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THOUSANDS PROTEST KILLING OF GUINEAN IMMIGRANT BY NEW YORK CITY POLICE
On February 4, 1999 New York City police officers gunned down 22 year old Ahmed Diallo, shooting him 41 times. The incident occurred in the vestibule of Diallo's apartment building. On February 9th, thousands of protesters joined civil rights leaders in calling for a federal government investigation of the New York City Police Department's treatment of blacks and Hispanics.
Little is known about the details of the incident, but it is known that the four officers who opened fire on Diallo were assigned to the Street Crimes Unit, whose job primarily consists of the seizure of illegal guns. A lawyer who represents the officers said they believed Diallo was armed.
While the crime rate in New York has dropped since Rudolph Giuliani became mayor, there has been an increase in the number of complaints of racial discrimination and violence. Among the most shocking incidents are the 1997 beating and sexual torture of a Haitian immigrant and the choking death of a Hispanic over a dispute about a football game being played in the street.
A memorial service will be held for Diallo in New York, and then his body will be returned to Guinea, the country he left only two years ago, pursuing the dream of a better life in America.
The number of immigrants coming to New York City from sub-Saharan Africa has increased dramatically over the past few years. From 1990 to 1996, the number almost doubled, from 44,000 to 84,000. Experts say that by the 2000 census, the number will be closer to 100,000.