On November 22, two Cleveland Police officers responded to a report of a possible firearm on a playground. They pulled up and instantly killed a 12-year-old boy.
Young Tamir Rice had only a toy Airsoft gun, and the police never saw it. When Tamir reached for his waist, rookie officer Timothy Loehmann — who had been fired by another police department after showing a "dangerous loss of composure during live range training" - shot the child dead. It was all over within three seconds, before Tamir even had time to understand the officers' orders.
New video shows that Tamir's 14-year-old sister tried to come to his side - but Officer Frank Garmback tackled her, handcuffed her, and forced her into the patrol car. Tamir continue to lay bleeding until an FBI agent arrived and gave him first aid - neither Lehmann nor Garmback ever moved to help the child. "This has to be the cruelest thing I've ever seen," said the family's attorney.
Most police officers are amazing public servants — but many departments remain plagued by cultures of brutality. Systematic racism is not the only factor but it is an important one: Young black men are 21 times more likely to be shot by police than are their white counterparts.
As Jon Stewart said, "You can have great regard for law enforcement and still want them to be held to high standards." Sign the petition now: We need Chief Williams to fire the men responsible for the death of Tamir Rice, and Prosecutor McGinty must seek swift indictments!
Picture Credit: NBC News
Update #28 years ago
There are two new important pieces of news in the police murder of 12-year-old Tamir Rice. First, a Cleveland judge said there is probable cause for indictments and believes the two Cleveland PD officers should be prosecuted. Second, the sheriff's department's investigation found NO proof the officers shouted warnings at Rice before killing him.
The case now goes to a Grand Jury, but the officers are still on the force, and must be fired. Please share this petition far and wide!
Update #19 years ago
Thank you for signing the petition against police brutality! Care2 has submitted the first 68,359 signatures to the Cleveland mayor, police chief, and county prosecutor. Your voice WILL be heard.
The prosecutor's office is bringing the case before a Grand Jury, but as we saw in NYC and Ferguson, it's up to the attorney how persuasive they want to try and be. This petition matters - will you share it with friends? Until the decision comes down, we need to keep pressing for justice for Tamir!
