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Vol. 81/No. 38 October 16, 2017
Protest marks 5 years since cops killed Mohamed Bah
BY STEVE CLARK
NEW YORK — Some 75 people gathered in Harlem Sept. 25 to mark the fifth
anniversary of the cop killing of Mohamed Bah and protest the Aug. 22
announcement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office that the federal government
will not indict the police officers who broke down his apartment door
and killed him. A New York grand jury rejected indictments in November
2013. Participants marched from the building where Bah was shot to the
state office building several blocks away.
Family members of 16 victims of police killings and frame-ups came from
around the country to stand with Hawa Bah. Others included Kadiatou
Diallo, whose son was killed in a hail of gunfire by New York cops in
1999, and Rhonda Dormeus, whose daughter Korryn Gaines was killed and
five-year-old grandson Kodi wounded in a shooting by Baltimore County
police in their apartment in August 2016.
In September 2012, Hawa Bah, from Guinea, West Africa, was visiting her
son, a student and taxi driver, and found him suffering from depression.
She called 911 for an ambulance and waited downstairs for medical
workers to arrive. Instead, five heavily armed cops appeared, pushed
past her, went to Bah’s apartment and shot him dead.
Police spokespeople initially said Mohamed Bah had slashed at two
officers with a 13-inch knife, prompting detective Edwin Mateo to yell,
“He’s stabbing me, shoot him.” But Mateo later said he was actually hit
by a police Taser — information kept from Hawa Bah and her attorneys.
Mateo has admitted in civil court proceedings that Mohamed Bah did not
stab him.
Attorney Debra Cohen, who spoke at the Harlem action, told the Militant
that the trial of a federal civil lawsuit filed by Hawa Bah against the
city will begin Nov. 1. Supporters are encouraged to attend the opening
of the trial at the U.S. Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, at 9 a.m.
Related articles:
Thousands protest ‘anti-drug’ killing by cops in Philippines
Workers, students discuss deepening social crisis
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