And the Beat Goes On: Marcus Garvey Park Drummers Unite

On Saturday June 30th, two white police officers approached drummers at 5th Ave. Marcus Garvey park, at about 7:30pm, stating that they received complaints about the drumming being too loud. Two spokespeople from the drummer's organization told the officers, "We've been drumming every week until nine p.m. for the last thirty years". The officers stated that "the new co-op residents at 2005 5th Ave. complained that the drumming was extremely loud." The policemen called for reinforcement when a car with a bar officer came. The drummer's spokesperson continued along the lines of their right to drum, saying "It's our culture from Africa and the Caribbean". One woman drummer said this about the white residents : "They have forced Black people out of Harlem to move here, they knew that we drum here every week, if they don't want to hear the drumming they should move. Another police car came, this time with lights, with nine policemen. With the drummers,women, children and men around eighty people, the drummers resisted their position and continued to drum,while an assigned spokesperson talked to police offers.

Should newcomers in Harlem dictate the cultural environment?