New York City, Feb. 20, 2016 — More than 100,000 protesters in more than 40 major cities across the U.S. and Canada are united as The Coalition of Justice for Liang to rally for justice of ex-NYPD officer Peter Liang today. These cities include New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Denver, Houston, Dallas, Detroit, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Miami and Calgary, Canada among others. These peaceful protects are among the largest rallies in the Asian American communities.
Candidate for US Congress Lindy Li speaks at a rally in Philadelphia Chinatown (from justiceforliang.com).
The Coalition of Justice for Liang is a group of Chinese American organizations that are concerned about the trial of Liang, and are seeking equal justice. Twenty-eight-year old Peter Liang had been on the duty for only 18 months when he was assigned to conduct a vertical patrol at the Pink Houses, a high crime housing project in Brooklyn. The two officers were patrolling the pitch dark stairwell and Mr. Liang’s gun accidentally discharged. The bullet ricocheted off the wall and struck Akai Gurley, an African American civilian who happened to have entered the stairwell about one floor below. Unaware of Mr. Gurley’s injury at first, Mr. Liang was in the eighth floor hallway, discussing with his partner how to report this incident. When Mr. Liang finally arrived on the fifth floor with his partner and saw the injured Mr. Gurley, Mr. Liang immediately called for an ambulance while Mr. Gurley’s girlfriend was performing CPR. Unfortunately Mr. Gurley died later.
Mr. Liang was convicted of second-degree manslaughter on Feb. 11, 2016 and may face a sentence of up to 15 years.
This Coalition of Justice for Liang is saddened by the tragic loss of the life of an innocent civilian and expresses its condolences to Mr. Gurley’s family. Protesters strongly believe that it is wrong to prosecute Mr. Liang for a tragic accident, and that Mr. Liang was subjected to selective prosecution with an unfair trial. The coalition denounces racial discrimination and the system covering up injustices with more injustices.
“We are deeply sorry for Mr. Gurley and his family. This is a tragedy for both families. We believe accountability is in order,” said Jack Ouyang, the spokesperson of this coalition. He added, “In the wake of so many unfortunate deaths of unarmed African American men in the hands of police officers, the tension between the police and African American communities nationwide has reached an unprecedented level. However, it is totally wrong for the prosecutor to single out Mr. Liang.”
Organizers of these rallies believe that Mr. Liang has been sacrificed as a scapegoat in a highly politicized criminal justice system, resulting from recent intensifying police-community relations. By protesting Officer Liang’s conviction, the Coalition of Justice for Liang is demanding that NYPD must shoulder its responsibilities. Protesters are demanding true justice for Mr. Liang and justice for all.
For more information, visit: justiceforliang.com. Please check out pictures from the rallies today across North America below.
