From: ray.normandeau@factory.com (Ray Normandeau)
Subject: SHOOTING CHILDREN at Queensbridge Houses, Fruit Of Islam Comes to Aid
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: Invention Factory's BBS - New York City, NY - 212-274-1243v.32bis
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 21:48:56 GMT

                                 CONTACT: Ray Normandeau 718 392-1267
                      Press Secretary for Queensbridge Tenant Council
      (Ray is an AFTRA/SAG Member and an excellent interview subject)

 News updates and prior releases by modem, 212-274-8110, Conference 5


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Child Shot at Queensbridge Houses, Fruit Of Islam Comes to Aid

 Queensbridge Tenant Association President: "We will arm the tenants"

    NYC HA Police Lose Credibility and Fortify Fire-Bombed Office

On Tuesday July 21, 1992 another child was shot at the notorious
Queensbridge Houses, a housing project funded by the scandal ridden
US Department of Housing and Urban Development. A group of Fruit Of
Islam men carried the child to a car which then brought the victim to
the hospital. The Queensbridge Tenant Association plan, to get the
FOI as a contracted security force at Queensbridge, has been stymied
by interference by B'nai B'rith.

According to recent New York Newsday and New York Times stories,
B'nai B'rith's ADL wrote letters to housing officials opposing the
tenant's democratic choice of security force. At a recent
Queensbridge Tenant Association meeting, Black, Hispanic and White
tenants were unanimous in their support for the Fruit Of Islam plan.
A Jewish tenant leader came out in favor, saying to Queensbridge
Tenant Council representative Ray Normandeau: "The Fruit of Islam
would be good for the Tenants. They would control the drugs."

Following the ADL's letters, the NYC HA told the Queensbridge Tenant
Association President that the tenants can't have who they want.
Queensbridge Tenant Association President Janet Cole says that it
would appear that only litigation can save the plan. Taking the
Housing Authority to court is not new for Janet Cole. She has taken
them to court for lack of heat in the winter and for posting phony
Queensbridge Tenant Association election result notices when there
had not been any elections. Many tenants feel that both the New York
City Housing Authority and HUD should be investigated pursuant to the
RICO Act

The ADL is not the only group opposed to the FOI. Threats to Janet
Cole's life have come from within the NYC HA Police and she has filed
a complaint with the Internal Affairs Unit of the NYC PD. Tenants are
not taking the threats kindly. Tenants are also upset that Janet
Cole's office was burglarized. She records her meetings on cassette
tapes and cassette tape seems to be what the burglars were after.
There were no signs of forced entry.

The Housing Police may be a bit apprehensive at this point. During
the last week their office at Queensbridge Houses which had been
previously fire-bombed was fortified with roll-down steel gates and
the police logo hidden from view. Recent hearsay claims that the drug
dealers chase away the Housing Police on a regular basis. Are the
Housing Cops planning for a siege?

The Queensbridge Tenant Council is aiding the Tenant Association by
trying to locate the National Black Riflemen's Association as a
possible contingency plan in the event that litigation for
implementation of the Fruit Of Islam is not successful. On Wednesday
July 22, 1992, Janet Cole at a meeting with NYC HA and NYC HA Police
representatives stated "We have tenants here with guns, if necessary
we will handle things ourselves." Queensbridge Tenant Association
Board members claim that the New York City Housing Authority Police
falsifies information on crime. In the past, NYC HA Police have taken
over one week to investigate attempted homicides.

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