Thousands of people protested around the country on Saturday in support of a New York City police officer who was convicted of manslaughter this month for fatally shooting an unarmed black man, according to media reports.
The New York Times reported that several thousand gathered in Brooklyn to rally behind Peter Liang, who was found guilty in connection with the death of 28-yaer-old Akai Gurley.
Gurley, who was black, was killed by a bullet fired from the gun of Liang, who is Chinese American. The bullet ricocheted off a wall in a public housing stairwell on Nov. 20, 2014.
The Los Angeles Times said hundreds of demonstrators, many of Chinese-American descent, took to the street there on Saturday while the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that some 2,000 people rallied in that city.
About 150 gathered in downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan in solidarity, carrying signs reading “Condolences to Akai Gurley. Justice for Peter Liang” and “No scapegoat. No silence,” according to the Ann Arbor News. The Arizona Republic reported a similar number of demonstrators gathered in Phoenix.
Gurley’s killing added to nationwide protests in cities like Baltimore and Ferguson, Missouri, over the use of police force against people of color following a spate of high-profile police killings of unarmed black people since mid-2014.
The rookie officer Liang was on patrol inside a Brooklyn public housing project with his partner and drew his gun upon entering a pitch-black stairwell.
He fired a single bullet that glanced off a wall and into the chest of Gurley, who was walking one floor below. Liang said he pulled the trigger because he was startled by a noise.
Prosecutors argued in court that Liang fired toward the sound deliberately and that he must have known only another person could have caused the noise that surprised him.
He faces up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced in April.
Liang’s indictment last year came weeks after a grand jury declined to charge a white New York officer in the chokehold death of Eric Garner, an unarmed black man, sparking citywide protests.
Liang’s partner, Shaun Landau, was fired by the New York Police Department shortly after Liang was found guilty.
(Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco)
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-police-protests-idUSKCN0VU00F
Yeah, I can see ‘thousands’ in that photo. Nice, tight shot, like Henry says.
https://youtu.be/mLg-iO1TBZA?t=24
idiots
So many love their oppressors.
Stockholm syndrome.
Yep. A lot of people kiss up to the pigs due to Stockholm Syndrome. Other times it’s a way for people to hide their cowardice from each other and even from themselves.
It reminds me of that scene in the first “Back to the Future” movie where Marty McFly sees the young version of his dad getting bullied by Biff and his gang. Notice the way McFly’s dad laughs along with their taunting, agrees to do Biff’s homework for him, and then gives them a friendly “bye-bye!” to Biff & Co. when they leave, as if he were friends with them. He’s afraid to stand up for himself, so he pretends to LIKE the guys who are bullying him in order to avoid embarrassment.
Sadly, when faced with the choice of siding with the powerful versus doing the right thing, most people will do the former.
“Protests around US support….” pig. “Let’s get the scoop shovels boys, this crap stinks so bad, it’ll knock a buzzard off a $hitwagon.” All around the US, huh? What a crock! “Lyin’ scumbellies.” (trivia line)
A Chinese rookie…not cookie.
Then his partner was fired shortly after.
Hmmm… somethings not adding up.
I guess they’re gonna get the Chinese here pissed off too!
Throw some more Gas on the race baiting.
I’d like to know more info on his partner getting fired.
As with “premature ejaculation”, pigs suffer “premature trigger finger.” They “get off on it” just the same.