BROOKLYN — Family and friends of Akai Gurley, the unarmed man fatally shot by a rookie NYPD officer last November, are marking the one-year anniversary of the Brooklyn father’s death with a march and rally Friday evening.
Gurley, 28, was killed in a dark stairwell of East New York’s Pink Houses on Nov. 20, 2014, when Officer Peter Liang accidentally fired a single shot while conducting a vertical patrol with his gun drawn, according to prosecutors.
Relatives are calling for justice and hosting a vigil in memory of Gurley at 2724 Linden Blvd., outside the building where the shooting occurred.
The event is expected to draw supporters from organizations like CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities, the Justice for Akai Gurley Family Committee and the daughter of Eric Garner, the Staten Island man who died after being placed in a chokehold by police.
“Tonight is really to remember Akai,” said Cathy Dang, CAAAV’s executive director.
Prior to the 6:30 p.m. rally at the Pink Houses, family members are hoping to meet with Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson and his representatives to ask questions about Liang’s upcoming trial.
The rookie police officer faces manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and other charges related to Gurley’s death and recently chose two former NYPD officials to represent him in the case.
“We want to kind of make sure that the DA is keeping its promises to the family, that they’re going to aggressively pursue charges,” said Shavon Ford, a family friend and member of the Justice for Akai Gurley Family Committee.
“So we’re looking for a consistency and that the family has the full support of the DA’s office in providing justice for Akai Gurley’s family.”
Ford was joined outside the DA’s Jay Street office by Gurley’s relatives, including mother and stepfather Sylvia and Ken Palmer, and aunt Hertencia Petersen.
“We know that Akai Gurley’s murder and the murders of many comrades before him are a direct result of an unchecked monopoly of legalized force, brutality and murder,” reads a description for Friday’s rally.
“This year, we have witnessed a year of solidarity from different police brutality families, allied organizations and activists from all walks of life. But the struggle continues as long as Liang continues to walk free.”
