Janelle Monae, Jidenna, and Wondaland Lead March Down Mission Street

Several hundred people showed up in solidarity at Mission & 24th Street BART plaza in San Francisco to call out mass incarceration and police terror on Sunday, August 23, 2015. Families who’ve lost loved ones to police brutality and abuse of power were present to speak about the injustices that occurred, and the pain they experience from their loss.

Family of Alex Nieto who was killed March 21, 2014 before going to work by Sgt. Jason Sawyer, Officer Roger Morse, Officer Richard Schiff, and Officer Nathan Chew.

The action on Sunday also provided a platform for fundraisers to help the victims’ families attend an upcoming mass nationwide mobilization in New York on October 22-24. #RiseUpOctober is a 3-day action against police who abuse their power, murder, and discriminate.

Cadine Williams, sister of O’Shaine Evans who was shot dead by a San Francisco cop in October 2014 with Janelle Monae during “Hell You Talmbout” song.

It was organized by the Bay Area’s Stop Mass Incarceration Network, Black Lives Matter, and Trans Lives Matter chapters. It shined a light on the ongoing issues that affect black and brown communities in addition to police harassment and unlawful deaths including gentrification, job discrimination, lack of resources, misogyny, and unequal education. When it comes to discrimination there are more similarities in these communities than differences. Joining together showed a powerful unity that is necessary to combat the widespread of these situations without an end in sight.

Janelle Monae, Jidenna, and Wondaland artists arrived towards the end of stage presentations and sang “Hell You Talmbout” along with the victims’ family members. The song was released earlier in the week and calls out the names of victims of institutional violence who are usually forgotten by mass media and often painted in a negative light unrelated to the situations that lead to their deaths. The artists yelled out each name in commemoration and the crowd chanted along.

Janelle Monae, local artists, activist, families, and community participants marching in San Francisco’s Mission District.

The artists and community members marched down San Francisco’s Mission District ending with a collaboration of dance and music in remembrance of those lost in front of the Mission St. Police Station. Law enforcement in riot gear masks stood in front of the station and the peaceful protestors.

Rally Participants in front of Mission St. Police Station.

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