Apr 26, 2008 4:30 pm US/Eastern
NYC Groom's Supporters Launch Massive Protests
NYPD Detectives Acquitted In Sean Bell's 50-Bullet Shooting Death
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
With calls to shut down the city, hundreds of demonstrators launched the start of what could be a long series of protests following the acquittal of three New York City Detectives in the shooting death of Sean Bell.
"I walk in here today and I feel a lot better," Joseph Guzman said at a rally held in Harlem the day after the three New York City Police Detectives who shot him, and killed his friend Sean Bell were acquitted of criminal charges.
The crowd supporting him filled Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network building, and spilled out onto the sidewalk on 145th St. – the new rally point for a new round of protests, CBS station WCBS-TV in New York reports.
As marchers lined up outside to illustrate the 50 shots fired at Bell's car, his fiancee, Nicole Paultre Bell promised to keep the pressure on.
"Yesterday they killed Sean all over again," she told supporters. "Every protest, every march, every rally, I'm going to be right up front."
Organizers are compiling a list of men and women willing to participate in marches and lobby efforts. Saturday's protest march was modest in comparison to some of the plans in the works.
Protesters made a 50-block loop around Harlem spreading the word. Future marches will likely take place further downtown, and possibly during rush hour.
Bell's parents said they are grateful for the support, and the Rev. Sharpton summoned his poetic powers of public speaking to promise to help his family.
"I'm going to help these two women fight for that little boy (Sean Bell)," said Rev. Sharpton. "That little boy didn't deserve to die and this city is gonna deal with the blood of Sean Bell."
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