LA's ALBA bloc slams US over racial violence, discrimination

The Bolivarian Alliance of the Peoplke's of Our America (ALBA) released a statement on August 19 expressing its solidarity with the African descent communities of Missouri and with the familiy of Michael Brown, the unarmed teenager shot dead by police on August 9.

ALBA is an anti-imperialist political and economic bloc formed by Venezuela and Cuba in 2004 that now also includes Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, St Vince and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Saint Lucia.

The ALBA countries released the joint statement expressing their "profound concern" with the violence sparked by the police killing of Brown. The bloc said it was a reminder of the serious racial discrimination that has yet to be resolved in the United States.

"The countries of ALBA express their solidarity with the African descent communities of the United States," the statement added.

The bloc's statement called on the US government to carry out a fair and transparent investigation into the killing of Brown in the town of Ferguson. It demanded security forces respect human rights when trying to control protests in the Missouri township, which has been affected by violent clashes of police against demostrators that claim justice.

​"ALBA also expresses its solidarity with the familiy of Michael Brown, as well as with the other victims of the violence that has spread throughout Ferguson," the statement said.

Brown was shot six times by police officer Darren Wilson, including twice in the head. According to two witnesses, he had his hands in the air over his head when he was killed. Wilson was suspended with pay, but protesters are demanding the policeman be brought to justice.

The protests in Ferguson have left two people injured and 31 arrested.

[Reprinted from teleSUR English.]

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