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Charlotte, NC Rally Held for Tamir Rice on 1 Year Anniversary of His Death

By David Dixon

Charlotte, NC - Over two dozen people participated in a rally and march in uptown Charlotte on Sunday, Nov. 22, as part of a nationwide day of action to call for Justice for Tamir Rice, the 12 year old Cleveland boy shot to death by police officer Timothy Loehmann a year ago today.

The Tamir Rice shooting sparked outrage nationwide when video showed police officers arriving on the scene and shooting the child within 2 seconds, because they claim he had a toy pellet gun that resembled a hand gun. The police then brutally prevented Tamir's young sister from helping him as he lay on the ground bleeding.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty has refused to file charges against the two officers involved, Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback. The county prosecutor's office will instead leave it to a grand jury to decide if the officers will be indicted for the shooting death of the young boy.

The Rice family attorneys said in a letter to the county prosecutor's office, “While we understand the general need to proceed with caution and thoroughness, no reasonable prosecutorial effort should be taking this long, especially under the circumstances of this case," and that two similar police shootings this year have already been heard by a grand jury.

Family attorney Subodh Chandra said the county prosecutors office "is working diligently to ensure that there is no indictment,” and trying to whitewash the case through the use of so-called expert reports.

“To get so-called experts to assist in the whitewash — when the world has the video of what happened — is all the more alarming,” Chandra told Fox News 8.

A Cleveland judge, in a non-binding review of the case, has found "probable cause for the charges of murder, involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, negligent homicide and dereliction of duty against Loehmann." (myfox8.com)

Charlotte rally participant Roderick Davis told WBTV news, “We just had the Jonathan Ferrell case here, so I think it’s a good thing that we’re letting Cleveland know, the city know, the nation know that everybody is watching.”

 On left, marching through uptown. Right, Ashley Williams, a rally organizer, speaks.
Photos: Scott Trent

The rally in Charlotte was held in front of Discovery Place, a place where young children come to play and learn, similar to other events for Tamir Rice being held around the nation in places where children gather, as requested by those close to the family.

Ashley Williams, one of several UNCC students that organized the rally said that, "Children, moms, dads, parents are asking ‘what’s going on’ and ‘why are they here instead of somewhere else’ so this is exactly what we wanted.” (wbtv.com)

Paris Bey, cousin of Janisha Fonville.
Photo: Scott Trent

Other participants included Paris Bey, cousin of Janisha Fonville, the 20 year old woman that was killed by CMPD Officer Anthony Holzhauer on Feb. 18 of this year, and organizers with the Campaign To End Mass Incarceration from Greensboro, NC.

There were many signs and several banners calling for Justice For Tamir and an end to police brutality.


Photo: Scott Trent

Sources:
WBTV.com
MyFox8.com


Sun., Nov. 22 - Year Without Tamir National Day of Action - Charlotte, NC


Year Without Tamir National Day of Action - Charlotte, NC

Sun., Nov. 22, 2015
3:00 PM

Discovery Place
301 N. Tryon St
Charlotte, NC 28202

+What we know: On November 22, 2014 at 3:30 PM in a park near his home, Tamir Rice was shot and killed by Cleveland Police officers Timothy Loehmann and Frank Gramback. No commands were given to Tamir before the officers fatally shot him, nor were the officers charged or fired. Currently, a grand jury is reviewing the case led by Cleveland prosecutor Tim McGinty. McGinty hand-picked pro police experts who have already established that the police acted "reasonably". The family of Tamir Rice has no confidence that McGinty is capable of overseeing a fair and just grand jury hearing, as he has already shown immense bias that could corrupt the outcome(s) of the case. The family is calling for a new prosecutor for the case and they are calling for the officers involved to be arrested, fired, and charged with the murder of Tamir Rice.

+Why we should care: Tamir Rice and his family deserve justice. There are steps we can take to press forward in a way that affirms the conditions of Tamir's life and death.

+What we can do: The community is encouraged to participate in a teach-in, informing people about this injustice and why it is imperative that we get involved. Since the family has asked for the replacement of McGinty as prosecutor on the case, we will also hold a community phone bank, giving people the opportunity to make calls to McGinty's office and ask him to step down or be removed. Tamir Rice's family has called on the the world to remember Tamir Rice on November 22, 2014. Finally, we can rally as a community to acknowledge and affirm the lives and deaths of victims of state-sanctioned violence.
#blacklivesmatter
#yearwithouttami

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