For Immediate Release
June 9, 2017
Media Contact: Beulah Osueke
Phone: 215-696-0700
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: POWER’s Live Free Strategy Team Calls for a Special Prosecutor in Investigation of Police Involved Murder of Black Male in North
PHILADELPHIA, PA – POWER’s Live Free Strategy Team, committed to ending Mass Incarceration and Police Brutality, received an alert about video footage of the murder of a Black Male by a Philadelphia Police Officer in North Philadelphia on the evening of Thursday June 8th, 2017. POWER’s Live Free Strategy Team, acknowledging the current disarray that the District Attorney’s Office now finds itself in, believes that for the sake of public confidence, this murder should be investigated independently of the Philadelphia Police Department and calls for a special prosecutor to be assigned for this case.
POWER’s Live Free Team wishes to express condolences to the family of the individual whose life has been taken. Recognizing that something is lost within a person when they take the life of another, we also wish to express concern for the offending officer and his family. Live Free also wishes to express its deep concern with the details currently being reported that the officer in question, not actually assigned to the district in which he was only passing through, performed a stop & frisk on the victim solely because of “erratic” operation of a dirt bike. While performing a stop and identifying a gun in the process is cause for concern for any officer, it is not illegal to own and carry a gun in Philadelphia and should not be grounds for public execution. This is even more troubling as the video footage shows the man was running away from the officer, not posing an imminent threat, when he was shot in the back and killed.
Live Free, compelled by its collective prophetic call to speak out when law enforcement spills the blood of one of G-d’s children, will be exploring a wide variety of responses as the situation unfolds. We stand in solidarity with all of those who call for justice in this matter and will continue to watch the development of this situation. We intend to take action when and where necessary.
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POWER (Philadelphians Organized to Witness Empower and Rebuild) is an interfaith organization committed to implementing systemic change for the betterment of Pennsylvania. We represent populace from across the Greater Philadelphia area, transcending borders across race, faith, income level, and neighborhood. Learn more at www.powerinterfaith.org
