Lucy Gellman Photos
The scene outside Varick Church Sunday.
Lucy Gellman Photos
Rev. Morrison.
A violent week in America ended with a message of unity outside one of New Haven’s leading African-American churches: Black lives are an indispensible part of the city’s fabric. So are blue ones. And to prevent any more tragedy, the two need to work together.
Political, religious and police officials delivered that message to hundreds of New Haveners Sunday afternoon at a rally outside Varick Memorial AME Zion Church on Dixwell Avenue.
A week after police violence took the lives of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, and after gun violence left Dallas’ police community reeling from a sniper attack on five officers, the Varick message was clear: Violence from the police, especially when it results in the death of a compliant citizen, is wholly uncalled for. But so is violence against officers who have put on their uniforms to try to enforce the law.
“Repeat after me: Black Lives Matter! Blue Lives Matter! Stand together!” the Rev. Eldren Morrison declared at the beginning of the rally, pumping his fist in the air as he urged the crowd, a mix of Varick parishioners and community leaders, to come closer. Behind him, a lineup that included Mayor Toni Harp, State Sen. Gary Winfield, longtime Jewish community leader Sydney Perry and St. Rose of Lima’s Father Jim Manship, nodded avidly.
“We’ve seen the videos, we’ve seen the news, we’ve seen everything going on,” Morrison continued. “We know that what has happened in other places could happen here, but we’re being proactive and we are standing together. We are standing united. We are saying that we are one.”
Parishioners from St. Rose of Lima joined the Varick crowd.
“This community at one time had the highest rate of crime,” added Dixwell Alder Jeanette Morrison. “At this time, this community has the least crime rate. One of the reasons that this happened is because of community policing … the police officers in District 6, they are not just the police officers, they are a part of our families. When they come out, they talk to us. They make relationships with us. When things happen, they’re able to approach the situation as a family member. If they have to arrest you, they do have to arrest you — but they don’t have to use force. … We have to be an example, New Haven.
“All lives matter. Black lives matter. Blue lives … If we continue to say that and to own it, we will continue to be the great community we are.”
Top black cops told the crowd about how the past week has been particularly difficult and emotionally trying for them, as they live both black and “blue” lives in New Haven.
Brown: Black & blue, and caught in between.
” I grew up here in this city, I still live here in this city, and I get to see the perspective from both roles. ” said Lt. Sam Brown, who also spoke candidly about his anxieties as a black male in and out of uniform at a Friday protest on the Green. “Being an African-American male, which seems to be targeted by some police forces and some people … and also being a law enforcement agent. I feel from both sides. I felt all the tragedy that happened over the past days from both angles. The way to stop it is … keep fostering these relationships.
“I want you to come out. When you see an officer, come up to an officer and say hi to an officer. You have no idea what our day is like. You have no idea how to change our perspective of everything when you speak to us … and when we speak to you as well. Because we’re all human, this is our community. We’re not going anywhere. You’re not going anywhere. We might as well make it work.”
Sgt. Hoyte.
Top Dixwell cop Sgt. Jacqueline “Jackie” Hoyte told the crowd that she has felt the same: “We’re truly sad to see what’s happening in our community with our brothers and sisters, and at the same time we’re truly sad to see what’s happening with our brothers and sisters in blue, because I represent both. It’s a unique thing to experience what’s going on, and I’m saddened and torn at the same time,
“I was born and raised in New Haven and I’m so proud of New Haven … I am part of the community. I take pride in being a true New Havener. And at the same time I’m also proud to wear this badge and represent the New Haven Police Department. So help us help you. Help us protect you … Let’s get together and join forces. We can overcome the tragedy that’s happened in this country.”
Top Newhallville cop Sgt. Shafiq Abdussabur and Yale Police Chief Ronnell Higgins said the tension between police and community members has been especially hard for them to watch.
Abdussabur.
“If anybody in the audience or anybody in America thinks that a police officer puts on this uniform, leaves their family, leaves their wives, their kids, not knowing they’re going to return home at the end of the day, and they walk out the door with the intention that they are going to kill a black man — if anybody out there believes that, then you’ve lost your mind,” said Abdussabur.
“That is not the mindset. But when it happens, not only as a community, it affects you — it affects us as officers. We’re sad. We’re hurt. We’re upset. We’re scared. Because we don’t have a choice to come to work. We gotta show up. We have to show up. There’s no sick day for us right now. So we’re asking you … We are gonna get the job done, and we must be mindful in New Haven.
“This is not Minnesota. This is not Ferguson. This is not none of your police departments. This is the New Haven Police Department. We do not shoot unarmed black men in this city. We have not shot unarmed black men in this city. We do not beat to death black men in this city. We work with the community.:
Abdussabur said the cops “know people are upset. We’re upset. We all are grieving. But nothing is accomplished in America through violence, murder and mayhem. Nothing. I … understand that black lives matter, but we must remember one thing. What we do in this life matters in the next life. So let’s just make sure that the actions that we’re doing today will benefit us in the next.”
Chief Avoids BLM Photo
Catherine John Photo
John and Esserman. minus the sign.
While standing together across racial and professional lines remained the afternoon’s cri de cœur, the sentiment did not extend to post-rally photo opportunities, leaving at least one community member with mixed emotions about the New Haven Police Department and its current leadership.
Rally-goers were propelled inside Varick’s cozy Family Life Center by an afternoon downpour toward the end of the event. There, New Havener Catherine John asked Police Chief Dean Esserman to pose with her for a quick cell phone photo — that would no doubt make its way onto Facebook, Instagram, and perhaps Twitter — on his way out. Esserman obliged, joking that he’d try to “suck it in.”
“Let’s hold this,” said John, motioning to a “Black Lives Matter” sign she’d maintained a firm grip on during the rally.
“No, I think it should just be us,” said Esserman.
“I’‘d like the sign,” said John. “Let’s have it …”
“Nah, let’s just do it like this,” Esserman said, smiling as he tossed his right arm around her shoulder.
John protested one more time. The sign remained on the nearly table. She and Esserman smiled for the quick flash of two cell phone pictures. Then he was gone, and she picked the sign back up.
They Stand With BLM
Mashaw.
A smaller group turned out earlier Sunday to the corner of Church and Chapel streets for a “Rally to End Police Brutality!”
The event drew around 30 people.
“I know how important it is for white folks to talk to other white folks,” said event organizer Sam Mashaw. “To not stand for this. I do believe that white silence is violence, and it seemed important to me that there be … that the burden of standing against this, and speaking against this, not fall squarely on the black community.”
For three young protesters of color who had come to listen to what Mashaw and others had to say, those words were welcome in a week that has been emotionally exhausting.
“What brings me out here today is the injustice I see going on with … not all police, but certain police,” said 24-year-old Shannara Hanna. “There’s a lot of brutality going on that’s unjustified — it’s not being spoken upon and it’s not being dealt with in a positive way … It’s become a huge problem to us citizens. It’s a travesty, really.”
“The unity out here, I think it’s amazing,” she continued. “I like that it’s different people, it’s not just all black people, or all white people, or all Hispanic people. It’s like a very diverse group of people to protest the same thing and bring attention to the same issue.”
“It [police brutality] can happen anywhere,” agreed a 20-year-old who asked to be addressed only by his first name, Kevin. “I feel like the police use their badge to make theirselves look better than they are. They’re here to protect and serve, but all they do is make us feel like sheep being wrangled. I should never have to look over my shoulder and wonder if I’m going to get shot by a police officer. I’m so glad that people can get together and have a peaceful protest without causing a riot and making a big scene.”
Thank you for the positive message all.