dedicated to
Kimani Gray
1997-2013
victim of police violence

Our new single is dedicated to Kimani Gray and victims of police violence, and features field recordings from The Flatbush Rebellion, the youth rebellion in Flatbush, Brooklyn after the police murder of teenager Kimani “Kiki” Gray, in 2013.

Featuring Brooklyn musician Kristen Merritt on vocal; and Brazilian harmonica player Barbara Field.

Artwork for the release was created by Brooklyn artist Hattwood; and New York street artist BAMN.

The lyrics mourn for those murdered by police violence, and “refuse to be comforted.”


The Killing of Kimani Gray

The police shooting of teenager Kimani “Kiki” Gray [1] took place in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, on Saturday, March 9, 2013, after Gray had attended his best friend’s birthday party [2]. Undercover police approached Gray [3] and a group of other youth, and claim Gray reached for a gun in his waistband. This is disputed by Gray’s friends and family, [4] who claim Gray was only fixing his belt. A witness claimed Gray’s last words were, “Please don’t let me die.” [3] Gray was pronounced dead at Kings County Medical Center. One witness claimed, “I’m certain he [Gray] didn’t have anything in his hands.” [5]

Police claim the disputed gun found at the scene was loaded but not fired by Gray. [1] Police fired eleven shots at the teenager, hitting Gray seven times, three times in the back. [6]

The murder of Gray inspired The Flatbush Rebellion, where dozens of mostly youth were arrested for “disorderly conduct” in what police and media called “riots.” [7] “You’ve should’ve arrested, Kiki,” one youth told police when threatened with arrest, a nickname for Kimani Gray. [8]

Neither of the police officers who killed Gray were charged or found with wrongdoing. [9]

In 2018, Gray’s family agreed to a settlement. [10]

References

1. Goodman, J. David; Stelloh, Tim (March 10, 2013). “Police Kill 16-Year-Old They Say Pointed a Handgun”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 3, 2022.

2. “No Criminal Charges Coming For Officers Who Shot, Killed Kimani Gray”. CBS News. New York. July 30, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2022.

3. Fischer, Rob (March 18, 2013). “Protect and Serve”. The New Yorker. Retrieved February 3, 2022.

4. “16-Year-Old Kimani Gray Killed By NYPD Cops • EBONY”. EBONY. 2016-07-22. Retrieved February 3, 2022.

5. Yakas, Ben (March 13, 2013). “Kimani Gray Shot 7 Times By NYPD, 3 Times In The Back”. Gothamist. Retrieved February 3, 2022.

6. Walshe, Sadhbh (March 27, 2013). “The sad death of Kimani Gray and society’s bad choices”. The Guardian. Retrieved February 3, 2022.

7. Goodman, J. David (March 13, 2013). “Anger in East Flatbush Persists Over Teenager’s Killing by the Police”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 3, 2022.

8. TRAILER: Defended In The Streets, Kimani’s Story, retrieved February 3, 2022

9. Coscarelli, Joe. “NYPD Officers Who Killed Armed 16-Year-Old Kimani Gray Will Not Face Charges”. Intelligencer. Retrieved February 3, 2022.

10. Greene, Andrew Keshner, Leonard. “Family of Kimani Gray, teen shot and killed by NYPD cops who thought he had a gun, reaches $250G settlement”. nydailynews.com. Retrieved February 3, 2022.