VivirLatino

One Mother's Wish

08:55 H | Topics: Activism - Dominicans - New York City - Women

Altagracia Mayi, a Dominican immigrant, has had the same mother's day wish since 1991, justice for her son Manny. 15 years ago, on March 29, 1991, Manny Mayi Jr., a Queens College honor student, was chased for 16 blocks and beaten to death by a gang of 10 white youths in his neighborhood of Corona, Queens, NYC. Not one of the attackers has been brought to justice despite numerous witness reports. There is also evidence that some of the attackers may have had mafia connections and after the attack were aided in leaving the country. The New York City Police Department refused to label the crime a hate crime despite a history of attacks on Latinos by whites in the racially mixed neighborhood. The police also claim that Manny was beaten up because he was engaged in writing graffiti in the neighborhood, although there has been no evidence to support this claim.

Four years ago, the NYPD Cold Case Squad reopened to case, but since then there has been little movement. On April 19th a letter was delivered to the Attorney General asking that his office appoint a special prosecutor to the case. This Mother's Day, Altagracia Mayi, an office cleaner, will host a 12-noon Vigil outside City Hall in downtown Manhattan, from where she and supporters will walk to New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer's office at 120 Broadway. As Manny was the son of an immgrant, many immigrant rights organizations are lending their support to Mrs. Mayi. Immigrant Communities in Action (ICA), a coalition of multi-ethnic immigrant organizations in a statement released yesterday stated:

ICA condemns the refusal to hold accountable those who commit hate crimes against immigrants in a city where 46% of households has at least one foreign-born member.

For more information on the Mayi Case or the Mother's Day Rally contact the Justice Committee : P.O. Box 1885 * New York, New York 10159 * justicecommittee@hotmail.com * 212-614-5343

Image Via / Final Call

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