- New York 04/07/2015 by Linda Perry (WBAI News)

Monday evening activists gathered at a peace church on Manhattan's Upper West Side. It was to issue a call to action on April 14, 2015. That's when activists want to send a message that business as usual will stop. The killing of people of color by police will stop.

StopMassIncarceration.net is organizing the action. They are using the social media hashtag #ShutdownA14.

Participants at the packed church were given organizing tools, whistles, palm cards and a copy of a huge poster which was stationed to the side of the podium with photos of black and brown people killed by police.  

"From the youth, coming up in this world, what's the message we are going to send." Activist Noche Diaz told of distressing news from youngsters. "I had a young teenager in Harlem coming up to me and say, 'When they gun me down, I hope my face gets on the poster.'"

Cornell West told the crowd what needs to be done is pressure on the White House, on the Department of Justice and State as well as Local governments. Calling on the spirit of W. E. B. Du Bois, West said April 14th is a call for integrity, honesty, decency, a sense of virtue and to not be afraid.

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