Saleem Osman speaks to supporters on court day
Title
Saleem Osman speaks to supporters on court day
Description
Racially-motivated police brutality is a disappointing cornerstone of the Asian experience across New York City, and Saleem Osman’s experience was no different. On May 26th, 1994, the cab driver and CAAAV organizer for the Lease Drivers Coalition was beaten by plainclothes police officers while trying to mediate a dispute between a Pakistani cab driver and white truck driver. He was subsequently arrested and falsely charged with assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest [1] and was released only after a massive demonstration by over one hundred Asian Americans and yellow cab drivers. [2]
CAAAV left no stone unturned in their mission to ensure the case was dismissed. In the year between his arrest and his trial, the community flooded the D.A’s office with phone calls and faxes, maintained mainstream press coverage, and on July 7th, 1995, held a press conference and rally in front of the Manhattan Criminal Court – where Osman was to be tried three days later. [3] On July 10th, 1995, with community members packed in the courtroom, Osman was given an Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal in return for a statement of apology. [4] The D.A’s office was successfully pressured to drop the charges, and sought an apology from Osman to save face for the NYPD.
The photograph shows Osman speaking to the supporters on the steps of the court after this decision. It showcases the various emotions after a hard-fought victory – relief, exhaustion, perhaps even some disappointment at the need for an apology. Regardless, in the face of a year of delays and attempts to dissuade community members from opposing police brutality, CAAAV and its community refused to be complicit and their efforts won them a victory against violence that day.
[1] CAAAV, “Update on Saleem Osman Case” CAAAV Voice newsletter, Winter 1994, 5.
[2] CAAAV, “Police Brutality” CAAAV Voice newsletter, Spring 1994, 1
[3] CAAAV, “Victory for Saleem Osman – False Charges Dismissed” CAAAV Voice newsletter, Fall 1995, 2
[4] CAAAV, “Victory for Saleem Osman – False Charges Dismissed” CAAAV Voice newsletter, Fall 1995, 2
CAAAV left no stone unturned in their mission to ensure the case was dismissed. In the year between his arrest and his trial, the community flooded the D.A’s office with phone calls and faxes, maintained mainstream press coverage, and on July 7th, 1995, held a press conference and rally in front of the Manhattan Criminal Court – where Osman was to be tried three days later. [3] On July 10th, 1995, with community members packed in the courtroom, Osman was given an Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal in return for a statement of apology. [4] The D.A’s office was successfully pressured to drop the charges, and sought an apology from Osman to save face for the NYPD.
The photograph shows Osman speaking to the supporters on the steps of the court after this decision. It showcases the various emotions after a hard-fought victory – relief, exhaustion, perhaps even some disappointment at the need for an apology. Regardless, in the face of a year of delays and attempts to dissuade community members from opposing police brutality, CAAAV and its community refused to be complicit and their efforts won them a victory against violence that day.
[1] CAAAV, “Update on Saleem Osman Case” CAAAV Voice newsletter, Winter 1994, 5.
[2] CAAAV, “Police Brutality” CAAAV Voice newsletter, Spring 1994, 1
[3] CAAAV, “Victory for Saleem Osman – False Charges Dismissed” CAAAV Voice newsletter, Fall 1995, 2
[4] CAAAV, “Victory for Saleem Osman – False Charges Dismissed” CAAAV Voice newsletter, Fall 1995, 2
Date
July 10, 1995
Contributor
Digitized by: Emily Chiu and Vivian Truong
Cataloged by: Prithvi Dinesh Chandra
Cataloged by: Prithvi Dinesh Chandra
Rights
Copyright is held by CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities.
Format
Photograph
Identifier
Photo472
Files
Citation
“Saleem Osman speaks to supporters on court day,” CAAAV Digital Archive, accessed November 21, 2024, https://archives.caaav.org/items/show/2337.