Days after a Queens judge declared three detectives not guilty on all counts in the shooting death of Sean Bell, massive, non-violent protests are in the works as Bell supporters continue to ask the federal government to intervene and bring a civil rights case against the detectives.
Reverend Al Sharpton met with community leaders on Tuesday night, April 29 to begin plans for extensive acts of civil disobedience that would take place throughout the next 10 days.
After a seven-week trial, Justice Arthur Cooperman delivered the not guilty verdict shortly after 9 a.m. on Friday, April 25, clearing Detectives Michael Oliver, Gescard F. Isnora and Marc Cooper on all charges for their roles in Bell’s death sending both sides of the courtroom into tears.
On the right side of the Kew Gardens courtroom, family and friends of Bell, including his fianc/e Nicole Paultre Bell, sobbed tears of sadness and anger while rushing out of the room, clearly disheartened and disappointed by Cooperman’s verdict.
On the left side, Oliver, the detective who fired 31 times including the shot that ultimately killed Bell, buried his head in his hands weeping tears of joy and expressing relief before he hugged his attorney and quickly exited the room.
“The police response with respect to each defendant was not proved to be criminal, i.e. beyond a reasonable doubt,” Cooperman said while delivering the verdict. “Questions of carelessness and incompetence must be left to other forums.”
Police detectives taking part in an undercover operation fired 50 shots and killed Bell outside the Kalua nightclub in Jamaica in November of 2006 - the night before Bell’s wedding day.
During the trial, prosecutors called 50 witnesses including Trent Benefield and Joseph Guzman, who were also shot that night, hoping to portray the officers as reckless with their shootings.
However, defense attorneys ultimately poked holes in Benefield’s and Guzman’s testimony saying that the officers believed that one of the men at the club might have been carrying a gun.
“The court has found that the incident lasted just seconds,” Cooperman said. “The officers responded to perceived criminal conduct; the unfortunate consequences of their conduct were tragic.”
During the reading of the verdict, Cooperman made multiple references to the lack of credibility from some witnesses, and he said some testimony did not make sense.
Meanwhile, as word of the news quickly spread to the crowd gathered outside the courtroom, angry community members rallied in the street shouting “murderers” and “no justice no peace,”
“This system stinks, black people better protect themselves by any means necessary” said City Councilmember Charles Baron, who represents Brooklyn. This judge told us that we haven’t gotten any further than Dred Scott.”
Although the Bell family and a majority of their supporters continue to call for peace, some community members outside the courthouse said marching and praying were not enough now.
“We’re going to tear this city up,” said Calvin Hunt, who was wearing a Sean Bell shirt and had been coming to the trial frequently since its beginning. “The cops got away with murder.”
Other supporters outside the courthouse including Peggy Morris, who traveled from Jamaica to the courthouse to hear the verdict were more subdued, but equally disappointed.
“Before being angry I am hurt that somebody lost their kid,” Morris said. “I know not guilty shouldn’t have been the verdict.”
Shortly after the judge announced his decision, Sharpton called it an abortion of justice while Detective Endowment Association (DEA) President Michael Palladino stood with the exonerated officers and praised Cooperman’s verdict calling it just and courageous.
“Let me tell you how I spell relief,” he said. “I spell it N-O-T G-U-I-L-T-Y.”
Although Paultre Bell and Sean Bell’s parents - William and Valerie - did not address the public immediately following the judge’s decision, the three spoke at a rally organized by Sharpton in Harlem on Saturday, April 26 vowing to continue their fight for justice.
In addition, Sharpton met with local and federal legislators, including John Conyers, who chairs the powerful Judiciary Committee in the House of Representatives, to discuss the possibility of a federal investigation into whether these detectives violated the civil rights of Bell, Guzman and Benefield.
Meanwhile, the three detectives who were acquitted on all charges, they have all been relegated to desk duty in the detective bureaus with Oliver in Manhattan, Cooper in the Bronx and Isnora in Brooklyn, as the prospects of a federal probe and disciplinary action from the NYPD hang over their head.
‘NOT GUILTY’ Bell Protests & Plans
By Pete Davis
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