Rally to demand justice for Derek Diaz! Release the name of the killer cop!
Fight Back! is circulating the following July 9 statement and call for a solidarity rally by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization in Orlando, Florida.
The Orlando district of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization condemns in the strongest sense the unjust murder of Derek Diaz, an unarmed 26-year-old by an unnamed Orlando Police Department (OPD) officer in the early morning hours of July 3, 2023.
During a press conference, OPD stated they were conducting “proactive patrols” in the area of Jefferson Street and North Orange Avenue when they stopped Diaz for what they deem as suspicious activity. OPD justified the murder by saying Diaz “made a movement as to retrieve a firearm”. Despite these claims, OPD did not retrieve a gun from the scene.
Time and time again, police utilize stop-and-frisk practices to harass and criminalize oppressed nationality people, including Latinos.
The Diaz family has been left in the dark while the unnamed officer is on a paid administrative leave. OPD has stated that body camera footage will be released within 30 days, but the Diaz family and the Orlando community at large deserve immediate transparency.
We demand the release of the name of the killer cop and that they be jailed for the crime of murder. We demand full transparency on behalf of OPD and FDLE regarding the events that transpired that night and the ongoing investigation.
We encourage people to attend public comment at the upcoming City Council meeting on Monday, July 17 at 2pm to demand justice for Derek Diaz and his family.
Justice for Derek Diaz! Release the name! Release the footage! Jail killer cops!
You can donate to the family's funeral expenses here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/p85tyd-funeral-expenses
To reach out to FRSO Orlando and learn more about our group, please contact Jacob Muldoon at [email protected].