Conferences were held in Los Angeles and New York City in June of '96 to begin the organizing effort for NDP 96. Akil, Carl and CVG Sheba (Black Panther Collective for Social Progress) drew up the Mission Statement for NDP. A National Office (NO) was formed to coordinate the nationwide effort in Sept. The Stolen Lives Project (SLP) was originated. Gator Bradley was added to the NCC. Out of this beginning, the first NDP was marked by demonstrations, cultural events and other forms of protest in more than 40 cities. Public Service Announcements (PSAs) for NDP featuring parents of victims of police murder and celebrities were aired on MTV. The actions on Oct. 22nd brought together people from different backgrounds and different races and nationalities. Also Oct. 22nd provided a powerful platform for families who had been victimized by police brutality and murder.
After the first NDP, the NCC decided to make NDP an ongoing effort. Regional meetings were held in the winter and spring of '97 to begin the organizing effort for the second NDP. PSAs were aired on MTV beginning in the spring. The call for the second NDP was issued August 1st, and a meeting of the NCC plus other key activists was held in Chicago to plan for the second NDP. At this meeting Iris Baez joined the NCC. Akil Al Jundi, an originator of NDP, passed away in August. An official NDP web site was designated in September. The first edition of the Stolen Lives Project (SLP) book documenting 500 cases of people killed by law enforcement was released on 10/12. Abner Louima sent a statement of support that was read at the NY demo. The second annual NDP was marked in more than 50 cities across the country and represented a clear advance over the previous year.
A national meeting was held in NY in December to sum up and plan for the future. At this meeting, the October 22nd Student/Youth Network was formed and held its 1st meeting. Andre and Quetzal were added to the NDP NCC as representatives of this network.
The call for the third annual NDP was issued in the spring of '98, and a national meeting was held in NY in July to map out the plan for NDP. An updated SLP list, documenting 1000 cases, was released on October 13, 1998. NDP was again marked in over 50 cities. The third NDP marked a significant increase in the overall number of participants as well as in the major impact it had throughout society.
October 22nd, 2006 will be the 11th annual National Day of Protest.
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What is the significance of the date, Oct.22?
October 22nd was the negotiated date for NDP (National Day of Protest) in 1996, the year that it started. The groups involved wanted to have it in October, because students would be back in school, and before the elections, so that people could have a way to express themselves in the streets. It did not have a significance in its own right. The first year was so successful that people said, "let's do it again!". October 22nd then became significant as the date on which people nationally protest police brutality.
