While conducting and participating in a peaceful protest to the acquittal of three New York city police officers in the murder of an unarmed Sean Bell, Al Sharpton and about 190 other protesters including Sean Bell’s fiance Nicole Paultre Bell were arrested.
Despite overwhelming evidence indicating excessive use of force, including the fact the officer’s fired 51 shots at the unarmed Bell and his friends, judge Arthur Cooperman ruled that some prosecution witnesses weren’t credible because they gave conflicting testimony and had criminal records.
