The following is a press release from an organization unaffiliated with Voice of OC. The views expressed here are not those of Voice of OC.
Vigil: Why Are You Killing Us?
Orange County Communities to Hold Vigil Against Police Violence
July 7th 2016
CONTACT: Monica Curca, (714) 473-4152 , monicabcurca@gmail
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — July 8th, 2016, In the wake of recent killings in Minnesota, Asheville, Baton Rouge, and many more—including victims of police violence in Fullerton and Anaheim—Orange County activists and communities will gather at a candlelight vigil to ask for police accountability and a stop to police terror.. The Vigil is scheduled to take place at the Huntington Beach pier, Friday at 7pm.
“In the past seven days, 22 people have been killed by police across America. We have all seen video of people killed in cold blood by police and then we all know the script: NO ACCOUNTABILITY.” -Theresa Smith, mother of Caesar Cruz killed by police in 2009 and organizer
Police violence, not merely something that happens “out there,” hits close to home: in Orange County, two Latino men have been victims of police brutality. Pedro Erick Villanueva was killed by Undercover CHP in Fullerton on July 3rd 2016, and Fermin Vincent Valenzuela was beaten close to death by Anaheim PD on July 2nd 2016. He is now on life support.
“This question is for the police to answer: Why are they killing us? We are tired of double standards “Why can police de-escalate when it is a white person, but as soon as a Black or Brown man is stopped, it ends in a killing?” – Everette Rufus Bell, Christ Our Redeemer Church in Irvine and organizer.
Join us to say, ENOUGH is ENOUGH. Together we will mourn and grieve. Together we will ask for accountability and a stop to police terror.
WHAT: Vigil: Why Are You Killing Us?
WHEN: Friday, July 8, 2016 at 7:00 PM
WHERE: Huntington Beach Pier (Pier Plaza)
WHO: Grieving families, clergy, community members.
Visuals: Community writing names of those lost to law enforcement killing in chalk, red sand ritual thrown out to sea, paper lanterns flown, community supporting and encircling those that have lost their family members to police violence, community led by family members of those that lost their lives down the pier chanting, praying, singing.
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