Charge the LAPD cop who pressed his gun against a homeless man's heart and fired!

  • by: Nathan Empsall
  • recipient: Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck and District Attorney Jackie Lacey

Americans without homes are the most vulnerable people among us - and when they speak out, almost no one listens. Homeless people of color are especially at risk.

That's why it's incredibly important that Officer Francisco Martinez and the LAPD be held accountable for the March death of Charly "Africa" Keunang, a black homeless man and one of 120 unarmed Americans to die at police hands so far this year.

A new coroner's report shows that Officer Martinez pressed his gun right up against Charly's flesh as Charly lay on the ground, and pulled the trigger.

Jeff Sharlet, a reporter for GQ magazine and Dartmouth professor who has seen the body camera footage, says it's very disturbing. Martinez's partner said that Charly had his gun, but Sharlet says the body camera footage proves this isn't true.

"The L.A. Times devotes more ink to the effects of small amounts of meth and marijuana than to the effects of a police officer pressing his gun directly into Charly's chest and pulling the trigger. Weed isn't news. On Skid Row, meth isn't news. The news from the inquest is that of the gun against the flesh."

Tell the L.A. police chief and district attorney: Fire Officer Martinez and charge him with the death of Charly Keunang!

Most police officers are heroes, but we need to hold them all to a higher standard. Every time rogue cops abuse their power, and every time systemic racism shows its existence, we must all speak out - or nothing will change.

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