STANDING FOR LIFE
STANDING AGAINST ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE

Statement from the
National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life
  Endorsed by:
Father James E. Goode, OFM, Guardian, St. Clare Friary, President, National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus & National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life
Brother Tyrone A. Davis, CFC, Executive Director, Archdiocese of New York, Office of Black Ministry
Monsignor Wallace A. Harris, Pastor, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church and Regional Vicar, Central Harlem Vicariate
Father Theodore K. Parker, OSC, Pastor, All Saints Catholic Church
Father Ben Taylor, OFM, Director, Project Create
Father Samuel Taylor, Parochial Vicar, Resurrection Catholic Church
Monsignor James E. White, Secretary to John Cardinal O'Connor
Father Joseph Anyimau-Wireko, Association of Ghanaian Catholics

February 16, 1999

On this the 16th day of February we, as Black Catholic Clergy in the Archdiocese of New York voice our collective sorrow at the tragic and merciless death of Amadou Diallo.

Amadou Diallo 22, a west African street vendor, was killed on February 4, 1999 by four plain-clothes police officers as he stood, unarmed, in the entrance of his Bronx apartment building. The four officers who killed Mr. Diallo fired 41 shots between them. Nineteen hit him.

As of today it is not clear what prompted the barrage that killed Amadou Diallo. The question we raise is why? Why did four white police officers fire 41 shots at an unarmed Black man?

Police brutality must cease in our neighborhoods. It is destroying the confidence and respect for law enforcement in the Black community. Over the past five years 85 Blacks and Hispanics have been killed by police officers.

Pope John Paul II during his most recent visit to St. Louis, MO. over and over again called on Americans to respect life. Society has no choice but to "respect, defend and promote the dignity of every human person, at every moment, in every condition" of life. All political institutions, all science and technology, all social institutions, must serve life. Police officers and those responsible for our safety and well being are not exempt.

Today as we voice our sorrow, we also call for a federal investigation into the Amadou Diallo case, as well as police training and firearms policies in the City of New York.

It is our prayer that maybe, by taking this stand for life and an end to all violence, just maybe the manner of law enforcement that ended the life of Amadou Diallo will no longer be tolerated in this city and in the nation.

Ten days ago, we in the African American community of this city gathered at our great St. Patrick's Cathedral to celebrate Black History Month and the 10th Annual National Day of Prayer for the African American Family. In that same spirit of prayer and in the name of Life, we ask all people, especially our African American Families, to pray for the end of every violent act against life and the destruction of the human spirit in the Black community. Enough is enough. No longer can we remain silent as racism, police brutality, and all forms of violence destroy our children, parents and the very heartbeat of our community. We cannot and we will not be silent as hate and the culture of death triumphs.

In the words of our Muslim brothers and sisters and words familiar to our brother Amadou Diallo, "Allahu akbar"- God is great and "Justice, Justice, Justice".