Rallying Against RICO

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Around 70 people marched through downtown Rochester yesterday, July 20th, to call for an end to RICO charges against 24 local residents (background Members of the so-called "Wolf Pack" Gang Proclaiming Innocence, RICO LAWS? PROVE IT!!. Organized by Activists Against Racism Movement (AARM), the march started at the Federal Building, wound through the city and ended with a rally at the city/county jail. Powerful and energetic, the march sent a message that community safety will come when people unite together to fight for justice not by longer prison sentences or harsher policing.

After meeting up at the Federal Building, people marched to the corner of Main and St. Paul, then to the Public Safety Building, home to both city and county jails. Chants of, "They Say RICO, We Say Hell No," "FBI, Lie Lie Lie," and "No Justice, No Peace, No Racist Police," echoed through the streets. The crowd was loud and upbeat, despite the unusually high number of police present.

At the Public Safety Building, the marcher's chants were met by chants coming back from those locked up inside. Many marchers were moved by feelings of solidarity between those outside and those within. The prison guards must have also realized the potential, since they quickly moved to close jail windows to disrupt the interchange. Still, many windows were not closed and the sounds of prisoners tapping on the windows and cheering continued throughout the rally.

At the rally, speakers gave background information on the so-called "wolf pack" and "chain gang." AARM members spoke on the connection between the RICO cases and the larger issues of racism and injustice, as well as the need to organize to fight against these forces. Finally, members of the Beechwood neighborhood spoke on the need for the community to come together and support each other in the face of police attacks.