One of Hollywood’s top directors, unanimously known for using the N-word heavenly in his films, Quentin Tarantino shows his critics that he indeed supports the cause against the abusive power of some police officers through his attendance at the rally in Washington Square Park against “police terror” Saturday evening. Protesters held signs reading “Rise Up! Stop Police Terror!” and “Murder with a badge is still murder.” He helped lead the “Say Their Names” rally with hundreds gathered to chant the names of 250 people of color killed by police violence, with an emphasis on paying homage to one of the most horrific victims Tamir Rice.
With the saddening increase of police brutality being brought to life with the help of technology and social media, there has been a consistent outpouring of celebrities not afraid to speak out and joining the cause; no matter what their schedules may be like, a very commendable act. Quentin Tarantino is known by countless people for the excellent craft of film making he contains as well as the accuracy of his directing, even if that includes using the N-word in the films to elevate the realism incorporated in them to the next level. Breaking such walls, some may assume he Tarantino wouldn’t care for the urban community as they would take his directing methods personally, but apparently that is not the case at all. Director Quentin Tarantino fired up the crowd by complaining that cops are too often “murderers.” While protesters chanted “No racist police!” among the crowd of 300 protesters as some chanted “Rise Up October”, before the rally spilled out of the park and up Fifth Avenue to Times Square. As he spoke, Tarantino held up a blown-up photograph of Justin Smith, an Oklahoma man killed in police custody in 1999 after spitting on cops. His support comes just four days preceding the Tuesday-night murder of NYPD Officer Randolph Holder, the heroic cop who was shot in the forehead while pursuing a gunman on foot through the streets of East Harlem. When the New York Post asked about the timing of the rally, Tarantino told The Post, “It’s like this: It’s unfortunate timing, but we’ve flown in all these families to go and tell their stories . . . That cop that was killed, that’s a tragedy, too.”
May those who lost their lives rest in peace and through their passing may an everlasting flame of advocacy and bravery ignite in all of us as we fight for justice and prosperity like all the protestors and Tarantino did that evening.
