July 13, 2000

Statement by Cheri Honkala

"We are here today -- the unwanted and unwelcomed in America -- to respond to the outright police brutality that occurred yesterday to Thomas Jones. As a poor mother in America whose own son settled out of court on a police brutality case and changed the law in Philadelphia for not being able to strip search children without probable cause, I and the families in KWRU know the realities of violence at the hands of the police, our elected officials, and the corporations that keep us locked up, knocked down and silenced.

Every day poor people have to endure the violence of hunger, going to the refrigerator hoping that somehow you can stretch that last gallon of milk. Many endure the violence of homelessness, of being issued citations for daring to sleep on the pavement in Center City because you're tired and have no place to call home. Many endure the violence of having no job opportunities that pay a living wage, when the only major employer is selling drugs on the street corner; others endure the violence of a city that refuses to treat its workers right by granting a fair contract.

It didn't surprise us that this violence happened in North Philadelphia. It happens every day. The only thing that was different this time is that Philadelphia, America, and the world got a look into the window of our daily reality. We are pleading today for everyone to come out and be human rights monitors for the March for Economic Human Rights on July 31st."