Protests Against Racism, Police Brutality, Killings and Impunity Continue
Rally in Frankfort Kentucky, June 25, 2020.
June 26 marks one month since the brutal killing
of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. Militant
actions by Blacks, working people, youth and
people from all walks of life in the U.S. and
around the world continue demanding that
militarized policing, brutality, killings and
impunity be ended. The people are also demanding
profound changes to bring this state of affairs to
an end.
 On June 12 in
Atlanta, Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old African
American man, was fatally shot by Atlanta Police
Department officer Garrett Rolfe. Brooks had
fallen asleep in his car and was blocking a
restaurant's drive-through lane. The police allege
a breathalyzer exam indicated Brooks'
blood-alcohol content was above the legal limit
for driving and that this in turn permitted them
to handcuff him. Whatever happened in the scuffle
that ensued which involved Brooks seizing and
firing one of the police officers' tasers, what is
certain is that, in the end, Rolfe shot Brooks
twice from behind and Brooks died after surgery.
Both officers were initially removed from duty
after the shooting. On June 14, Rolfe was fired
and the second officer involved -- named Brosnan
-- was placed on administrative duty. On June 17,
the Fulton County District Attorney announced 11
charges against Rolfe: felony murder, five counts
of aggravated assault, four police oath
violations, and damage to property. He said Rolfe
should have been aware that the taser Brooks had
taken posed no danger, as after being fired twice
it could not fire again; that the officers did not
provide timely medical aid to Brooks after he was
shot, and that before providing aid, Rolfe kicked
him and Brosnan stood on his shoulders. He also
indicated that it was a violation of department
policy for Rolfe to begin handcuffing Brooks
before telling him he was being arrested. Police
Chief Erika Shields resigned on June 13 in
relation to the shooting, while Atlanta Mayor
Keisha Lance Bottoms has called for a review of
the use of force policy. On June 16, many police
officers called in sick, to protest their fellow
officers being held to account for the killing of
Rayshard Brooks.
The Mayor said she would direct city funds away
from the police department and toward community
programs. However, the city budget was approved on
June 22 with no such changes, as city councillors
cited promised raises and job security for police
officers.
In Wilmington, North Carolina, three police
officers were fired on June 24 after a routine
review of police footage showed them making racist
remarks against African Americans, with one
calling for a "civil war" against Black people.
In Louisville, Kentucky, on June 1 David McAtee,
who ran a barbeque cart, held a social gathering
which was attacked by police. Initial reports
indicate that Louisville police aggressively fired
pepper balls at the crowd at head level, prompting
McAtee to fire his gun in the air as a warning
shot. He was then killed by National Guard at the
scene. McAtee's mother later told reporters that
her son was known by the police and the community,
and that he had fed all the policemen and would
join them for discussions while they ate.
Another recent incident of police abuse took
place at a Black Lives Matter protest in Miami on
June 10, where Alaa Massri was unlawfully
arrested, and then had her rights further violated
while in detention. A petition in support of
Massri points out, "After witnessing an individual
being hit with a police vehicle, Alaa Massri saw
another vehicle approaching a small group of
protesters. Being the team's medic, she rushed to
go aid whomever might have been injured but was
stopped by 6-8 cops in riot gear. After repeatedly
asking the police officers (Officer Corral,
#41643) not to touch her, in a polite yet
concerned manner, Ms. Massri attempted to walk
away. Instead, she was surrounded and arrested.
Alaa was then zip-tied and later charged with
battery, resisting an officer with violence, and
disorderly conduct. Witnesses observed that she
was not acting in a disorderly fashion and was
simply coming to the aid of an injured
individual." Massri later had her hijab forcefully
removed, following which her mugshot was taken and
then disseminated to media. Massri was forced
to remain without her head scarf for the remainder
of her seven hours in detention. Similar incidents
which violate the right to protest, Miranda rights
(she was not read her rights when arrested) and
most significantly her right to conscience through
forcible removal of her hijab have been prosecuted
in various U.S. cities and authorities have had to
pay victims of their racist treatment substantial
fines.
In the case of Breonna Taylor, killed in her home
on March 13 by Louisville police serving a
no-knock warrant, the mass protests decrying
policy brutality and impunity have led two months
later to the three officers involved in the
shooting being placed on administrative leave. On
June 23, one officer was fired for violating
policies on the use of deadly force. Protesters
continue to demand that the three officers be
criminally charged and arrested for her killing.
The two vigilantes who killed Ahmaud Arbery on
February 23 in Glynn County, Georgia, were finally
indicted by a grand jury on charges, including
malice and felony murder on June 24.
This article was published in
Volume 50 Number 23 - June 27, 2020
Article Link:
Protests Against Racism, Police Brutality, Killings and Impunity Continue
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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