POLICE SHOOTING OF LATINO-AMERICAN MAN MOVES NYIKANA WOMAN
Nyikina woman Sam Cook is living in California through her work as a performing artist when she heard about the shooting of a young unarmed Latino man Brandon Lopez.
Brandon Lopez was shot by 22 times after a standoff between police which lasted five hours.
Lopez was wanted for arrest for robbery after he was seen by police driving his girlfriend’s vehicle.
The vehicle was assumed to be stolen as it was not in his name.
After refusing arrest due to a mental health crisis during the situation Lopez was shot.
Ms. Cook has asked other Indigenous people in Australia to show solidarity to the family.
Councilman Jonathan Hernandez cousin to the deceased said the police have had the investigation taken away from them from the state-attorney general.
“They couldn’t explain how they executed him”.
He said the impacts on the community have been very extreme, with the family experiencing PTSD.
“This was a murder”.
Ms. Cook said she wants people to show solidarity to black and brown people after this incident and gifted a hoodie with Indigenous artwork to the cousin of the deceased, Councilman Jonathan Hernandez.
A protest will be held on October 23rd with the families of Rodney King and George Floyd in commemoration of those lost to police brutality.