Champaign march against police killing
CHAMPAIGN, Ill.--Following the killing of Kiwane Carrington by a police officer here, the African American and progressive communities have found new ways to express their outrage.
The most recent was a march and speakout on October 22, held in conjuction with a National Day Against Police Brutality. Despite wet weather, the march brought out as many as 150 people.
Police claim that Kiwane and another youth were seen breaking into a house--though the owner says that she knew Kiwane and welcomed him to go to her home. The police claim that officers confronted the two, who resisted them. During a "scuffle," say police, one of the officers' guns "discharged," putting a bullet through Kiwane's heart. The department has yet to provide a satisfactory explanation for why one of its officers drew his gun on two youths.
On Ocrtober 22, protesters marched from the Illinois Terminal, chanting "No more stolen lives," "We are the youth we've been waiting for" and "Honor Kiwane, Protect Jeshaun." Jeshaun is the other youth with Kiwane--he is facing felony charges.
The march went by the Champaign police station and the Army/National Guard recruiting station, both located on the edges of Champaign's poor Black community.
The march then proceeded to the Boys and Girls Club. Protesters sat in rows of seats and held a speakout, which was geared toward having the youth in the community speak their minds about how the police treat them. Comments ranged from things like "You might as well respect authority if you want to live another day to tell your story" to calls for the firing and prosecution of the police officer who shot Kiwane, more community involvement and more use of our freedom of assembly.
