Hundreds gather in New Haven with new rally call: Black lives matter, blue lives matter Hundreds gather in New Haven after violent week in law enforcement

NEW HAVEN >> In the wake of a violent week nationally that included the killing of two black men by police and the shooting of 12 police officers, five fatally, leaders from all segments of the city came together Sunday to deliver a powerful message to the community: Stand united and take some kind of action to change the “status quo.”

The chants have now become: “Black lives matter” and “Blue lives matter,” referring to police.

The “Stand Together” rally was organized by the Rev. Eldren Morrison, pastor of Varick Memorial AME Zion Church on Dixwell Avenue, and attended by hundreds of parishioners, the general public and a large contingent from of St. Rose of Lima Church along with their priest, The Rev. James Manship.

The rally was in response to the recent killings of Alton Sterling by police in Louisiana – Sterling was shot while on the ground; Philando Castile, killed by a Minnesota police officer as he reached for his wallet during a traffic stop; and a sniper attack in Dallas that killed five police officers Thursday night, injuring seven officers and two civilians.

Morrison also made the shootings and “Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter” the focus of his sermon in church just before the rally – a service attended by Police Chief Dean Esserman, who was scheduled to speak at the rally but did not because it was cut short by a massive downpour. Morrison said in his sermon the majority of police officers in the country are good and that it only takes “one bad police officer to ruin the reputation of stand-up,” officers. Weaving in the parable of the Good Samaritan, Morrison said the nation is in trouble and we all have to ask ourselves, “Who’s my neighbor?”

“How we answer it will dictate what we do in this country in the wake of the shootings,” Morrison said.

Brothers Jerome, Howard and Jimmy Morrison stand together at the Stand Together Rally Sunday at Varick Memorial AME Zion Church. Brothers Jerome, Howard and Jimmy Morrison stand together at the Stand Together Rally Sunday at Varick Memorial AME Zion Church. Photo: Helen Bennett - New Haven Register Photo: Helen Bennett - New Haven Register Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Hundreds gather in New Haven with new rally call: Black lives matter, blue lives matter 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

He said action is needed – the public needs to push reforms - and it’s the responsibility of people of all colors, and quoted The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Morrison spoke of how the Lutherans did nothing in the face of Hitler’s actions in Germany during World War II.

Morrison said people like “mercy’’ and “compassion” as long as it doesn’t cost them anything.

He cited numerous shootings, including the one at Sandy Hook School in Newtown and asked why Congress won’t go up against the gun lobby to make laws tougher. He said laws need to be changed, but the status quo is easier.

It was a similar theme that carried into the church parking lot for the rally. The public carried signs with written messages, including: “The time is always right to do what is right,” – another of King’s lines, “Our Lives Matter,” “Justice for Alton Sterling and Philando Castile,” “Don’t Punish me with Brutality, What’s going on?”

Morrison and others led the crowd in saying, “Black lives matter, blue lives matter.’

All agreed the problem of police shooting black men is not an issue in New Haven, whose community policing is considered a model of excellence for the country.

After the downpour, Esserman told a reporter he was pleased with the messages at Sunday’s rally, both as the chief and as a resident.

Mayor Toni Harp said at the rally we are all “inextricably combined’’ as humans in a community and so a united front is the way to tackle problems. Harp said the city’s police force is “steeped in the community,” and that works because they’ve learned that “only the community can keep itself safe.”

Board of Alders President Tyisha Walker, D-23, said she’s been a “ball of emotions” this week over the recent shootings, and like many others said that while of course, all lives matter, it’s OK to say “Black lives matter” because the conversation is about black men being killed by police officers.

“It’s not about black or white, it’s about what’s right,” Walker said.

Yale University Police Chief Ronnell Higgins, who is black, said he stood at the podium as not just a cop but also a husband, father and son.

Higgins said, “Every day when you watch the news, you don’t know how to feel,” or what to say or not say. He said those who are honored to wear the badge stand with the community, because, “United we stand, divided we fall.”

State Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, who at times choked back tears recalling the emotionally painful week, said every time a black man was physically killed, their character was killed as well. Winfield said changing laws is a great way to change the world and people should take control of that by working through their legislators and making sure those who do right get elected and those who don’t get voted out of office.

“We’ve got to use the power we have,” Winfield said, referring to making laws such as requiring cops to wear body cameras.

Connecticut NAACP President Scot X. Esdaile said racial profiling remains a problem nationally and together a solution must be found. Issues that need to be dealt with, Esdaile said, are the “blue wall,” or police officers staying silent to protect one another, and police officers who shoot people not being held accountable through the investigative process.

“This is a heavy lift and hard work,” he said. “I’m tired of marches, I’m tired of prayer vigils. We’ve got to go to work.”