Above photo:
On February 9, 2017 a Portland police officer shot & killed 17-year-old Quanice Hayes. After Quanice was killed cops found a toy gun. Not a single police officer told the grand jury that they saw a gun before Quanice was shot. Nevertheless, the grand jury didn’t indict.
“Finding a fake gun after the fact does not justify the use of force…. What happened to Quanice Hayes and so many other black men who are executed at the hands of officers is an extrajudicial killing…. An extrajudicial murder.” – Mat dos Santos in “A Teen and a Toy Gun” by Leah Sottile.
This last week, Quanice Hayes’ family filed notice that they will sue the city and the Portland Police Bureau officers involved in Quanice’s death.
“The Hayes family refuses to allow Quanice’s death to go unanswered. Despite the grand jury’s decision not to bring criminal charges against Officer Hearst, the family is determined to do what it takes to get justice for Quanice.” – Jesse Merrithew
“Quanice’s death is part of a pattern by the Portland Police Bureau of killing unarmed young black people.” – Jesse Merrithew, an attorney representing Quanice’s estate
In order to make #BlackLivesMatter, we must be willing to hold police accountable for their actions. Justice for Quanice Hayes isn’t just about him, or his family, it’s about upending a system that refuses to value Black lives. Donate to this fight. https://t.co/LAH1vS5IyX https://t.co/R0lbU8XgEq
— Mat dos Santos (@MatPDX) February 9, 2018
This last Friday, on the one year anniversary of Quanice Hayes being killed by a Portland police officer, more than 100 students from Portland Public Schools walked out of class to protest with Don’t Shoot Portland in support of Quanice’s family.
Yesterday there was another protest for Quaince Hayes. Protesters covered the sidewalk in front of the Portland Police East Precinct with chalk drawings of hearts with names in each one of them for people who have been killed by police in the Portland metro area.
Say his name, Quanice Hayes.