Please Sign The Petition Here
Press Advisory
For Immediate Release: Family and Friends of Johnny Martinez March to Push for Full and Independent Investigation in Sheriffs Deputies’ Fatal Shooting
Press Contacts:
Kim McGill (323) 327-1259
Cindy Delgado (323) 635-3018 (Spanish)
What: Friends and family of Johnny Martinez and the Youth Justice Coalition (YJC) will be gathering at Jordan Downs Public Housing for a Press Conference, then marching to the Century Station of the LA County Sheriffs’ Department to demand that the deputies involved in the fatal shooting of Martinez be immediately removed from duty pending an investigation, and that District Attorney Jackie Lacey and State Attorney General Kamala Harris thoroughly investigate the use of force in this case, prosecute deputy misconduct, and appoint a Special Prosecutor to investigate law enforcement use of force..
When: Saturday, October 11, 2014 @ 1:30 PM
Where: START AT JORDAN DOWNS RECREATION CENTER
9900 Grape St., Los Angeles, CA 90002 JUST NORTH
OF 103RD STREET IN WATTS THEN MARCH TO L.A. COUNTY
SHERIFFS’ CENTURY STATION, 11703 ALAMEDA
JUST SOUTH OF IMPERIAL HWY. IN LYNWOOD.
Why: Johnny was killed by LA County Sheriff Deputies on Saturday, October 4th, 2014. The Sheriffs were called to the scene of an alleged stabbing. When 4 deputies encountered Johnny, they claim he pulled out a knife. The Sheriffs shot him with a stun gun, sprayed him with OC (pepper spray), and then shot and killed him. Johnny’s father witnessed the incident, and begged the deputies not to shoot because his son was schizophrenic. As with other shootings of people with mental conditions, deputies did not wait for a mental health team to arrive before shooting
Johnny Martinez is #591 – the 591st person killed by Los Angeles County law enforcement since 2000 – that’s almost 1 person killed by law enforcement every week in LA. African Americans are 9 percent of LA County’s population but 28% of the people killed by police and sheriffs. Fifty-one percent are Latino. LA County leads the nation BY FAR in law enforcement killings of community members.
And that’s just the numbers in Los Angeles! Young people are dying from Anaheim to Salinas, from Oakland to Fresno, from Sacramento to San Diego.
The YJC is circulating a petition to appoint a Special Prosecutor to investigate and prosecute law enforcement use of force at the statewide level for all families fighting for justice in California.
Who: Youth Justice Coalition is working to build a youth, family and prisoner-led movement aimed at ending California’s addiction to incarceration and improving opportunities and resources for system-involved youth. The YJC has been active in speaking out against police shootings of civilians including standing beside Johnny Martinez’ friends and family to demand an independent and thorough investigation.
Please Sign The Petition Here
