Members of the Southern California Immigration Coalition and other community organizations gathered in front of the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center Tuesday evening to demand that Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley prosecute LAPD Officer Frank Hernandez, who fatally shot 37-year-old Guatemalan day laborer Manuel Jaminez on September 5 in Westlake. 

Around 20 supporters held signs reading “Justice for Manuel Jaminez” and “Jail for killer cops.”

Carlos Montes spoke on behalf of SCIC in both Spanish and English. Montes said he was there to demand, “That the DA conduct a thorough and transparent investigation and prosecute Officer Hernandez for murder.”

John Parker, a representative from the International Action Center,  said, “It feels like we were just here with Oscar Grant,” referring to a unarmed civilian who was shot and killed by a police officer in a San Francisco BART station in January 2009. 

Brown Riders Liberation Party member Meztli Yaotl shared this sentiment.  

“This is not the first time a policeman has killed a brown or black man,” she said.

Pablo Depaz, a teacher at Locke High School in Watts who is also Guatemalan, stood behind the speakers in support. 

“Every time I hear about one of these shootings, I think it could easily be one of my students or their families,” Depaz said.  “The violence has got to stop.”  

SCIC presented a letter to the DA earlier in the day. They are still waiting for a response from the DA’s office.

SCIC will hold a march and rally this Saturday at 6th and Union, continuing to demand that the DA prosecute Hernandez.  

 

 

Reach contributor Kaitlin Parker here.

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