News Americas, BROOKLYN, NY, Mon. Nov. 14, 2011: The 25th anniversary of the killing of Caribbean-born Michael Griffith in Howard Beach NY is set to be remembered this year with an awards ceremony tomorrow.
The Griffith-Sandiford Family Assistance Fund Inc. will commemorate the killing of Griffith with a memorial service and award ceremony at Our Lady of Charity Church, 1669 Dean St. (between Schenectady Ave. and Utica Ave.) in Brooklyn, NY on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 from 7 to 9 pm.
It will be hosted by Herb Boyd, award-winning author, journalist and activist with the keynote address to be delivered by Nina Krauss, the foreperson of the Howard Beach jury trial.
The 25th anniversary award ceremony will honor four special individuals for their work either in their discipline or community.
The Governmental Award will be presented to Former Governor David Paterson while The Legal Award will go to Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes.
The Journalism Award will be presented to Vinette K. Pryce while The Community Award – to State Assembly woman Annette Robinson.
The Griffith-Sandiford Family Assistance Fund was founded as a result of the “Howard Beach Incident” which occurred in December of 1986. The incident, which shocked New York, occurred when three African-American men, Trinidad-born Michael Griffith, Cedric Sandiford, and Timothy Grimes entered a pizzeria after their car had broken down in the Howard Beach section of Queens. A teen driver in a passing car yelled racial slurs at the victims, leading to a verbal dispute. A short while later, a large group of teens returned and chased the victims. Grimes escaped while Sandiford was caught and brutally assaulted. Michael Griffith was killed when he was hit by a car on the Belt Parkway while attempting to escape the vicious racial attack. Three of the attackers were convicted of manslaughter and received lengthy prison sentences.
