Community rally at high noon over police shooting

Dancing and singing and last night's rally

Portland OR,–Responding to a call to action by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the AMA Coalition for Justice and Police Reform will join other community members on the steps of Portland’s Justice Center (SW 3rd Ave between Main and Madison) on Wednesday, February 17 at 12 noon to address the City’s decision regarding returning Officer Ron Frashour to work. Frashour, who shot the unarmed Aaron Campbell in the back on January 29th, is scheduled to return to work Wednesday morning. Rev. Jackson decried the lack of diversity in thoroughness of the grand jury in the incident, and said

Frashour’s presence on the force until due process has run its course investigating the shooting will not help the community nor the other officers.

Rev. Jackson and members of the AMA met with City leaders on Tuesday and urged them not to return Frashour to work. The results of that discussion will unfold on Wednesday, and members of the AMA Coalition will address the City’s decision.

During Tuesday night’s rally at the Maranatha Church, Pastor Leroy Haynes called for the community to come together on the steps of the Justice Center in one of the steps Rev. Jackson referred to as a “marathon, not a sprint” to reform the Portland Police Bureau, bring justice to the family of Aaron Campbell and establish equal treatment to people of color by police.

AMA Coalition for Justice and Police Reform is urging community members to attend the rally. For more information, call Dr. T Allen Bethel at 503-288-7241.

About Albina Ministerial Alliance

The AMA took the lead in organizing protests after the killings of Kendra James (2003) and James Jahar Perez (2004), and the tasering of 15-year-old Sir Millage (2006), and more recently in the “beanbag” shooting of a 12-year-old girl at a MAX platform (2009). They have also stood shoulder to shoulder with the Justice for Jose Mejia Poot Justice Committee (2001) and the Mental Health Association of Portland in efforts on the James Chasse case.

For last night’s coverage of the community event where hundreds gathered to listen to Jesse Jackson and community leaders speak visit Blogtown or the WWIRE.