Re-posted by Nicholas Stix
A tip ‘o the hate to Countenance.
There are some excellent, and numerous humorous comments at the article, two of whom I quoted in my title.
Three dozen protest Akron police over fatal shooting, police investigating complaint of two protesters stealing hats from store (video, slideshow)
By Adam Ferrise
November 7, 2014 at 4:22 P.M.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer
AKRON, Ohio — About three dozens friends and family members of Raupheal Thomas protested outside the Akron police headquarters on Friday, four days after a police officer fatally shot Thomas.
The protesters left after about an hour without any conflicts with police.
Akron police, however, say they are investigating a complaint of two protesters stealing 40 hats from a store on their march from East Emerling Street to police headquarters.
The protesters made the estimated 2.5-mile walk from Thomas' mother's home and stood outside the police department shouting "Justice for Roc, justice for all," "No justice, no peace," and "11-3-14," the date Thomas was shot.
"It's happening everyday, everywhere," said Thomas' cousin, Maritina Mitchell, who organized the protest. "We want justice."
Thomas — a man with a criminal history described by family members as a jokester, artist and loving father to his 1-year-old daughter — was shot by a police officer investigating a complaint of two suspicious men walking on Orrin Street and Roslyn Avenue.
Akron police are investigating the details surrounding the shooting. Police have said Thomas had a gun at the time of the shooting and fired at least one round during his interaction with police.
Police also said Thomas fought with officers before the shooting. The officer who fired the shots, a 15-year veteran, has not been identified and is on paid administrative leave.
Protesters on Friday mainly stood on the sidewalk, held signs with Thomas' nickname, Roc, and shouted slogans demanding justice. One shouted and cursed at police officers going in and out of the building.
Some wore custom T-shirts with Thomas' photo and held signs showing Thomas holding his daughter, who attended the protest with her mother and Thomas' girlfriend, Myeishia Harrison.
"This helps," Harrison said of the protest. "It shows how much of a good person he was."
Akron Police Capt. Daniel Zampelli said police are investigating a complaint that two of the protesters walked into the Family Dollar store on East South Street and stole two boxes of hats.
Zampelli said about eight protesters entered the store about 12:46 p.m. while they walked to the protest and that two of them grabbed the boxes of hats and left the store.
A store employee declined to comment on Friday, citing company policy.
Zampelli said officers decided against confronting protesters on Friday. He said they wanted to allow the protesters to have their say while they investigate the incident.
Zampelli said officers will soon be able to get surveillance video of the theft and will proceed with the investigation. Zampelli also said they would take into account whether the store wishes to pursue criminal charges.
"We didn't want to be confrontational," Zampelli said. [God forbid, they should act like cops!] "We wanted to give them the opportunity to express their concern and exercise their constitutional rights. But these are the same protesters demanding justice."
YEP, they always show a picture of the man holding his baby daughter, dressed for high school graduation, or wearing his military dress uniform. Something like that.
ReplyDeletePolice like to leave the area and let the population do as they want for three days.
ReplyDeleteThe rioters can let off steam is the belief. You the store owner suffer.