The Quincy 4 Says No To Police Brutality: Trial Postponed to June 18th

Terri Oshiro

Eleven months ago, four young Chinese Americans were falsely accused of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct in Quincy, MA. Quincy Police viciously assaulted Chinese Progressive Association organizer, Karen Chen, Quan Manh Thin, Tat M. Yuen, and Howard Ng while they were coming home from a Chinese engagement party.

On Monday April 9, 2007, 40 members of the Chinese American community and supporters came out to show solidarity with the Quincy 4 at the Quincy District Court in what was supposed to be their trial. Six pre-trial hearings later, the Quincy Four’s trial is now scheduled to begin on June 18, 2007. Postponing the trial date appeared to be a delay tactic used by the Quincy Police and Court system to tire out and discourage community members from attending the trial. “Justice delayed is justice denied!” said Lisette Le, a Chinese Progressive Association staff in an interview for Azine.

Many in Greater Boston’s Asian American community believes that the false charges against the Quincy 4 are another travesty of justice covering up police brutality. People of color and the poor have so often lost their rights and freedom because the law enforcement system reacts to us out of racism and ignorance. If the police see us in a group, we’re a gang and a danger. If we’re immigrant, we’re terrorists or the enemy. If we’re African American, we’re criminals. If we’re low income, we are denied the same rights and respect as the middle and upper class, no matter what our racial background.  These attitudes are acted upon, and lies are told in order to justify excessive use of force, keep the public ignorant, keep the victims isolated, and keep us all divided.

On a more positive note, our communities and our sentiments for justice will not allow this to happen time and again. As a result of the publicity around this case, Asian Americans who were silent before about racist actions perpetrated against them are beginning to talk about their experiences in Quincy. The majority have been youth telling stories of racist incidents they faced in school.

Many others remain silent, they are watching for the outcome of this case, one that will have a great impact. This is the first reported case of police brutality against Asian Americans in Quincy, MA. The stakes are high for the defendants who have stood with great courage against injustices no one should ever have to live through. If convicted, they may face jail sentences of up to 2.5 years and a criminal record detrimental to their future. The stakes are also high for the Asian American community and the law enforcement community who does not want a lawsuit nor a precedent set of police brutality and racism in their city.

There are very important roles and lessons for organizers, supporters, and community members to deliver during the course of the trial. They are to: a) provide continual support for the Quincy 4 no matter what the trial outcome is; b) to leave Quincy Asian Americans who may be observing a public struggle against racial injustice for the first time with the following principle; to stand for justice and truth for our community members in order to win justice for us all; c) the community has a right to be involved in issues which effect it; and d) the organized strength of community members is the main tool we have to win justice for our communities.