Jacksonville, FL – Over 100 community members and activists held a vigil for the victims of police crimes on the corner of N. Liberty Street and E. 9th Street on July 8. The evening vigil was planned in response to the cold-blooded murders of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile by the police earlier that same week. Local victims of police crimes, including Vernelle Bing Jr. and D'Angelo Stallworth, were also commemorated.

Across the nation, people are outraged at the recent murders of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile at the hands of the police. In Jacksonville, community members have been organizing around the killings of D'Angelo Stallworth since May 2015 and Vernell Bing Jr. since May 2016. Several organizations from around the city including the Kemetic Empire and the Jacksonville Progressive Coalition (JPC) were present at the vigil, along with activists from the LGBTQ, student, labor, anti-war and Palestinian movements. No one was deterred from attending the vigil despite over 15 Jacksonville Sheriff Office cars parked just two blocks up the street. A full lineup of speakers slammed racism and national oppression, speaking about the need to join organizations dedicated to fighting for social and economic justice.

Standing on the very intersection where the unarmed Vernelle Bing Jr. was gunned down by an officer of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office this past May, speakers urged the crowd to take action and organize their communities to stand against the racist killings of Black people. A leader of Black Educators for Justice, Master James X Muhammad, introduced the speakers and moderated the event.

The family and friends of both Vernell Bing Jr. and D'Angelo Stallworth were welcome participants at the vigil, which lasted for several hours. One of the speakers described an important contingent of Jacksonville organizers from the Kemetic Empire who were in Baton Rogue, Louisiana for the weekend to support the fight for justice after the murder of Alton Sterling.

The Jacksonville Progressive Coalition's own Denise Hunt was one of the speakers at the vigil. “We have to take down institutionalized racism, and I don't give a damn if that makes some of you uncomfortable. We have to do it and fight all forms of oppression and injustice,” she urged the crowd.

After the speakers, candles were lit and people offered them at the shrine dedicated to the memory of Vernell Bing Jr., for his family and the families of all victims of police crimes.

#JacksonvilleFL #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #DangeloStallworth #PhilandoCastile #AltonSterling #VernelleBing

In the report clearing the officers, Corey calls the police murder of Stallworth “justifiable use of deadly force by a law enforcement officer.”

Contradictions in the state attorney's report

Local media, attorneys and activists immediately seized on several major contradictions in Corey's report.

“What this is about is a shooting that clearly makes no sense,” said Eric Block, the attorney for Stallworth's family, in a press conference called in response to the non-indictment.

Corey's report repeats the officers' claims that they “feared for their lives” after claiming Stallworth pulled a gun and pumped it in their chest. However, the report cites the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's DNA analysis of the gun found at the scene, which found only DNA from a JSO investigator. Corey's own report explicitly states, “Stallworth was excluded as a possible contributor to the DNA mixture collected from the pistol,” a fact that completely undermines the JSO officers' stories.

“Whether or not there is a gun is under dispute,” added Block at the press conference. “But assuming there is a gun, having one that doesn't have D'Angelo's DNA just doesn't make sense.”

Corey's record for disregarding Black lives

On May 12, Stallworth, father of three, was shot six times by two white police officers serving an eviction; they claimed that they thought D'Angelo looked suspicious. He was unarmed at the time of the shooting and an independent autopsy ordered by the family indicates that police shot him in the back as he ran away – in other words, executing him.

“Angela Corey once again has shown her disdain for the African American community,” said Wells Todd, a lead organizer with the Jacksonville Progressive Coalition (JPC). “Once again the officers' account of the killing does not match the evidence that has been gathered. Once again the police have been given the green light to gun down African Americans with impunity. D'Angelo Stallworth is yet another victim in the war being waged against the Black community of Jacksonville, Florida.”

Since she was elected state attorney in 2008, Corey has come under fire from activists in Jacksonville and around the country. In addition to leading the state of Florida in prosecuting Black juveniles as adults, Corey botched the prosecution of George Zimmerman, the racist vigilante who killed 17-year-old African American Trayvon Martin in Sanford. In 2014, she sought a 60-year prison sentence for Marissa Alexander, an African American mother who fired a warning shot in the air to fend off her abusive husband. A nationwide movement to 'Free Marissa Now' pressured Corey into offering a plea deal that included less than two months of jail time.

Angela Corey: Loyal tool of the police

For many people, Corey's decision to clear the two officers who murdered Stallworth follows her pattern of always siding against the victims of police crimes. In her nearly seven years in office, Corey has never once indicted a police officer for wrongful use of force, despite dozens of police killings during her tenure.

“Anyone who's been paying attention could see that was coming from a mile away,” said Connell Crooms, a member of the Jacksonville Progressive Coalition and an organizer in the deaf community. “Corey has never charged cops for their crimes. But the fact of the matter is there are still questions that remain, and Corey's office won't answer them with honesty or integrity. We need another investigation from outside neutral parties.”

Like many, Crooms questions Corey's honesty and integrity because of her disturbingly close relationship with the police. When she initially won the office of state attorney in 2008, Corey was endorsed by the Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and had close ties to disgraced former FOP president Nelson Cuba. Since at least 2004, Cuba had used the FOP's political muscle to pressure Corey's predecessor, Harry Shorstein, into designating her as his successor for state attorney.

In 2013, Cuba and the FOP vice president were indicted by federal authorities for their involvement in a $300 million racketeering scandal involving money laundering. Despite a four year federal and local investigation, Corey never opened an investigation on Cuba.

For Corey's 2008 campaign, at least 10% of the $534,507.75 she raised came from police officers and their families in 2008, according to research by the Jacksonville Progressive Coalition and records from the Florida Division of Elections.

The Jacksonville Progressive Coalition has waged an ongoing campaign to force Angela Corey out of office. People interested in learning more should visit the “Angela Corey Out NOW” Facebook page or the JPC website: http://jacksonvilleprogressivecoalition.org

The friends and family of D'Angelo Stallworth will announce future plans to win justice in the coming days.

#JacksonvilleFL #PoliceBrutality #PeoplesStruggles #AntiRacism #Florida #DangeloStallworth

Jacksonville, FL – On August 8, activists in Jacksonville staged two demonstrations tied to the Black Lives Matter movement. In the morning, community organizers rallied for a press conference outside of the Duval Regional Juvenile Detention Center against the mass incarceration of Black youth. Later that day, young activists led a Black Lives Matter march through downtown Jacksonville against racist police crimes.

Demonstration against mass incarceration and State Attorney Angela Corey at the Juvenile Detention Center

Around 11:00 a.m., the Jacksonville Progressive Coalition (JPC) gathered outside of Duval Regional Juvenile Detention Center to speak out against State Attorney Angela Corey and racist prosecution practices that target Black youth. Corey's 4th Judicial Circuit leads the state of Florida in the charging of Black male juveniles as adults. However, Corey has never charged a police officer in her circuit with unlawful use of force, despite dozens of police killings in her nearly seven years in office.

Activists gathered around a banner with the slogan, “Black Lives Matter,” while handing out literature about mass incarceration to participants, spectators and media. Several members of the JPC and the community spoke about Corey and her role in the mass incarceration of Black people, particularly juveniles, in Duval County.

“We are here today at this Juvenile Detention Center to break the silence in Jacksonville concerning Angela Corey's mass incarceration regime,” said Wells Todd, a lead organizer with the JPC, during a speech at the event. “We are here today to speak out against our children being tried as adults. We are here to speak out against the intimidation tactics used by Angela Corey's office, intimidating children and their families into taking plea deals when there is not enough evidence to take the case to trial.”

Todd continued, “We are here because Angela Corey is building her career on the backs of our children, and we are saying we mean to stop her.”

After Todd's speech, the nearly 20-person crowd chanted “1, 2, 3, 4, Angela Corey out the door. 5, 6, 7, 8, we want justice, we can't wait.” Undeterred by the blistering Florida heat and the half dozen police cars that encircled the facility, they continued chanting for over an hour. Cars and cyclists that rode by honked and waved in support.

Other speakers at the demonstration tied the struggle against Corey with the Black Lives Matter movement around the country.

“We say 'Black Lives Matter' because Black lives have never mattered under this system,” said Connell Crooms, a member of the JPC and a deaf community organizer in Jacksonville. “This is an opportune time to force the issue. We can no longer be ignored. We will no longer be ignored.”

Youth-led Black Lives Matter courthouse rally marches through downtown

Later in the afternoon, more than 50 people from the Jacksonville community gathered outside the Duval County Courthouse. The event, organized by the newly formed Black Lives Matter Jax (BLMJAX), drew an energetic crowd of mostly young African-Americans.

“I think it is important to march for Black Lives Matter because it’s our job as millennials to take on this responsibility of fighting this new breed of racism, which is institutional,” said Joshua Parks, one of the main organizers of the event and a student at Howard University. “This form of racism is rather oblique. So it is our responsibility not only to bring attention and awareness to this issue through protest, civil disobedience and demonstration, but to also take action in attacking this covert system and all of the structures that uphold it.”

The crowd marched through downtown Jacksonville and chanted, “Hey hey, ho ho, the New Jim Crow has got to go,” and “No justice, no peace, no racist police.” Some carried signs that read “Jail killer cops, not Black youth,” “Angela Corey out now,” and “Straight outta patience,” the latter inspired by the album Straight Outta Compton by the hip-hop group N.W.A.

At the Landing, a popular tourist spot on the Saint Johns River in downtown, the crowd regrouped for a brief community discussion on racism and police crimes nationally. Speakers talked about the need to build a movement against white supremacy and discussed strategies to empower one another locally.

Members of BLMJAX spoke about many of the police crimes committed across the country, such as the suspicious circumstances of Sandra Bland's death in Texas. Bland was found dead in jail after a routine traffic stop.

D'Angelo Stallworth and police crimes in Jacksonville

A couple speakers at both events talked about the murder of 28-year-old African American D'Angelo Stallworth in Jacksonville on May 12. Stallworth, father of three, was shot six times by two white police officers, who claimed that they thought D'Angelo looked suspicious. He was unarmed at the time of the shooting, and an independent autopsy ordered by the family indicates that police shot him in the back as he ran away – in other words, executing him.

To date, State Attorney Angela Corey has not indicted either officer. JSO has refused to release the names of the two officers to the public.

#JacksonvilleFL #InJusticeSystem #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #Antiracism #JacksonvilleProgressiveCoalition #AngelaCorey #BlackLivesMatter #DangeloStallworth

Jacksonville, FL – More than 50 people gathered outside the Duval County courthouse to demand justice for D'Angelo Stallworth, the 28-year-old African American man murdered by Jacksonville police in May. The crowd assembled around noon, carrying signs and wearing t-shirts with the slogan “Justice 4 Dee.”

Stallworth, father of three, was shot six times by two white police officers, who claimed that they thought D'Angelo looked suspicious. He was unarmed at the time of the shooting and an independent autopsy ordered by the family indicates that police shot him in the back as he ran away – in other words, executing him.

“We have no answers, and today, we will not be silent,” said Latrelle Worth, the girlfriend of D'Angelo and mother of one of his children, in a speech during the rally. She continued, “No matter how they try to put us away and try to erase the story, we will not be erased. Today and forever, we are D'Angelo Stallworth, and we will stand at the forefront of this courthouse and anywhere in Jacksonville, Florida to promote justice for D'Angelo Stallworth. We want answers!”

Worth's comments focused on the complete lack of action by State Attorney Angela Corey in the month and a half since the two officers murdered D'Angelo. Corey has not charged either officer, and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) has not released their names to the public.

The high-energy crowd vocally blasted the lack of action by Corey, whose 4th Judicial Circuit leads the state of Florida in the incarceration of juveniles, particularly African Americans. Chants of, “Angela Corey, where are you? We see you!” and “Hey hey, ho ho, these killer cops have got to go,” drew enthusiasm from everyone at the rally.

When asked, many at the rally showed skepticism that Corey will give into the people's demands, because of her close relationship with the police. When she initially won the office of State Attorney in 2008, Corey was endorsed by the Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police. In pure campaign donations alone, at least 10% of the $534,507.75 she raised came from police officers or their families in 2008, according to research by the Jacksonville Progressive Coalition (JPC) and records from the Florida Division of Elections.

“They want us to stay at home and not ask, 'What is happening? What is wrong with this country today?'” asked Tefa Galvis, a lead organizer with the JPC. She continued, “The only way we are going to get justice is if we stand together, if we get organized and if we unite our community to go outside and demand that Angela Corey and JSO stop these attacks.”

The family and friends of D'Angelo plan to hold further protests demanding justice, including a march on Angela Corey's office in downtown Jacksonville. Details on upcoming actions can be found on the “Justice 4 D'Angelo” Facebook page.

#JacksonvilleFL #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #JacksonvilleProgressiveCoalition #DangeloStallworth #JacksonvilleSheriffsOffice

Jacksonville, FL – Over a month has passed since two Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office (JSO) officers shot and killed 28-year-old D'Angelo Stallworth outside his apartment. The African American father of three was shot six times in the back by two white police officers, who claimed that they thought D'Angelo looked suspicious. Although Stallworth was unarmed at the time of the shooting, State Attorney Angela Corey has still not indicted the two officers for murder.

The family and friends of D'Angelo Stallworth hope to change that. Since the murder on May 12, family members and close friends have organized rallies, vigils and marches to win 'Justice for Dee.' Earlier in June, a crowd of over 100 people marched on the JSO building and Angela Corey's office in downtown Jacksonville to demand justice.

'Extremely successful' block party for D'Angelo

Most recently on June 13, several hundred people attended a block party hosted by D'Angelo Stallworth’s family and friends. The afternoon block party took place at Wesconnett Park and raised funds for D'Angelo's three children.

Throughout the day, hundreds of people from across Jacksonville flocked to the park to honor Stallworth’s memory. Several coworkers from UPS, where Stallworth worked as a part-time supervisor, came out to show their support. Many people wore t-shirts with the slogans 'Justice for D'Angelo Stallworth,' and '#Justice4Dee.'

“We raised $3200 cash,” said Brandon Brown, one of Stallworth’s best friends and a main organizer in the movement to win justice. “It was extremely successful.”

Another rally to win justice for D'Angelo is scheduled for June 26 at 12:00 noon outside the Duval County courthouse. Rally organizers say that the purpose is to continue putting pressure on State Attorney Angela Corey to indict the two killer cops.

Autopsy suggests that police 'executed' Stallworth

On May 12, D'Angelo Stallworth was murdered by two JSO officers outside his apartment on the west side of Jacksonville. Police were at the complex serving an eviction notice unrelated to Stallworth. The officers began a confrontation, claiming they thought he appeared suspicious, which ended with six shots that left Stallworth dead.

An independent autopsy ordered by friends and family indicated that the fatal shots fired by the officers came from above and behind. In other words, the police essentially executed Stallworth, who was unarmed at the time of the shooting, as he fled down the apartment stairs.

State Attorney Angela Corey's silence on D'Angelo Stallworth's murder

Many people are skeptical that Corey will give into the people's demands, even in light of the autopsy, because of her close relationship with the police. When she initially won the office of State Attorney in 2008, Corey was endorsed by the Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police. In pure campaign donations alone, at least 10% of the $534,507.75 she raised came from police officers or their families in 2008, according to research by the Jacksonville Progressive Coalition (JPC) and records from the Florida Division of Elections.

Further questions of Corey's commitment to justice for Black victims arise in light of her record of mass incarceration. In Florida, Corey's 4th Judicial Circuit leads the state in the incarceration of juveniles, particularly African Americans. From 2006 to 2011, Black males comprised 70% of all juvenile offenders that Corey's office tried as adults, while white males comprised just 18%.

Corey's inaction on D'Angelo's murder thus far follows a pattern of biased and racist prosecution practices. In 2013, Corey gained national notoriety for her botched handling of the George Zimmerman murder trial, which allowed the racist vigilante to walk free after murdering 17-year- old African American Trayvon Martin.

On the other hand, Corey obsessively persecuted Marissa Alexander, the African American mother who fired a warning shot to defend herself from domestic abuse, for nearly three years. A mass movement of people around the country forced Corey to offer Alexander a plea deal that included only a few months of jail time, versus the 60-year prison sentence she originally sought.

D'Angelo Stallworth’s family and friends, along with activists in Jacksonville, are building for the June 26 rally in hopes of putting pressure on Corey.

#JacksonvilleFL #PoliceBrutality #PeoplesStruggles #Florida #Antiracism #DangeloStallworth

Jacksonville, FL – Over a dozen protestors gathered outside the Duval County Courthouse on June 8 to demand Justice for D'Angelo Stallworth. This was the latest action in a series of protests, vigils and rallies since Stallworth was murdered near his home by two deputies of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) on May 12. Stallworth was a supervisor at the Jacksonville UPS hub and left behind three children.

Since the murder, an independent autopsy has refuted the story that the two JSO deputies initially provided. The initial story described officers fearing for their life, but it was later revealed that Stallworth was unarmed and shot in the back up to 40 feet away as he tried to escape.

Protesters carries signs reading “Justice for D'Angelo” while several people handed out hundreds of fliers to those walking to or from the courthouse.

Latrelle Johnson, D'Angelo's girlfriend and mother to one of his children led the spirited rally through most of the day with chants of “Justice for D,” “Hey hey, ho ho, these killer cops have got to go,” “Same thing every time, being Black is not a crime,” and “JSO lied!” She also said, “We're out here for justice for the life of D'Angelo Stallworth. We're just looking for answers. We want the truth. D'Angelo was 40 feet away and shot in the back multiple times. Today we're going to march and fight for what's right.”

The decision to indict the officers rests with State Attorney Angela Corey. Corey is notorious for her over-prosecution of Black youth and her support for ‘tough-on-crime’ police tactics. She has also recently announced her bid for a third term as state attorney in the upcoming election.

Organizers vow to continue the fight with more marches and protests. There is a Justice for D'Angelo Block Party this Saturday, June 13, at Wesconnett Park at 1:00 p.m.

#JacksonvilleFL #PoliceBrutality #AngelaCorey #DangeloStallworth #JacksonvilleSheriffsOffice

Jacksonville, FL – About 200 demonstrators gathered at the Jacksonville Landing, May 30, to demand justice for D’Angelo Stallworth. Stallworth was murdered by deputies of the Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office (JSO).

On May 12, at Planters Walk Apartments, Stallworth was shot six times in the back by deputies who were serving an eviction notice at another apartment. He was unarmed and not a suspect. Reports of the incident from the police are full of contradictions and apparent falsifications.

In the wake of protests against police brutality nationwide, organizers urged participants to honor the memory of Stallworth by protesting peacefully, but also passionately demanding answers and accountability. According to Andrea Grant, one of the event organizers who gave protesters a yellow wristband and asked them for contact information for future events, said that this protest was organized by friends and family and was made possible by members of the community contacting the Stallworth family offering support. “We're out here to raise awareness,” Grant said, “He was unarmed. We're not going to let them sweep this under the rug.”

In attendance was the Stallworth family's attorney, Eric Black. According to Black, the family ordered an independent autopsy on D'Angelo, and the findings prove that the officers involved in the killing have falsified information. The autopsy indicated that the deputies’ bullets entered D’Angelo’s body from behind. “There’s a dispute over a gun, JSO says they found a gun on the balcony,” Black said, shaking his head. “This is the fifth or sixth time something like this has happened in Jacksonville this year.”

While it is premature to say whether Stallworth’s family will file suit against JSO, Black stated, “We want to know what happened and why.”

While most demonstrators attended the rally to protest institutional racism and the continued attacks on unarmed black men, many of the people attending the march knew and respected D'Angelo Stallworth personally.

“He was a family man, with three kids and they left him there to die, they didn't try to resuscitate,” one of the organizers, who declined to provide her name, said. “He was a model citizen, and we all respected him,” said Jermaine Willis, one of the attendees who said D'Angelo was “a close family friend.” Jermaine brought his young son to the march. “He already knows what's going on.” A sizable number of children attended the rally, many of them wearing of them wearing “Justice4Dee” shirts.

After protesters gathered on the corner of Hogan and Water Streets, they were led in a moment of silence for Stallworth. They then marched through mild rain to the Police Memorial Building (JSO headquarters) and to Jacksonville Pre-trial Detention Facility, chanting “JSO lied!” “Killer cops have got to go!” and “Justice for D!”

The mood among the demonstrators was hopeful as the march ended. Organizers stated that they will be working with prominent civil rights activists as their pursuit of justice continues, and they will be contacting the press next week. “It's time for the people of Jacksonville to take a stand against police crime,” stated Tefa Tamburo, a member of the Jacksonville Progressive Coalition. “We want answers – and indictments.”

For more information and to get involved, please join the Facebook group: Justice 4 D'Angelo

#JacksonvilleFL #PoliceBrutality #DAngeloStallworth

Over 1000 mourners gathered today, May 23, for the memorial service for D'AngeloStallworth. Stallworth was a father of three and part-time supervisor at UPS with 11 years at the company. Pastor Craig Campbell, a UPS driver, led the service at the Paxon Revival Center.

D'Angelo was shot and killed by two Jacksonville Sheriff's Office officers on May 12 as the officers were serving an eviction notice to a neighbor. After getting into a confrontation with Stallworth, the officers fired a total of six shots as he fled down the stairs. The police immediately came out with a story full of inconsistencies, so the family ordered an independent autopsy of the body. The recently released autopsy shows that the bullets that entered his body, including the fatal shot, came from above and behind. This indicates that not only was D'Angelo unarmed when killed, but he was shot in the back.

The service included a praise dance as well as a beautiful solo singing performance by Latoya Watts. Pastor Campbell then opened up the microphone for reflections from those who knew him best. Friends and family shared stories of D'Angelo as a man who loved his children and always had a smile on his face. Several remarked on the huge attendance as a testament to the kind of person D'Angelo was. Many of the speakers ended their reflections by stating that “justice will be served.” Dozens and dozens of mourners wore #Justice4Dee T-shirts to mark their commitment to bringing the officers who killed D'Angelo to justice.

Many fellow UPSers attended the ceremony to show their support. Coworkers used the week beforehand to go to the massive Jacksonville UPS warehouse where D'Angelo worked to inform people of the memorial service. A supervisor set up a board at the warehouse entrance while hourly employees handed out fliers at the gates.

After the service, attendees drove to Jacksonville Memory Gardens to put D’Angelo Stallworth’s body to rest. Fight Back! will continue to cover further actions and events regarding this case.

#Jacksonville #JacksonvilleFL #PoliceBrutality #PeoplesStruggles #Florida #BlackLivesMatter #DangeloStallworth #Justice4Dee #Jax

Jacksonville, FL – An unjust system promotes injustice until it is replaced with a better system. This current system is more clearly unjust in the Black community in the U.S., and caused tragedy to strike again in Jacksonville, Florida. A rally was held on May 16 to honor D'angelo Stallworth's memory and to fight for justice.

On May 12, two white Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) deputies murdered D'angelo Stallworth – father, friend and part-time supervisor at the Jacksonville UPS hub. Stallworth was shot several times in the back by JSO in his own complex, Planters Walk Apartments. The two deputies were serving an eviction notice to a nearby apartment and claim that Stallworth “looked suspicious.” The two officers confronted D'angelo, a confrontation that ended when the two officers shot Stallworth, killing him. Lawyers working on the case agree that various points of the officers’ stories seem contradictory and questionable. It seems that D'angelo has been another victim of being Black around a police officer, and the community has vowed to fight for justice and answers in Stallworth's case.

On May 16, friends, family including the victim's children, community members and fellow UPS workers gathered at Planters Walk Apartments, near a shrine made in Stallworth’s memory. The rally was organized mainly by family members. Some brought signs with pictures of Stallworth and many wore shirts that read “#Justice4Dee.” After about 70 protesters gathered, the crowd began marching, chanting, “Justice for Dee!” “Black lives matter!” and “What do we want? Answers! When do we want them? Now!” The crowd marched up to a busy intersection in front of Planters Walk Apartments. Protesters began waving their signs and continued chanting at the intersection for over two hours.

Some friends and relatives spoke to the crowd about their outrage and the need to fight for justice. One of Stallworth's relatives, Tamika Jones, spoke to the crowd, “We demand answers. D'Angelo was a father, a son, an employee, a lover. The police killed him for no reason.” One UPS employee brought a gift for Stallworth’s young son: a hat with Stallworth’s favorite basketball team, the L.A. Lakers. The crowd was very moved by this, especially since several of the UPS workers present at the rally where white and standing in solidarity with the largely Black crowd.

It wasn't long before three Jacksonville Sheriff's Office cars pulled up on the side of the road and began harassing the crowd of demonstrators. One UPS worker began chanting “Indict JSO! JSO lied!” and the crowd quickly joined him as the JSO officers tried quieting the protest down. The police spoke to a few of the protest organizers, who were mainly women related to Stallworth. The police knew that the crowd was angry and was going to continue demonstrating, so they stood far away from the crowd looking for excuses to move in and put an end to things. The crowd gave them no excuses and several protesters filmed the police as the demo continued for another half an hour.

As things began to wind down, a woman spoke out and thanked everyone for coming to support the fight for justice. A general consensus was reached that the next protest would happen in downtown Jacksonville near either the police station or the courthouse. The demo ended with a group prayer.

For more information and to get involved, please join the Facebook group: Justice 4 D'Angelo.

#JacksonvilleFL #PoliceBrutality #PeoplesStruggles #DangeloStallworth

Jacksonville, FL – Over 100 people attended a candlelight vigil at Planters Walk Apartments, May 13, in response to the police killing the day before of D'angelo Reyes Stallworth, a 28-year-old African American worker. Stallworth's family called the vigil, which brought out friends, coworkers and supporters from around Jacksonville.

Two white Jacksonville Sheriff's Office deputies killed Stallworth on May 12 after shooting him several times in the back. The police showed up at Planters Walk apartments to serve an eviction notice. They claimed that they thought Stallworth looked suspicious and got into a confrontation with him. As Stallworth ran away, both officers fired a combined six rounds, killing him.

While police claim that Stallworth drew a gun on them during their initial interaction, many witnesses and facts contradict their story. For instance, the gun that police allege Stallworth possessed was found on the patio, while the gun's magazine was found some distance away at the base of the apartment stairs.

At the vigil, Stallworth's family and their attorney, Eric S. Block, spoke briefly about the case. They emphasized that they saw serious contradictions in the police's narrative and that they would continue waging a struggle to win justice for Stallworth.

Stallworth worked at the United Parcel Service hub in Jacksonville, which is one of the three largest ground hubs for the company in the U.S. He was on medical leave from UPS when he was killed and was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Stallworth was due to return to work the following week. More than a dozen of his coworkers at UPS attended the vigil, many wearing UPS and Teamsters shirts.

Contrary to police descriptions of Stallworth as suspicious or threatening, supporters at the vigil who knew him gave a different story. “Dee was a wonderful loving person,” said Eboni Montgomery, one of Stallworth's coworkers at UPS. “It was never a dull moment with him. He could put a smile on anyone's face. That's why it's so hard to believe he's gone.”

#JacksonvilleFL #PoliceBrutality #Teamsters #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #UPS #UnitedParcelService #DangeloStallworth