Rise Up October, a group composed of mothers from across the country, who have lost loved ones to police brutality and violence, gathered at the DOJ Nov. 10 to announce a new foundation committed to the pursuit of justice for victims of police brutality, death and violence.
A group of community and civic activists committed to bringing justice to Black people murdered by police officers and other criminals convened in front of the U.S. Department of Justice recently to announce a foundation that will pursue justice for those aggrieved.
The foundation is “Every Case Matters for All Families” and it is designed to help and assist families that are dealing with gun violence and police brutality. Ishtyme Robinson, the group organizer, said at a rally that took place at the Justice Department on Nov. 5 that the time is right for unity among the families.
“Together, we will get our voices heard that we will no longer tolerate the slaughter of Black and Brown lives in North America by members of law enforcement,” Robinson said. “This genocide assault on our young people will be confronted with demands for justice for all families of lost loves ones. Now is the time to band together in this organized fight among so many for justice.”
Leaders from such organizations as A Mother’s Cry for Justice, Mothers against Corruption, Youth USA, Youth Taskforce, and Unchained attended the rally. Ayo Handy-Kendi, the founder of Black Love Day, is also a supporter of Rise Up October, a mass demonstration to protest police brutality in the U.S.
“When a family member dies because of gun violence, the whole family suffers,” HandyKendi said. “The concerns of the family never get addressed and redress from the police and government officials doesn’t take place.”
Handy-Kendi lost a son, Rashid Handy in 1993 to Black-on-Black violence but said that the District police department did little to help her get justice on his behalf. She believes that with a foundation like Rise Up October, affected families will get moral and other type of support.
“We must come together,” she said. “We cannot work in isolation.”
jwright@afro.com