Mothers of children killed by cops call for closer look at death of Ramarley Graham
In 2012, 18-year-old Ramarley Graham was shot and killed by NYPD officer Richard Haste inside of his home in the Bronx. He was unarmed, and the officer was not indicted.
This past Friday, mothers who lost children to police gathered for a Mother’s Day Rally urging the Justice Department to take a closer look at Graham’s case.
Community organizers said a federal investigation won’t bring Ramarley back, but it will send a clear message. “That the lives of our children, that the lives of black and brown children, are valued,” said Yul-san Liem, co-director of the Justice Committee.
It’s a message that Kadiatou Diallo says must be heard. Her son, Amadou, was shot 19 times in a hail of 41 police bullets while he innocently stood in his Bronx doorway in 1999.
“We need justice, and we want to move forward,” Kadiatou Diallo said. “We want to help contribute to society, to bring positive changes. Not only to bash the NYPD, but to condemn the cops that are doing wrong.”
Along with Ms. Diallo, Iris Baez is a mother in pain for 20 years, but still lends her voice to the issue. Her son, Anthony, died after being put in an illegal chokehold by police officer Francis Livoti, who did serve time, six-and-a-half years. In the Graham case, she said, “We need some investigation, but real investigation. Not a Mickey Mouse investigation.”
Residents are also demanding for the newly appointed NYPD inspector general to look at all of the cases. The inspector general is set to officially start at the end of the month.
Click here to view and sign the petition urging an investigation into Graham’s case.
Sound off below!