Yesterday, Amadou Diallo’s mother made an emotional plea for understanding to the wives and children of the four New York City police officers who fired 41 shots at her son, killing him. Speaking to the women and children one day after the officers were charged with second-degree murder, Kadiadou Diallo asserted that the accused cops were aware of “what they have done.” She asked the families to acknowledge the facts. As lawyers in the case prepare for trial, Mayor Giuliani, who has come under fire amidst massive displays of civil disobedience in front of police headquarters, has decided to keep silent.

Meanwhile, the five New York City police officers charged in the 1997 torture of Haitian immigrant Abner Louima asked yesterday that their trial be delayed for four months because of what they characterize as “inflammatory publicity” about them and the New York Police Department. Earlier this week, defense lawyers asked the judge in the case to dismiss 600 potential jurors because several gave television interviews.

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