hundreds participate in New Jersey rally
Irvington, NJ
Cinco de Mayo in New Jersey was also spent protesting. About 200 people protestors staged a peaceful rally to protest the killing of an unarmed black motorist by a white police officer.
Rev. Al Sharpton led a march through the city streets to the steps of ploice headquarters where he led the crowd in chants of "no justice, no peace." The New York-based activist said, "We are not anti-poice. We are anti-police brutality."
Authorities said that officer William Mildon fired his weapon at Bilal Colbert, 29, on April 30, after Colbert refused to get out of his car and shifted into reverse, striking the officer's leg with his car door. A grand jury will review the shooting in the community on the west side of Newark. Police had issued a warrant 2 weeks earlier after a similar incident involving Colbert and another officer.
On May 9, 1997, Officer Mildon fatally shot another black motorist. Police said that Keion Williams, who would have turned 28 this year, tried to flee a traffic stop and "dragged" Mildon, breaking his leg.
Bilal Colbert was taking his girlfriend's daughters to school when he was shot. One girl had gone into a store to get some snacks, but the other girl was in the car at the time of the shooting. Colbert's brother Willie Humbert, who was present at the weekend rally, spoke against the circumstances of the killing, stating, "They killed him right in front of his kids."
back
