"I am Andy Lopez and My Life Matters"
Drawing by Bobby Muerte, design by Melanie Cervantes
from Dignidad Rebelde
The death of a child is a tragedy that rips the heart out of a family—no matter how that child dies. But when his death is by violence from the hands of those hired to serve and protect a community, rather than prey upon it, the anger and rage swirling around that death almost overwhelms the sadness.
Such was the death of 13 year old Andy Lopez, whose life drained out onto the ground after being riddled by bullets from the gun of Erick Gelhaus, 48, a Sonoma County California sheriff's deputy on Oct. 22nd.
Young Andy did not die in a hospital of a illness, surrounded by loving family and friends. He died handcuffed, face down on the ground, next to a toy.
He died because he was a Latino boy in a hoodie walking along minding his own business with that toy, and was spotted by a man with a legal gun whose head was filled with ideas about kill zones and ambushes. Gelhaus wrote about them.
Mindset is going to be a common thread. If you cannot turn on the “Mean
Gene” for yourself, who will? If you find yourself in an ambush, in the kill zone,
you need to turn on that mean gene.
Taking some kind of action—any kind of action—is critical. If you shut down (physically, psychologically, or both), and stay in the kill zone, bad things will happen to you.
The kill zone? Really? A mean gene? Is this who we want to have patrolling our streets and neighborhoods?
I don't really want to talk about toys, or toy weapons today, but this isn't the first time this has happened. Ask Javier Gonzales-Guerrero who survived 20 police bullets. Anthony Dwain Lee did not survive his shooting.
There is a police version of what they say happened, and there are eyewitnesses who are contradicting the police version. I know far too well that policemen lie, and are backed up in their lies by a wall of silence. Before anyone reading here pushes back against my remark, let me say this. I admire and respect those officers who tell the truth. There are some. I've known some of the best. But I've also experienced the worst. Sadly, those are usually the ones who get away with gunning down young Latinos and young African-Americans. Sadly, cops who tell the truth get called "rats".
What happened after Andy's murder—yes—I'm calling it murder, though I doubt it will be judged that in the end, was the usual "refuse to discuss details" response. Seen too many cases of police murder and injustice fall through the cracks of the system after "investigation and internal review". We should be used to it by now...but we should refuse to become resigned and continue to speak out, and fight back.
Join me below the fold for more and how you can help.
The Santa Rosa community, made up of Andy's family, friends and neighbors, want answers. Are demanding answers. The family has filed a federal lawsuit. Santa Rosa City Councilwoman Julie Combs has raised questions. The FBI is investigating.
The community is protesting. Kossak mahakali overdrive covered some of the marches and rallies.
Their quest for information has been met with armed intimidation. A show of force that sends shivers down my spine each time I look at the photos.
A statement/press release was issued by a man who has been fighting police injustice for many years. He is a big man with a big heart. No coincidence his nickname was, and is "Big Man".
His local organization is "The Police Accountability Clinic and Helpline (PACH)" which "exists to document police abuse, and to help survivors of Police Abuse find safety and support. PACH participates in community based civil rights education."
A Child is Dead – Statement by Elbert “Big Man” Howard
My name is Elbert “Big Man” Howard, and I am a founding member of The Black Panther Party and also of PACH, the Police Accountability Clinic & Helpline of Sonoma County. PACH, an all-volunteer organization, was formed to take reports of police misconduct after community meetings which occurred because of a series of killings which took place in 2007. I am making this statement on behalf of myself and PACH and in response and protest to the killing of Andy Lopez, 13 years of age, by law enforcement.
One of the reasons that the Black Panther Party was formed in 1966, and why they fought so hard many years ago, was to have community control of the police – to make the police accountable to the community. In the present atmosphere that still exists of racial profiling and police abuse, the politicians and law enforcement agencies are accountable to no one.
Now, 47 years later, here I am, waking up to the news that yesterday, Oct 22nd, on the very day we recognize as the National day of protest against police brutality, this 13 year-old child has been shot down and killed by Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputies.
Clearly, police misconduct remains an on-going issue in our community as the civil and human rights of people in our communities are ignored and violated. We all need to protest the police abuse, racial profiling, and the killings by law enforcement that continue to occur in our community.
I echo Big Man's sentiments. We pay the taxes that pay the salaries of law enforcement. We have the right to demand accountability and justice.
The police response to peaceful community protest often resembles that of an occupying army. Armed to the teeth. Stationed on rooftops with sniper weaponry.
Police on the roof at Andy Lopez demonstration Oct 29th (photo Alex Darocy)
That show of force won't deter the community from making its voices heard.
I've heard many people make the statement that today's youth are apathetic and disengaged. This is far from the truth. One only has to see the activism of the Dreamers, Dream Defender's, or those engaged in the battle against Stop and Frisk, or gathered at rallies around Trayvon Martin, or the faces of those young people who came out to raise their voices against yet another death - of one of theirs.
October 29th march from Old Court House Square in Santa Rosa
to the Sonoma County Sheriff's department (photo Alex Darocy)
The Lopez family has set up a facebook page "
Justice for Andy Lopez". Give them some love and support, and get the latest updates on the case and protests.
Donations are being accepted by the Andy Lopez Memorial Fund.