out of his car and repeatedly beat the African-American Jeffeth James. He and several other witnesses gathered around and started to film the scene with their cellular phones and some began to protest, which is what led to the agents detaining Diaz and another 2 people.
"If we hadn't been there, they could have killed him," assured Diaz. "It could have become another case like Amadou Diallo or Malcolm Ferguson, two unarmed African-Americans who were shot down in that same area."
The activist and the organization that he helped found, Stop Mass Incarceration Network, said that they plan to continue the struggle against "Stop and Frisk".
"Truth is on the side of those that protest like Noche, not the authorities who put hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers in danger with their illegal and racist practices," stated Jamel Mims, representative of the organization.
