Sharpton and 1199 Organize Sean Bell Responses

Later today, Al Sharpton and others will be meeting at the 1199 SEIU building on West 43rd Street to organize citywide protests in response to the Sean Bell verdict. The union will be represented by president George Gresham and executive vice president Patrick Gaspard, according to a spokeswoman.

The union's involvement in the planned protests shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Bell’s mother is a former member of the union [clarified]. And union officials have been in touch with the family since the shooting in 2006. .

Sharpton and Bell’s family will be speaking with reporters at the meeting (7th Floor, 410310 West 43rd Street) at 6:30 p.m.