Boston, Feb. 18, 2016, — Asian Americans across the US in over 30 major cities will rally on Saturday, Feb. 20, to protect against the guilty verdict of NYPD officer Prter Liang.
Today we stand here because the justice system has failed us. We the Asian American Community rally to show the deepest condolences to Akai Gurley and his family. We are equally saddened by the selective and unjust prosecution of Peter Liang, who is made the scapegoat of the police brutality that has long troubled our society.
Both Akai Gurley and Peter Liang and their families are the victims of the structural racism that is still pervasive in our country. Rather than the triumph of justice, the selective prosecution of Peter Liang confirms our deepest fear that people of color are still not equal.
The selective prosecution of Peter Liang will make the world more dangerous since the privileged can always walk away free while the minorities will bear excessive punishment. It will increase race-based inequality and intensify police-community relations. We are thus now calling for all people and groups who love justice and freedom to stand behind Akai Gurley and Peter Liang and get united to say NO to structural racism, selective prosecution, and injustice. We are fighting for a more equal, just, and better future. We are calling for NYPD and those who are truly responsible to shoulder the responsibilities.