One day after police released video of the controversial deadly shooting of an unarmed black man in El Cajon, hundreds took part in protests and rallies across San Diego County.
The day's first gathering began at 10 a.m. at the Prescott Promenade on E. Main Street where faith-based leaders came together for a prayer rally. A diverse but peaceful crowd listened as leaders spoke about the police shooting of Alfred Olango, 38.
Many demonstrators held signs; one large banner read "#NotOneMore" while a another smaller sign read "White Silence=Violence."
"[It's] time for immediate and urgent action," local Bishop George McKinney said to the crowd, also asking for peace and justice.
Rev. Shane Harris, of the San Diego chapter of the National Action Network, also spoke at the prayer rally.
"Today when we march, we're marching for peace, we're marching for justice. No justice, no peace!" said Harris.
A peaceful march down the streets of El Cajon followed, with demonstrators chanting Olango's name.
"What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!" the protesters chanted.
Demonstrators make their way to #SDPD headquarters in honor of #AlfredOlango. #NBC7 pic.twitter.com/ZqgpB1H20f
— Ashley Matthews (@ashleyNBC7) October 1, 2016
At around 3:30 p.m., another march began in downtown San Diego.
"No justice, no peace!" those demonstrators chanted.
One woman held a sign that read: "Comply or not, we're shot."
A much larger group of protesters gathered at Balboa Park in the early evening. The large crowd prompted transportation officials to close the State Route 163 connector to Interstate 5 at Park Boulevard.
The protesters made their way to downtown San Diego by way of Park Boulevard. They turned onto Broadway and convened at the Hall of Justice.
Along the way, they shouted "Alfred Olango" and "No justice. No peace."
Besides blocking some traffic on Park Boulevard, the evening protest stayed peaceful.
Crowd is building outside Prescott Park for #AlfredOlango vigil. #NBC7 pic.twitter.com/ie0IPTFSuu
— Megan Tevrizian (@meganNBC) October 1, 2016
Watch the Facebook live of the march below or here.
Olango was shot and killed by officers with the El Cajon Police Department (ECPD) on Tuesday in the parking lot of a shopping center in the 800 block of Broadway.
Police said Olango refused to comply with the officers’ orders to get his hands out of the pockets of his pants. Police said he pulled a 4-inch-long vaping device from his pocket and pointed it at the officers in a “shooting stance.” At that point, ECPD Officer Josh McDaniel deployed a Taser on Olango; Officer Richard Gonsalves fired several shots at Olango, critically striking him.
The encounter was captured on cellphone video by a witness who was working at a nearby taco shop, as well as on a surveillance camera from that business.
Following the shooting, the ECPD released a single still photograph pulled from that video of Olango in that “shooting stance.” Civil rights leaders urged the police department and San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis to release the full video.
ECPD Chief Jeff Davis said the decision to release the video Friday stemmed from concern for public safety.
Protesters marching from prayer vigil on Main Street to @elcajonpolice department #NBC7 pic.twitter.com/V2GI3H3pc1
— Liberty Zabala (@LibertyNBC7SD) October 1, 2016
However, Harris argued that the video was not shown to Olango’s family before it was publicly released, which was upsetting to the family. He argued that Davis, Dumanis and El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells released the video to only quell protests.
“They want peace. But what they don’t understand is that if there is no justice, there is no peace,” said Harris at his own news conference following the release of the video.
The shooting of Olango is the latest case in a series of police shootings of unarmed black men across America. The case has sparked days of protests in El Cajon. Some demonstrations have been peaceful, others have been heated, leading to arrests.
