THE PEOPLE’S ORGANIZATION FOR PROGRESS (POP)
PO BOX 22505
NEWARK, NJ 07101
973 801-0001
www.njpop.org
CONTACT: LAWRENCE HAMM

APRIL 11, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

POP WILL CALL UPON NJ STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO REOPEN EARL FAISON POLICE BRUTALITY CASE

The People’s Organization For Progress (POP) will demand the reopening of the case of police brutality victim Earl Faison at a press conference that will be held today, Thursday, April 11, 2024, 12:00 noon in front of the Rodino Federal Building, 970 Broad Street in Newark, New Jersey.

Today marks the 25th anniversary of Mr Faison’s death. On April 11, 1999, Earl Faison, a 27 year-old African-American man was wrongfully apprehended as a suspect in the murder of Joyce Anne Carnegie, a police officer in Orange, NJ.

Faison died while in custody at the police station in Orange, NJ. He was killed by five Orange police officers: Lt Thomas Smith, 36 of Caldwell; his brother Brian Smith, 30, of Orange; Tyrone Payton, 34, of Orange; Paul Carpinteri Jr, 36, of Orange; and Andrew Garth, 31, of Bloomfield.

“The policemen involved in his death eventually went to jail, after a tremendous struggle for justice. They were convicted on federal charges involving conspiracy for trying to cover it up and civil rights violations for torturing him to death,” Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress stated.

It was the first time in New Jersey history that five officers went to jail simultaneously in connection with a police brutality case.

“However, while it was clear that the beating and torture he endured at the hands of the police caused his death no one was charged with murder. There weren’t any murder charges because the county prosecutor at that time failed to launch an homicide investigation into Mr Faison’s death,” he said.

“POP is having this press conference to demand that the State Attorney General reopen this case and begin an official investigation and bring homicide charges against those responsible for Faison’s death,” Hamm said.

“The conviction on the federal charges only afforded Mr Faison’s family a modicum justice. We believe the failure to have an official homicide investigation was a dereliction of duty by the county prosecutor. A man was killed. His killers should have been held accountable for his death,” he said.

In addition to the Faison case other New Jersey police brutality cases will also be discussed. Family members of some of the victims will be present.

“We have been fighting for justice for Earl Faison for 25 years. We are not going to give up,” he said.

For more information contact People’s Organization For Progress at (973) 801-0001.

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