Travis Morales of Stop Mass Incarceration Network and the Revolution Communist Party on the right with Daniel Majesty Sanchez of the Justice Committee who’s been supporting victims of Police Violence for over 30 years “because it’s what’s right, He told me in an interview. “Peter Liang killed Akai Gurley. Plain and simple. He was found guilty by a jury of his peers. Based on what the laws are, he needs to go to prison. THE SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY BENDING THE RULES AND TWISTING THE RULES AND BREAKING THE RULES MAKING SURE THIS OFFICER ISN’T HELD ACCOUNTABLE IS DISGUSTING”. In his statement he read,, “We are sick and tired of Police Officers not being held accountable for the killing of civilians. Akai was walking up the stairs and LIANG’S RECKLESS ACTIONS COST AKAI HIS LIFE”.
Obvious upset and emotion was the reaction coming from families and supporters after learning of the verdict of No Jail Time for Peter Liang in killing Akai Gurley. Many of the families were angry at DA Ken Thompson who wrote a letter to Judge Danny Chun recommending no Jail time for Peter Liang. saying, “He’s not a threat to the public”. Akai Gurley’s “Aunt T” said at previous press conferences, “If it had been Akai Gurley killing Peter Liang would the DA be recommending No Jail Time?” Rikers Island is full of people who’ve killed no one and who have not even committed anything considered to be a Real Crime. But, because they’re poor or mentally ill, they languish there unable to make bail. Rikers Island is a debtors prison.
As I was concluding an interview with Danette Chavis whose son was killed by police neglect and from National Action Against Police Brutality, Sandy, the Aunt of Kimani Gray who was also killed by NYPD, took Danette aside just coming out of the courthouse in a rush of emotion telling Danette the verdict of No Jail Time for Peter Liang. Danette Chavis then announced the verdict to the crowd of people and reporters and gave a statement while comforting Sandy vocally sobbing in her arms.
“THEY CAN KILL YOU IN YOUR OWN BUILDING AND THEY’LL STILL GET OFF”, she said. “THIS IS NONSENSE, THIS IS NONSENSE”. Media began crowding in around her. Danette then called out the DA Ken Thompson saying “He Should be ashamed of himself for giving a recommendation. As a DA your job is to get a conviction. You got the conviction, you should have stopped at that point. THE LAW REQUIRES JAIL TIME FOR A CONVICTION OF MAN SLAUGHTER. HOW DARE YOU GO OVER AND ABOVE THE LAW AND ASK FOR NO JAIL TIME?”. the rest of Danette’s statement can be heard on my youtube video.
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