'Caravan For Justice' Planned On LI To Protest Police Brutality

LONG ISLAND, NY — A caravan organized to protest police brutality will stretch from Bay Shore to Greenport on Sunday.

The event, "Strong Island Caravan for Justice," was organized by Tiara and Margarita Ferebee, as well as Marylin Banks-Winter and others. The event begins at 3 p.m. at the Westfield South Shore Mall, located at 1701 Sunrise Highway in Bay Shore, with stops at the Swan Nursery Commons parking lot in East Patchogue, Applebee's parking lot in Shirley, Gala Fresh in Riverhead, the Point East Acupuncture parking lot in Mattituck and ending at Fifth Street Beach in Greenport, organizers said.

"My wife and I both chose to put this caravan in place in memory of over 1,000 unarmed people who have been victims of police brutality from 2013 to 2019," Margarita Ferebee said. "Our police shouldn't be killing our people. Verbal abuse, torture, harassment, assault and battery, murder. This is our country's new normal? Absolutely not. This must be addressed, not swept under the rug. Abuse of authority is almost the new normal today. And justice, is simply unjust
This is why we are choosing to have a caravan for justice," Margarita Ferebee said.

Tiara and Margarita Ferebee also organized a protest against police brutality and George Floyd's death on Rt.58 in Riverhead in June.

Banks-Winter, founder of the African-American Educational and Cultural Festival, was invaluable in organizing the event, Ferebee said. "She is such a positive voice, a relentless voice, with no plan on giving up before change comes. Together, change will come," she said.

At the end of the caravan, a candlelight vigil will take place; social distancing and masks are a must, she said.

"This vigil is in remembrance of all the lives taken too soon, as a result of police brutality. We will end with a sky lantern release, in memory of all these innocent people," Ferebee said.

Banks-Winter said the aim is to support the ongoing movement for 'justice and equality. This is not new but continual for us."

She added: "Like Senator Kamala Harris said, the bad police make it bad for the good ones. We are not against the police but are for police reform — fair treatment under the law. We are for a president and vice president who listen and hear the cry of the people of this United States," Winter said.

The current administration does not, Banks-Winter said. "Mothers and fathers are still planning funerals for their children, who have been murdered in the custody of the police. Families cannot attend the funerals and 'going home' services because of COVID. The President could care less. I thought men and women of all nationalities are supposed to be equal in this country. A country that the Indigenous people allowed people to come and help build, not tear down, divide and conquer. Where is the unity?" she asked. "Where is the justice? We are sick and tired of the racism and bigotry and the discrimination against Black and Brown People. America was unified during 9/11 and went right back to the rhetoric in 2017. Wake up, people! Enough is enough! We demand final change."