Video exposes brutal police killing

Salt Lake City, UT – The family of Dillon Taylor organized a rally on June 13, demanding justice for Dillon Taylor. Taylor was shot down by SLC police officer Bron Cruz in August of 2014 in the presence of his brother and cousin as they exited a 7-Eleven. Taylor was unarmed, had committed no crime, but was reported as being suspicious by a person who called 911.

Salt Lake City, UT – Freddie Gray committed no crime on April 12 when he was arrested by Baltimore Police Officers. Gray sustained a spinal cord injury and fell into a coma. He died on April 19.

Salt Lake City, UT – The detainment of Nicoll Hernández-Polanco is sparking protests across the country with Utah joining the fight. Nicoll Hernández-Polanco is a Guatemalan transwoman seeking asylum. However, she is currently being held in the Florence Service Processing Detention in Arizona. Hernandez-Polanco remains incarcerated in the men’s side of the detention center where she faces sexual harassment and assault.

Salt Lake City, UT – Just eight days into 2015, the first fatal police shooting has already occurred in Utah. James Dudley Barker was shot in the Salt Lake City Avenues neighborhood where he owned a home. Barker was going door to door, a block from his own home, to see if people wanted to hire him to remove snow. As recorded on body camera video, a police officer confronts Barker claiming that “a couple of people called about you” and “you are suspicious in the neighborhood.” After a two-minute conversation, the officer escalates the situation saying, “You can be arrested for failure to give your information.” Barker responds getting louder and pointing, then suddenly the officer lunges and attempts to grab Barker. Barker swings the plastic snow shovel in his hands, hitting the police officer.

Salt Lake City, UT – Utah Against Police Brutality rang in the New Year with a rally here at the Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building. Around 50 people braved the freezing temperatures to hear speeches against the ongoing police brutality in the U.S. In the state of Utah, police murders are outpacing those committed by drug dealers, gang members and child abusers.

Salt Lake City, Utah – 100 people who came out to support the police were met with a counter-protest organized by Utah Against Police Brutality. In Utah, police murders are outpacing murders committed by drug dealers, gang members and child abusers. The pro-police rally was organized in the middle of the work day by well-off whites who had Utah District Attorney Sean Reyes come to address them.

Salt Lake City, UT – Chants of “No justice, no peace, no killer police!” and “Hands up, don’t shoot!” filled the streets here, Aug. 20, with about 100 people rallying at the Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building. Organizer Fatima Badran urged protesters to make two phone calls: the first call to Salt Lake City police chief Chris Burbank one demanding justice for Dillon Taylor and the second to Missouri Governor Dixon to demand that he withdraw the National Guard from the streets of Ferguson. People must be allowed to have their democratic rights to address injustice without living under a military occupation.

Salt Lake City, UT – The recent wave of police brutality has made headlines in Ferguson, Missouri and here in Salt Lake City, where police confronted Dillon Taylor Aug. 11, outside of a 7-Eleven store and killed him. Thus far, police authorities have worked to cover up the shootings.

Salt Lake City, UT—The streets of Salt Lake City become yet another site of struggle for Palestinian freedom. Over 200 people rallied at the Wallace Bennett Federal Building to denounce Israel’s collective punishment of Gaza. The message was loud and clear: the Israeli occupation of Palestine must end.

Salt Lake City, UT – As many as 5000 Utahans rallied at the State Capitol, demanding cleaner air with no more excuses. Every winter, pollution from oil refineries, Hill Air Force Base incinerators and Kennecott mines gets trapped low near the valley floors, creating toxic air and breathing troubles for the people. With what is known as ‘the inversion,’ Utah competes for the worst air in the country at this time of year.