Sharif Hall
Sharif Hall is a member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization/FightBack!, First in Jacksonville, latterly in New York City.
Anti-police protest
On September 18 2024, close to a hundred people came out to protest the NYPD shooting 3 civilians on the subway. The protest was organized by the New York Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NYAARPR).
On Sunday, September 15, two NYPD officers followed a 49-year-old man, Derell Mickles, up several flights of stairs at the Sutter Avenue L train station in Brownsville. They suspected that Mickles skipped the $2.90 fare and proceeded to follow him closely. A confrontation ensued and an officer drew their gun after Mickles allegedly pulled a knife—which NYPD has said they have lost. An officer responded by shooting, hitting Mickles, two bystanders and his fellow officer.
NYAARPR organized the 3rd protest of the week surrounding the shooting at Sutter Avenue. The group gathered at Barclay Center, where the NYPD had already begun setting up barricades. The program included speakers from Brooklyn Eviction Defense and NYU Students for a Democratic Society.
The program was led by Briony Smith, the Community Education Chair of NYAARPR, who led chants with a fellow NYAARPR member, Daniel Koh.
“You shouldn’t have to risk your lives just to get on the trains. No one should have to do that. And you know what? I’m not fucking paying shit,” said Khadija Haynes from Brooklyn Eviction Defense, the first speaker of the program. “The system is rotten. You can go to school, and get a PHD, and not be able to afford a basement apartment. Why? Because the system is rigged against you. It’s time for something new. Now is not the time to make excuses. It’s time to fight for something new!”
Haynes was followed by Eb Ahmed, who spoke on behalf of NYU Students for a Democratic Society.
“Public transportation should be free for the people of New York City. Now is the time to get involved in organizations like the New York alliance and demand community control of our own communities and demand community control of the police,” stated Sharif Hall, the treasurer of NYAARPR. “Because Mayor Adams and the Police Commissioner obviously don’t have control over their officers, and it’s time we have control over how we’re policed!”[1]
Tampa 5
On the evening of August 9 2023, a dozen organizers gathered in Maria Hernandez Park right after the busy workday to demand that charges are dropped against the Tampa 5.
As part of a National Day of Action called by The Emergency Coalition to Defend the Tampa 5, cities across the country rallied together to cry out that protesting is not a crime and the trumped-up charges against the five organizers need to be dropped immediately.
The protest was called for by the New York Community Action Project (NYCAP). Briony Smith of NYCAP opened the rally by saying, “This case is not unique. Across the country, right-wing forces and their goons, the cops, are ramping up their attacks against activists. From Tampa to Atlanta to here in New York, the enemies of the people are attempting to silence those of us willing to stand up and fight back against their repressive agendas.”
Other organizations spoke in support of the defendants, such as Palestinian Youth Movement, International League of Peoples Struggle, Struggle La Lucha, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization.
Sharif Hall, a member of NYCAP, gave the last speech of the day where he talked about NYCAP’s “Fire Killer Cops” campaign directed toward the 81st Precinct. He said, “At the end of the day, we are unfortunately going to continue to still see issues of police crimes until they are held accountable, and that is why we are here, we are here to hold the police accountable and demand for community control, and that’s from NYC all the way down to Tampa, Florida! “
Hall continued, “To end this off, stand in solidarity with the Tampa 5 protesters, demand that their charges are dropped, and demand for police to be held accountable when they come after us, whether that’s on a student campus or in our actual community.” [2]
No Cops in Power rally
Around two dozen organizers and community members gathered in front of New York City Hall, the office of Mayor Eric Adams, to host a No Cops in Power rally.
The protest was organized by the New York Community Action Project (NYCAP) - an affiliate of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression - to call attention and protest how Mayor Adams continues to funnel money into the bloated $6 billion NYPD budget and away from social programs.
The rally began with Jessica Schwartz, a member of NYCAP, leading people into chants that ranged from “One, two, three four - police crimes no more! Five, six, seven eight - Eric Adams wants a police state!” to a New York City favorite, “How do you spell racist?! N-Y-P-D!”
Schwartz gave background on why they were rallying on that day and introduced the first speaker, Collin Poirot, another member of NYCAP, who gave a background on the many crimes the NYPD has committed here in New York.
The organizations that spoke out were: Socialist Unity, Southern Solidarity, Justice for Domonique Alexander, and NY Boricua Resistance.
The action was closed out by Sharif Hall, a member of NYCAP. He began his rousing speech by elaborating on what it means to have true community control of the police and finished by the speech by saying, “We know that we will never be free until we have the power, the power to take control over our communities!”[3]
SDS
Sharif Hall is a member of UNF Students for a Democratic Society.
Comrades
UNF Students for a Democratic Society comrades, January 2019.
Tionna Seabrook, Monica Martinez, Sharif Hall