Protest Against Police Murder of Gary King Jr.

On Monday, September 24, over 100 family, friends, neighbors and other concerned people protested at Oakland City Hall against the murder of 20-year old Gary King, Jr. The facts of the killing related by the family based on eyewitness accounts tell a very different account than the police version that the mainstream media faithfully repeat. Gary was grabbed for no reason as he walked out of a corner store, tasered , and then shot in the back by police. After he was shot and lying bleeding, police handcuffed him. Gary's friend and neighbors told of repeated harassment by the police especially of youth wearing dreads. The police and media have repeatedly described Gary as a "murder suspect" even though there is nothing to show that Gary was involved in any murder. This was merely the reason the police gave for stopping Gary in the first place, that he supposedly matched the description of someone wanted for a homicide. This is nothing but criminalizing the victim. Gary's friends and family told of a loving, kind and caring young man who was working to get his GED and had just gotten a job selling vacuum cleaners. This is the second time that Sgt. Pat Gonzales, the cop who shot Gary, has shot someone.

Gary's family is determined to continue to fight for Justice for Gary and future demonstrations are being planned.