FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Elizabeth R. OuYang
February 12, 2015 Chair, Civil Rights/Advocacy Committee
Tel. (718) 650-1960
OCA-NY DEMANDS CONSISTENCY IN GRAND JURY OUTCOMES FOR POLICE KILLINGS
OCA-NY condemns police misconduct and police brutality. The Brooklyn grand jury found evidence to support an indictment for secondary manslaughter against Officer Peter Liang for the killing of Akai Gurley. The public will have the opportunity to see the evidence at the trial.
As a civil rights organization, we are extremely disappointed that our judicial system is aggressively seeking prosecution of Officer Liang while not against Officer Daniel Pantaleo. How is it that Officer Pantaleo was not indicted for manslaughter by the Staten Island grand jury for the chokehold death of Eric Garner? The tragic killing of Akai Gurley took place suddenly in a darkened stairwell; the chokehold death of Eric Garner was in broad daylight, captured on video with Eric Garner saying more than 10 times that he couldn't breathe.
In order for the public to have confidence in our judicial system in cases involving police misconduct and brutality, there cannot be these glaring differences in grand jury outcomes. Our judicial system cannot engage in selective prosecution. Instead, it must apply the same standards to all.
Founded in 1978, OCA-NY is a non-profit civil rights organization that promotes and protects the political, economic, and social rights of Asian Pacific Americans in New York City.
February 12, 2015 Chair, Civil Rights/Advocacy Committee
Tel. (718) 650-1960
OCA-NY DEMANDS CONSISTENCY IN GRAND JURY OUTCOMES FOR POLICE KILLINGS
OCA-NY condemns police misconduct and police brutality. The Brooklyn grand jury found evidence to support an indictment for secondary manslaughter against Officer Peter Liang for the killing of Akai Gurley. The public will have the opportunity to see the evidence at the trial.
As a civil rights organization, we are extremely disappointed that our judicial system is aggressively seeking prosecution of Officer Liang while not against Officer Daniel Pantaleo. How is it that Officer Pantaleo was not indicted for manslaughter by the Staten Island grand jury for the chokehold death of Eric Garner? The tragic killing of Akai Gurley took place suddenly in a darkened stairwell; the chokehold death of Eric Garner was in broad daylight, captured on video with Eric Garner saying more than 10 times that he couldn't breathe.
In order for the public to have confidence in our judicial system in cases involving police misconduct and brutality, there cannot be these glaring differences in grand jury outcomes. Our judicial system cannot engage in selective prosecution. Instead, it must apply the same standards to all.
Founded in 1978, OCA-NY is a non-profit civil rights organization that promotes and protects the political, economic, and social rights of Asian Pacific Americans in New York City.