December 14, 2015
Families, Activists Stand with Quentin Tarantino for Speaking Out to End Murder by Police
Gathering before the Manhattan premiere of the Quentin Tarantino film Hateful Eight, organizers of the RiseUpOctober protest to Stop Police Terror will support the film-maker in the face of threats of a boycott by Patrick Lynch of the
Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, and Jim Pasco of the Fraternal Order of Police.
“I’m a human being with a conscience,” Tarantino declared at an Oct. 24 Rise Up October rally in New York City held to
call attention to the deaths of victims like Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Freddie Gray, and Tamir Rice at the hands of
police officers. “And when I see murder I cannot stand by. And I have to call the murdered the murdered and I have to
call the murderers the murderers.” (Daily Beast 12/6/15)
Carl Dix, co-initiator of Rise Up October, and representative of the Revolutionary Communist Party, challenged Lynch to a debate, which to date has not been accepted. “The police threats against Quentin Tarantino amount to a mafia-style protection
racket, only the payoff being demanded is toeing a political line, not cash. 'Don't dare criticize police who kill
people, or we'll make it impossible for you to work in our towns.' It is aimed at sending a message, not just to
Tarantino, but to anyone whose voice carries great weight in society: if you speak out, we will come after you, threaten
your livelihood and attempt to scare you back into silence. They want the people who suffer the brunt of this brutality
alone and ignored. This is unacceptable.”
Nicholas Heyward, Sr., father of 13 year old Nicholas Heyward, Jr., murdered by the NYPD, September 27, 1994, said, “I
need to give a big shout out to the brave and noble man, Mr. Quentin Tarantino who traveled to NYC to stand with the
parents and families who have been fighting for justice for their murdered loved ones at the hands of police. He didn't
have to make this noble stand, but unlike far too many who see this injustice going down on a nationwide level, Mr.
Quentin Tarantino could no longer stand back and not say anything.”
ends