What we mean by justice
reports from South San Francisco on a protest for a victim of police.
| October 1, 2012
Derrick Gaines' mother speaks at a demonstration marking what would have been his 16th birthdaySUPPORTERS OF Derrick Gaines commemorated what would have been his
16th birthday on September 20 with a rally in front of the Arco gas
station where he was shot and killed by a South San Francisco police
officer.
16th birthday on September 20 with a rally in front of the Arco gas
station where he was shot and killed by a South San Francisco police
officer.
Some 100 people turned out to the event, the latest in a string of
demonstrations organized by family, friends and supporters since
Derrick's murder on June 5. In the more than three months since officer
Joshua Cabillo murdered the physically disabled teen of multiracial
descent, an ever-growing section of the local community and activists
from around the Bay Area have joined Derrick's family to demand justice.
demonstrations organized by family, friends and supporters since
Derrick's murder on June 5. In the more than three months since officer
Joshua Cabillo murdered the physically disabled teen of multiracial
descent, an ever-growing section of the local community and activists
from around the Bay Area have joined Derrick's family to demand justice.
In early September, Cabillo returned to work after three months on
paid administrative leave following the incident. South San Francisco
Police Department (SSFPD) officials maintain that an internal
investigation into the incident is in progress, although they also say
that any results will remain confidential as part of the officer's
personnel file.
paid administrative leave following the incident. South San Francisco
Police Department (SSFPD) officials maintain that an internal
investigation into the incident is in progress, although they also say
that any results will remain confidential as part of the officer's
personnel file.
Following an investigation, San Mateo County District Attorney
Stephen Wagstaffe deemed Cabillo's use of lethal force "justified" in
late August, and as of this article, the officer has yet to face any
disciplinary action.
Stephen Wagstaffe deemed Cabillo's use of lethal force "justified" in
late August, and as of this article, the officer has yet to face any
disciplinary action.
The local media hasn't deviated from the story told by police
following Derrick's murder, despite the troubling inconsistencies in
that story--among them, the fact that Derrick never reached for,
produced or pointed a gun, according to witnesses, and that in all
likelihood the weapon he was carrying (which was inoperable due to a
missing firing pin) was at least six or seven feet away from him when he
was shot.
following Derrick's murder, despite the troubling inconsistencies in
that story--among them, the fact that Derrick never reached for,
produced or pointed a gun, according to witnesses, and that in all
likelihood the weapon he was carrying (which was inoperable due to a
missing firing pin) was at least six or seven feet away from him when he
was shot.
The media has also portrayed Derrick as a troubled young teen
flirting with criminal behavior. Derrick’s supporters at the rally,
however, painted a decidedly different picture. Derrick's great aunt
Dolores Piper emceed the event. And Derrick's mother Rachel Guido-Red,
accompanied by Derrick's 4-year-old brother Michael, and Justine
Lockhard, Derrick's aunt, were also in attendance.
flirting with criminal behavior. Derrick’s supporters at the rally,
however, painted a decidedly different picture. Derrick's great aunt
Dolores Piper emceed the event. And Derrick's mother Rachel Guido-Red,
accompanied by Derrick's 4-year-old brother Michael, and Justine
Lockhard, Derrick's aunt, were also in attendance.
Piper and Guido-Red recalled Derrick's wit, charm and gentleness,
making it clear that Derrick was never one to put himself or the people
he cared about at risk. During the event's open mic segment, Derrick's
friends spoke about his immense talent--he was an aspiring rap
artist--his easy-going demeanor, and how much they missed him.
making it clear that Derrick was never one to put himself or the people
he cared about at risk. During the event's open mic segment, Derrick's
friends spoke about his immense talent--he was an aspiring rap
artist--his easy-going demeanor, and how much they missed him.
Jalen Jewett, one of Derrick's best friends with whom he collaborated
on a number of songs, produced and distributed a free CD featuring
Derrick’s music. T-shirts were also sold, in part to build visibility
for the campaign and also in an attempt to defray the cost of Derrick's
funeral.
on a number of songs, produced and distributed a free CD featuring
Derrick’s music. T-shirts were also sold, in part to build visibility
for the campaign and also in an attempt to defray the cost of Derrick's
funeral.
Rosa Dubon, a local resident whose children knew Derrick well,
painted a horrifying picture of how local law enforcement treats people
of color, recounting a night when, in response to her call for help, two
police officers with guns drawn forcibly entered her residence through
the back. In a separate incident, said Dubon, Cabillo--the officer who
murdered Derrick--put a gun to her daughter's head while she was on the
ground in her own apartment.
painted a horrifying picture of how local law enforcement treats people
of color, recounting a night when, in response to her call for help, two
police officers with guns drawn forcibly entered her residence through
the back. In a separate incident, said Dubon, Cabillo--the officer who
murdered Derrick--put a gun to her daughter's head while she was on the
ground in her own apartment.
"I don't want this to be just another effort to memorialize Derrick,"
Piper said as she opened the event. "This has already been done at
Derrick's memorial service, and at previous demonstrations. What we need
to do is let Cabillo and the SSFPD know that we won't stand for this,
and we will continue to fight."
Piper said as she opened the event. "This has already been done at
Derrick's memorial service, and at previous demonstrations. What we need
to do is let Cabillo and the SSFPD know that we won't stand for this,
and we will continue to fight."
Rachel Guido-Red made a similar call to action: "I see people out
protesting all sorts of things, big groups of people, all over the
country. But why aren't more people protesting this? What if this
happened to you? What if it was your son, your child?"
protesting all sorts of things, big groups of people, all over the
country. But why aren't more people protesting this? What if this
happened to you? What if it was your son, your child?"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ALSO IN attendance were key figures in local struggles for social
justice and against police brutality. Cephus Johnson, a founding member
of the Oscar Grant Foundation and uncle to Oscar Grant--a young man of
color murdered by former transit police officer Johannes Mehserle in
2009--offered powerful insights. "What happened here," said Johnson, "is
not--cannot be called--an isolated incident."
justice and against police brutality. Cephus Johnson, a founding member
of the Oscar Grant Foundation and uncle to Oscar Grant--a young man of
color murdered by former transit police officer Johannes Mehserle in
2009--offered powerful insights. "What happened here," said Johnson, "is
not--cannot be called--an isolated incident."
"These people [the police] have to be stopped," said Johnson. "They
will not stop unless we make them stop and demand they take some
responsibility for the lives they take."
will not stop unless we make them stop and demand they take some
responsibility for the lives they take."
Johnson further emphasized the need for a mass grassroots movement
demanding justice for victims of police violence by referencing the case
of his own nephew, whose murder was filmed by a number of bystanders.
demanding justice for victims of police violence by referencing the case
of his own nephew, whose murder was filmed by a number of bystanders.
"If it hadn't been for people like you, people who cared about what
was happening to Oscar back then, Mehserle would have gotten no time,"
he said. "The sentence he got [two years] was a joke, but we still made
history. That's the first time a cop's been held accountable for what
they did."
was happening to Oscar back then, Mehserle would have gotten no time,"
he said. "The sentence he got [two years] was a joke, but we still made
history. That's the first time a cop's been held accountable for what
they did."
Oakland civil rights attorney John Burris, who is representing
Derrick's family in a civil suit against the city, was unequivocal in
his insistence that Derrick's assault and murder were racially
motivated. "These two kids weren't doing anything, and there was no need
for the officer to stop them," said Burris. "It's a textbook case of
racial profiling, and it was wrong."
Derrick's family in a civil suit against the city, was unequivocal in
his insistence that Derrick's assault and murder were racially
motivated. "These two kids weren't doing anything, and there was no need
for the officer to stop them," said Burris. "It's a textbook case of
racial profiling, and it was wrong."
Like Johnson, Burris emphasized the importance of persistent
activism. "It's things like this, people gathered together, making their
voices heard, that put pressure on the city, pressure on the police,"
Burris said. "They need to know that we're watching and that we will not
back down."
activism. "It's things like this, people gathered together, making their
voices heard, that put pressure on the city, pressure on the police,"
Burris said. "They need to know that we're watching and that we will not
back down."
The large, multiracial group of men and women of every age marched
along the length of Westborough Boulevard and Gellert Avenue--two of the
city's major arteries. Protesters marched behind two large banners, one
reading "Justice for Derrick" and the other carrying a short list of
demands--including that the South City Police Department "come clean"
about the events that took place on June 5, that "stop-and-frisk"
policies and racial profiling come to an end, and that Cabillo be held
accountable for taking an innocent life.
along the length of Westborough Boulevard and Gellert Avenue--two of the
city's major arteries. Protesters marched behind two large banners, one
reading "Justice for Derrick" and the other carrying a short list of
demands--including that the South City Police Department "come clean"
about the events that took place on June 5, that "stop-and-frisk"
policies and racial profiling come to an end, and that Cabillo be held
accountable for taking an innocent life.
Several of the youth in attendance carried placards bearing the
simple question "Am I Next?" Chants of "Justice for Derrick" were
greeted with supportive honks, upheld fists and waves from motorists
passing by.
simple question "Am I Next?" Chants of "Justice for Derrick" were
greeted with supportive honks, upheld fists and waves from motorists
passing by.
In a recent interview with the South San Francisco Patch,
SSFPD Chief Michael Massoni, when asked about the demonstration, stated
flatly, "I really don't know what they mean by 'justice'."
SSFPD Chief Michael Massoni, when asked about the demonstration, stated
flatly, "I really don't know what they mean by 'justice'."
But our demands have been presented, and the list is likely to grow
as the fight for Derrick continues to build. With time, Massoni may well
come to know exactly what we mean by justice.
as the fight for Derrick continues to build. With time, Massoni may well
come to know exactly what we mean by justice.
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