Justice for Fong Lee: Rally and Press Conference this Saturday
Mn Immigrant Freedom Network
We invite you to attend this Saturday’s rally and press
conference in support of the Fong Lee family as they continue to seek justice
for their son’s wrongful death with the US Supreme Court, details below:
WHEN:
Saturday, October 2 · 1:00pm - 3:00pm
WHERE:
Cityview Performing Arts Magnet Elementary School
3350 North 4th Street
Minneapolis, MN
FACEBOOK LINK:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=112271988831986
WHAT:
-Support the Lee family as they announce their plans to appeal their case to the Supreme Court.
-Tour the “reality checkpoints” at the school where Fong Lee was killed by Minneapolis Police.
-Say NO to racial profiling and police brutality!
BACKGROUND:
On July 22, 2006, Hmong teenager Fong Lee was with a group of friends riding bikes near the North Minneapolis Cityview Elementary School when Minneapolis police officers chased them across the playground. Officer Jason Andersen shot Fong Lee eight times, in the back, side, and then five more shots into Lee’s chest as he lay on the ground. Andersen stated he was justified in the killing, claiming that Lee pointed a gun at him. He was cleared by the MPD’s internal investigation even though neighborhood eyewitnesses were not interviewed, many of whom contradicted the police officers' version of events in community press reports.
In 2009 the Fong Lee family brought a wrongful death lawsuit again the City of Minneapolis and Jason Andersen, citing surveillance cameras that showed Fong Lee did not have a gun and evidence that demonstrated that the gun found at the scene had been in police custody, suggesting that the gun had been planted. When an all-white jury found that Anderson had not used “excessive force” in killing 19-year old Fong Lee, community members held numerous rallies to continue to demand justice in what they saw as a police cover-up.
The family has since appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for a new trial, which has been denied. Now, under the representation of Hilliard, Muñoz, and Gonzales, the family of Fong Lee is taking their case to the Supreme Court, in hopes that national attention will result in a new trial of this egregious police action.
Jason Andersen was first in the media’s eye with his shooting death of Fong Lee but he has remained a contentious member of the Minneapolis police force. In September 2009
Police Chief Tim Dolan fired Andersen for violating the department’s ethics policy because of a dropped domestic assault charge. A state arbitrator returned Andersen to the force after the police union grieved the firing. Andersen is currently being indicted on federal charges for allegedly abusing a black teenager while part of the notorious and now-defunct Metro Gang Strike Force. On September 22, 2010 he was fired for a second time for violating the department’s code on “truthfulness” about this incident in which he allegedly kicked the teen in the head.
Si se puede!
alondra
MIFN Communications
--
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
General Email:
freedom...@gmail.com
sign up to our EMAIL LIST-SERV for current happenings:
http://groups.google.com/group/Immigrant-Freedom-Network
check us out on the WEB at:
www.immigrantfreedomnetwork.wordpress.com
Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network
1516 East Lake Street, Suite 202
Minneapolis, MN 55407