FRIDAY APRIL 25
Judge Arthur Cooperman
“The police response with respect to each defendant was not proved to be criminal, i.e. beyond a reasonable doubt. Questions of carelessness and incompetence must be left to other forums.”
“Although there were aspects of defense testimony that were not necessarily credible, the focus must be on the people’s proof to determine whether they have satisfied their burden of proving the defendants guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
“Accordingly, the court finds each defendant not guilty of each of the respective counts in the indictment of which they were charged.”
Reverend Al Sharpton
“What we saw in court today was not a miscarriage of justice. Justice did not miscarry; this was an abortion of justice. Justice was aborted.”
Detective Marc Cooper
“I’d like to say sorry to the Bell family for the tragedy. I’d like to thank the Lord my savior, today started my life back.”
Detective Michael Oliver
“I’d like to just say thank you to all of my family and friends and Mike Paladino and the DEA (Detectives Endowment Association).”
Gescard Isnora
“I would like to thank the Lord Jesus Christ for bringing this road to fruition and my family here. Secondly to the honorable Judge Cooperman for his fair and accurate decision today.”
SATURDAY APRIL 26
Nicole Paultre Bell
“April 25, 2008, they killed Sean all over again. I am still praying for justice, because this is far from over. Every march, every protest, every rally, I’m going to be right up front.”
Al Sharpton
“We strategically know how to stop the city so people stand still and realize that you do not have the right to shoot down unarmed, innocent civilians. This city is going to deal with the blood of Sean Bell.”
SUNDAY APRIL 27
Al Sharpton
“Some in the media seemed disappointed; they wanted us to play into the hoodlum, thug stereotypes. We can be angry without being mad.”
MONDAY, APRIL 28
Nicole Paultre Bell
“When I heard that decision I was devastated. What they are saying is that it was OK for the police to kill Sean. He can say that, but I can’t go home and tell my daughters it’s okay that their daddy’s dead because the cops did it. I cannot tell my daughters that.”
“I accept his [Detective Cooper’s] apology. He looks genuine. Even sitting in court, he really did look like he was sorry for what happened, but unfortunately, it happened. Sad to say that’s the only apology we got.”
Al Sharpton
“We are the shot, not the shooters. We’re just trying to stop the next gun from going off immorally, illegally and unethically.”
