Diallo's mother was joined by other New York City mothers whose sons were killed by police, including Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner.
[Ads /]
Amadou Diallo, an unarmed 23-year-old was killed in a hail of 41 bullets on February 4, 1999, by plainclothes police officers. The officers claimed they mistook Diallo, an immigrant from Guinea, for a suspect. When they demanded he show his hands, police opened fire on Diallo when he reached into his pocket for his wallet, claiming they thought he was reaching for a gun.
Diallo was shot to death as he was trying to run into his own building for safety.
The officers, Sean Carroll, Richard Murphy, Edward McMellon, and Kenneth Boss - part of the notoriously brutal Street Crime Unit were all acquitted of charges, including second-degree murder. This sparked public outcry.
[Ads /]
Now, there is still an outcry for police accountability - most recently for the How Many Stops Act, passed to increase transparency as community leaders vow to never forget those unjustly killed by police, including Diallo's mother, Kadiatou Diallo.
"He had dreams and he was about to achieve his dreams. His dreams were cut short by 41 bullets. We went through a lot of situations including the trial, the acquittal and then I said to myself, I want to pick up," said Diallo's mother. "I want to pick up Amadou, dust him off, and give him back his story. This history must never be forgotten. This history is our history."
Speakers say they continue to push to continue the legacy of Diallo because lessons have not been learned.
ALSO READ | Exclusive: NYPD cracks down on illegal scooters amid investigation into officers attacked
Exclusive: NYPD confiscates e-bikes amid investigation into officers attacked
----------
* More Bronx news
* Send us a news tip
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
* Follow us on YouTube
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.