Will you join the #JusticeforJohnGeer protest this Thursday at 10am in Fairfax? This is an important protest, a peaceful protest of the lack of transparency and accountability from the Fairfax County Police Department and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in regard to the death of John Geer. Heres some background: In Aug. 2013, Springfield resident John Geer was shot and killed by the Fairfax County Police while standing unarmed in the door of his own home. Witnesses say there was no justification for the shooting, nor had he committed any crimes. The police department and county officials blocked a criminal investigation by the Commonwealths Attorney, who then handed the case to the U.S. Department of Justice. Last month, a court order forced the police to release some information, including the name of the officer who shot Geer. But otherwise, the police has been unforthcoming, and justice for John Geer and his family has been stymied. Read more about the case at: WaPo (8/30/13): goo.gl/YfYuCv WaPo (9/2/14): goo.gl/1oyrPc WaPo (10/8/14): goo.gl/bWslgk CBS-9 (12/5/14): goo.gl/k82Lgp CBS-9 (12/4/14): goo.gl/C3Py7b CBS-9 (1/5/15): goo.gl/AFAkrV This is not a first for Fairfax County. In 2006, a SWAT team inexplicably shot Sal Culosi while serving a warrant for a small-time gambling crime. The department steadfastly refused to release any information until forced to do so by a court well over a year later. The County ultimately settled with the family and paid $2 million in compensation. Read about the Culosi case at goo.gl/Eri8Ja (Reason 1/17/11) and goo.gl/rsTBYt (WaPo 1/12/11). See also this article on the killing of unarmed motorist David Masters in 2009: goo.gl/v7wAfR (Reason 6/29/10). Our governments should be transparent and accountable—after all, they work for us. If they arent, we have to demand it. This is not an anti-cop protest. This is a peaceful protest seeking policy and administrative changes that reduce the likelihood of future tragedies and increase transparency and accountability if such future tragedies do occur. Please join the protest.
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 22:35:24 +0000
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