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Posted on 03/17/2006 8:39:25 AM PST by Smogger
CHINO - Civil rights activists and other members of the community plan to march Saturday in support of Air Force Senior Airman Elio Carrion, who was shot by a sheriff's deputy in January after a high-speed car chase.
The march, beginning on Francis Street where the shooting occurred, will cover two miles and end at the Carrion family's church in Montclair.
Activists hope the event will relieve some of the built-up emotional tension in the community over the incident. They also want it to make federal officials to take a closer look at past police shootings for possible civil rights violations.
"I think not only the community, the family, but also the nation needs this," said Steven Figueroa, president of the Mexican American Political Association Voter Registration and Education Corp. "I've received phone calls from all over showing support."
Carrion, 21, who is Latino, was shot three times by San Bernardino County sheriff's Deputy Ivory J. Webb Jr. at the end of a brief high-speed chase. The Air Force military policeman, who is stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, had just returned from Iraq and was celebrating with family.
He is still recovering from his wounds and undergoing physical therapy.
Webb has been charged with attempted voluntary manslaughter, along with the enhancements of using a firearm and causing great bodily injury. Luis Escobedo, the man who was driving the Corvette in which Carrion was riding, faces felony evading and drunken driving charges.
Figueroa said the Carrion family will be at Our Lady of Lourdes Church to be blessed by their priest at the end of the march.
"Part of the blessing is to ask God to forgive us for the anger that we have for the injustice that has happened," Figueroa said.
Not only do Latino groups plan to attend, but Los Angeles black activist Ted Hayes said he's trying to draw the black community's attention to the event.
Hayes, leader of the American Black Elephant organization, a predominantly Republican group, said regardless of the race of the victim, civil rights activists should be supportive.
"It's not a matter of race -- it's a matter of a law enforcement individual who has gotten out of hand," he said.
The event will start at 11 a.m. at 5556 Francis Ave. Participants will walk toward Central Avenue, head north and end at the church in Montclair.
I heard that.
I am a parishoner Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Montclair, btw. There was an announcement about this march was in our parish bulletin last Sunday.
Carrion is lucky he is not dead meat.
Don't quit your day job. ;^)
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I don't care who you are stop for the cops. Just cause you are in the military doesn't mean you don't have to obey the cops.
At least he's not carrion.
You haven't been following this case. He objeyed and was shot anyhow. Not to mention he wasn't driving.
The charge is voluntary manslaughter, a serious offense.
Carrion was lying on the ground, the deputy ordered him to get up, and then proceeded to shoot him for no discernable reason. This was all caught on film.
Don't want to get shot don't go on high spped attempts to outrun the cops.
I don't have a problem with cops shooting fleeing suspects. And I don't care if they've already caught them or not.
Started drinking a little early this St. Patrick's Day, eh?
Another interesting note: Webb's daddy was a Compton police chief a few years back.
Did you watch the video?
Carrion was a passenger. He was on the ground. The cop told him to get up. He got up. Cop shot him repeatedly. It was insanity on the cop's part.
Sorry, that's sick. The man was obeying the cop's orders. You think a cop should be able to just execute somebody at will?
Just wait until he's irritated some cop, then we'll hear some whining about how he was treated!
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