Immigrants join US protests over non-indictment of cop in teen’s death
Protesters in San Francisco join the nationwide demonstrations condemning a grand jury’s decision not to press charges against a white police officer who shot and killed a black 18 year old teenager. PHOTO BY Faye Lacanilao
MANILA, Philippines — “It could have been one of us” is the thought that goes through the mind of immigrants in the United States (US) following the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a police officer that has angered many across the country particularly immigrants.
“We’re in solidarity with Michael Brown and his family because we know that the justice system here is only for white rich folks,” Faye Lacanilao, a member of Bayan US, told INQUIRER.net in an online interview Wednesday.
“Brown isn’t the only case, there’s also Oscar Grant who was from Oakland. For us immigrants and people of color, every time this happens we just say ‘that could be one of us’,” she said.
A grand jury decided Tuesday night (US time) not to file criminal charges against police officer Darren Wilson over the fatal shooting of 18 year old African-American Brown who was believed to have been unarmed when he was killed.
The family of Brown said the decision was rigged to favor the white police officer.
Violence erupted following the decision causing several buildings to be burned and others looted by hundreds of protesters. At least two police cars were destroyed.
News reports say 61 people were arrested in Ferguson and at least 18 people were injured.
“This issue is definitely about race. Within the last five years, we have witnessed almost 10 black and brown youth get killed because of racial profiling,” Lacanilao said.
“For us (Filipinos), this issue runs deep because we know what it’s like to have impunity handed to authorities like the cops. What happens in the Philippines, and how the cops and authorities are used against the people, is the same thing here in the US,” she said.
Lacanilao joined the protests in San Francisco where people of various ethnicities took to the streets peacefully along with thousands more all over the US.
“There are still white folks out there that deny that racism is the trigger for all these killings,” she said.
Protesters in San Francisco join the nationwide demonstrations condemning a grand jury’s decision not to press charges against a white police officer who shot and killed a black 18 year old teenager. PHOTO BY Faye Lacanilao
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