Organizers from Make the Road NY

But the hope was apparent in everyone's eyes, as expressed by NYCLU chairman Norman Siegel, who advised all to submit multiple copies of police brutality footage, "not only to the NYPD, but to the CCRB [Civilian Complaint Review Board]," and to the Mayor himself. Siegel hinges upon a growing trend of alternate narratives - accounts of police footage that have snuck in through YouTube's back door to become overnight (anger-provoking) sensations. Such was the case of Rodstarz and G1, whose scuffle was filmed by a friend visiting from Chicago. The ubiquitous presence of cameraphones, inexpensive digicams, and video cameras have begun to call out the NYPD's culture of lies - including a knack for testifying against defendants whose arrests they played no part in.

Rodstarz at the mic

And to call out what has always been: Lisa Ortega (of Rights for Imprisoned People with Psychiatric Disabilities) reminded everyone that her constituency has always been an easy target for the NYPD. Members of the Harlem-based Picture the Homeless rang out with a cry of "No Justice, No Peace!" between speakers, while the police (at the foot of their headquarters) hung back. Surely there's a long road to go in police accountability, but more and more evidence is emerging to prove that police officer perjury happens, all the time. But New Yorkers are finding new ways to exercise their rights, through documentation and awareness - in the words of one MtR organizer, "we are the sleeping giant. And it's time to wake up."