Sean Bell Protest- NYC Wednesday May 7, 2008

Reverand Al Sharpton's National Action Network planned a series of six "pray-ins" at strategic locations in New York. The images that follow are from the carefully orchestrated demonstration at New York City Police Headquarters, also known as One Police Plaza. On this bright spring day, hundereds of protesters came out in force for a day of civil disobedience. And that's just what it was. Not a brick was thrown, and people actually "signed up" to be arrested. Now that's deep! By the end of the day, over two hundered and twenty people were arrested, all for Sean Bell, an unarmed black man who was shot to death by police on his wedding day.

This was a tough shoot given the large number of protesters and media, but I was proud to be there because after all, I AM SEAN BELL!

Feel free to post your comments about the Sean Bell case or the images. Click on any image for a larger view.

NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE!

Protester shouts at police officer.



Crowd of protesters and media swarm the Reverand AL Sharpton, Nicole Paultre Bell, Sean's fiancee and the Bell family as they walk towards Police Headquarters.


Sean Bell's fiancee, Nicole Paultre Bell. A picture of grace, dignity, and determination.



Shooting victims Trent Benenfield and Joseph Guzman.


We are ALL Sean Bell!


Protesting through music. An impromptu performance which came at a time when tension began building in the crowd.



An artist's rendering of the scene that fateful night of November 25th 2006.









Massive crowd gathers in a show of protest against the Sean Bell verdict.


"This Whole Damn System Is GUILTY!" Protest sign against the backdrop of City Hall.




A single "black power" fist rises from the crowd.



Nicole Paultre Bell's attorney Sanford Rubenstein caught in a moment of exasperation.


Police on the scene.



Police officer warns the protesters blocking the entrance of the Brooklyn Bridge that they are "assembling illegally", and will be arrested.



One of over two hundred protesters who got arrested.



Blocking the entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge, protesters count off from 1 to 50, the number of shots fired at Joseph Guzman, Trent Benenfield, and Sean Bell.


Sean Bell memorialized on a pin worn by a protester.






Nicole Paultre Bell and shooting victim Sean Bell's father, Mr. William Bell.


Bishop Lester Williams was to marry Nicole and Sean on the the day Sean was shot to death by New York City Police officers..


Reverand Al Sharpton, Nicole Paultre Bell and Joseph Guzman.