A Black Lives Matter rally was held on Monday, July 6, in the Morris Park section of the Bronx in tribute to 23-year-old Elijah McClain who died on August 30, 2019, in Aurora, Colorado following a period during which he was held in police custody. According to The Cut, McClain’s family maintain that law enforcement’s use of excessive force led to his death.

 

#ElijahMcClain should still be here. Elijah was just 23-year-old when he was murdered by 3 white police officers — it's been almost a year and we have yet to see the officers charged.

Make a call to AG @pweiser at +1 844-276-7927 to demand #JusticeforElijah. pic.twitter.com/gU344N1th2

— ColorOfChange (@ColorOfChange) July 11, 2020

 

The officers involved were subsequently cleared of wrongdoing, apparently on the basis of body-camera footage, and an allegedly inconclusive autopsy. The case received renewed attention in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, and other African Americans killed while in police custody. One Aurora City Council Committee is now pushing forward for an independent investigation into his death.

 

 

McClain, who was known to be a gentle person who played the violin, was sobbing and clearly in distress at the time of his arrest after police put him in a chokehold, according to The Independent. Among his last words were, “I can’t breathe correctly”, echoing those of George Floyd.

 

At a recent memorial service for McClain in Colorado, a number of supporters organized a peaceful, outdoor violin recital. However, during the gathering, some were tear-gassed by police. The police reaction sparked more outrage across the country, and a number of protests were held across the country in memory of McClain, including in the Bronx. McClain was not armed, and had not committed any kind of crime at the time of his arrest. He was simply walking home from a nearby store.

 

BLM protesting the pro cop rally from a week ago today in Morris park pic.twitter.com/8ipqiIJEK4

— John Amanini (@JohnAmanini) July 7, 2020

 

Pix 11 News spoke to some of the protestors in Morris Park on the night of the rally. Carline Pinto of NYC Action Live, Inc. explained why it was important to participate. “It’s about young men like Elijah McClain who are walking home in their communities, who are not a threat, who are different and unique, and he was brutally beaten by the police,” she said. “Had he not had an encounter with police that evening, that young man would still be alive.”

 

Tyler Holmes, a Black Lives Matter protestor, was also in attendance and spoke to Pix 11 News. “We are not against other people’s lives,” he said. “We are here for our own, and helping and making sure Black people can walk down the street, and be safe, making sure that Black people can reach out for help and not expect someone killing them in reaction.”

 

Less than a week earlier, on June 30, a pro-NYPD rally had taken place in Morris Park. A poster circulating on social media prior to the event called on protestors to “Defend our Police and Back the Badge” and confirmed the rally location as Loreto playground. An estimated crowd of about 200 residents of Morris Park arrived at the rally with homemade signs and banners along with, at least, one large U.S. flag.

Liane, the first speaker to address the crowd, charged New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio with turning knives in the backs of the NYPD, since he’s been in office. “The NYPD [got] caught in the crosshairs of their political games,” she said. “We say back the blue! We call it the thin blue line. The thin blue line means the police are the line that keeps society from descending into violent chaos.”

 

She continued, “This couldn’t be more true right now. We’re seeing it before our eyes. Manhattan and other parts of the country look like war zones. [As] we stand here today, shootings in our city have gone up 157%, homicides 31%, since the riots started”.

 

As Irene Estrada, the newly elected District Leader of the 80th Assembly District, started to address the crowd, about twenty-five Black Lives Matter protesters were heard chanting a short distance away, and appeared to drown her out. At that point, many of the pro-NYPD protestors hastily marched to the playground’s fence to confront the Black Lives Matter protesters, and began chanting “N-Y-P-D!” in response.

“Get the [expletive] out of here,” one man was heard shouting as both groups faced off against each other, with only the playground’s fence, and two or three dozen police officers between the two groups keeping the peace. Members of both groups continued to yell, point cellphones and record each other. At least one person was seen flipping his middle finger at his opponents, while screaming abuse.

 

Many pro-NYPD protestors later returned to their original rally point inside the playground, while others exited the park to confront the small group of mostly, young Black Lives Matter demonstrators on Tomlinson Avenue, in a very threatening manner. The Black Lives Matter group chanted, “Hey Hey! Ho Ho! These Racist Cops Have Got To Go!” and, “No Justice! No Peace! Defund the Police!”

 

One woman from the pro-NYPD group yelled, and snapped several cellphone photos of the competing Black Lives Matter demonstrators. “You don’t even know me,” she said. “You all got a lot of growing up before you actually change things. This is very immature what you’re doing right now.”

 

One young Black Lives Matter supporter and Morris Park resident was asked if she had learned of the counter demonstration on social media. She responded,”No, I just live across the street, and I heard the screaming”. Asked if she had neighbors attending the pro-NYPD rally in the park, and if she thought her protesting could cause problems with her neighbors in the future, she replied, “Yes [she had neighbors in attendance],” adding, “I don’t really care because I support Black Lives Matter.”

 

Another Black Lives Matter demonstrator said he had been punched in the head as the two groups briefly crossed paths but said he could not identify the individual who punched him in the large crowd, and was also wearing protective goggles and could not see very well.

 

The Black Lives Matter group were later surrounded by angry, pro-NYPD Morris Park residents on three sides, and only the two dozen or more NYPD officers prevented the heated arguments from descending into mayhem. As the man who said he was assaulted talked to police officers, a number of taunters yelled at him, “You’re confused. Go home!”

 

After the screaming ended, some pro-NYPD protestors did have a more civil dialogue with some people from the Black Lives Matter group across the fence. Members of the Black Lives Matter group were later escorted to Morris Park Avenue by the NYPD, and the group broke up and headed in different directions.

Friends in the Bronx, esp those who were upset by the Blue Lives Matters Protest that happened in Morris Park last week. At the very least, retweet to get the word out. Thanks! https://t.co/cseFS7Bg2z

— Stephanie A. (@sg_abiva) July 6, 2020

Less than a week later, posts began to circulate on social media about a follow-up Black Lives Matter protest in Morris Park, with people encouraging others to attend the march if possible, to support local Black Lives Matter residents. The Black Lives Matter movement posted the announcement on social media vowing to return to the area, and telling supporters, “Let’s put a stop to blatant racism in Morris Park”.

BLM protesting the pro cop rally from a week ago today in Morris park pic.twitter.com/8ipqiIJEK4

— John Amanini (@JohnAmanini) July 7, 2020

 

On Monday, July 6, coinciding with the Elijah McClain tribute march, some 200 chanting protesters duly showed up and marched across Morris Park Avenue in remembrance of Elijah McClain, taking many people on the street by surprise.