New York Times — April 7, 1999
New York — Cardinal John O'Connor met for 40 minutes Tuesday with Amadou Diallo's parents, and both sides emerged expressing hope that the public outcry over Diallo's death in a hail of police gunfire would help heal racial tension in New York City.
The cardinal also agreed to join the Rev. Al Sharpton and the Rev. Ruben Diaz of the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization for a prayer service devoted to Diallo's memory in the Bronx in the coming weeks, and perhaps to visit the vestibule where the 22-year-old street peddler was gunned down two months ago.
« He knows all religion is about healing, » Kadiadou Diallo, Diallo's mother, said after the meeting. « We agreed on one thing: All of us, we pray to one God. He told us people should leave their differences and come together, and something good will come out of it. »
Saikou Diallo, Diallo's father, said the cardinal spoke emotionally and with deep empathy. « He's concerned as if his grandson died, » he said. « He will call all of the religions, whatever religions, to pray together, for Amadou. »
The Diallos, who are from the West African nation of Guinea, spent Tuesday as they have much of the last week, shuttling around New York via limousine to meetings arranged by Sharpton. They spent more than an hour with the Guinean delegation to the United Nations in the morning, and were the featured guests Tuesday night in Brooklyn at the weekly rally sponsored by the National Action Network, Sharpton's group.
The entourage — which included Mrs. Diallo's second husband, Sankarela Diallo, who is not related to her first husband, and brother, Bobo Diallo — arrived late to the meeting with O'Connor because they stopped at their hotels to say the Muslim midday prayer.
« I'm so privileged to take the meeting, » the cardinal said, holding Mrs. Diallo's hands as he greeted the entourage at the Catholic Center on Manhattan's East Side. « I'm so sorry for your loss. »
After the session, Joseph Zwilling, a spokesman for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, said that "there is still a need for healing" and that the cardinal hoped that the interfaith service he has planned for April 20 would "be a beginning on the road toward reconciliation. »
The Diallos returned to New York last week to watch as the four officers who fired 41 shots at their son were arraigned in the Bronx on charges of second-degree murder. Mrs. Diallo plans another trip later this month to more than a dozen cities that will hold rallies against police brutality.
« Amadou is the celebrity, not me, » Mrs. Diallo said as she stared blankly out a limousine window. « Whatever I've said, it's coming from, I don't know where, it's him, it's my son.»
The Diallos said they have no interest in sitting down with Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, whose hospitality they rebuffed during their first visit to the city. « I don't see what can I meet him for, » Mrs. Diallo said simply.
The mayor's press office did not return several telephone calls Tuesday night seeking to discuss whether Giuliani would like to meet with the Diallos.
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