Protesters spoke out against the recent grand jury decisions in both Staten Island, New York and Ferguson, Missouri—two communities affected by officer-involved killings.
The two incidents, which occurred nearly 1,000 miles away from one another, will forever be linked by nationwide protesting over decisions not to indict the officers involved in the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner.
Reverand Martin Grizzell stands with other protesters near Wichita State University. He holds a sign that reads, “America Practices Segregation, But Preaches Integration.”
“We’re standing here in solidarity with those grieving families who reside in Staten Island and Ferguson, where we’re losing young men of color to police brutality,” Grizzle says. “It seems as if there’s no justice.”
With a Wichita Police sub-station nearby, the protestors chant, “It’s not just Ferguson, it’s Wichita, too.”
The message: officer-involved shootings happen in their neighborhoods, too.
The families of two people killed by Wichita Police Officers joined in on the chant, clutching letters to city officials asking for justice. Shanta Day is the daughter of Karen Jackson, a woman killed in 2012. Jackson is reported to have lunged at officers with a knife. Day says her mother was mentally ill and that responding officers weren’t equipped to handle the situation. She reads from the letter written to the City of Wichita.
“A family in need reached out to the police, instead they experienced a nightmare they will never wake up from,” Day says. “Across America, our pain is pouring into the streets. Today, we come to you in hopes you’ll hear our cry.”
The City of Wichita recently announced a potential funding source for nearly 450 body cameras, to be distributed and worn by all police officers.
City officials have also announced a second public meeting concerning police and community relations. It will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10 in Convention Hall at Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center.
The first public meeting was called “No Ferguson Here,” held at Wichita East High School in September.
