Green Bay, WI – The family of Jonathon Tubby, an Oneida Nation man killed by the Green Bay Police Department in October 2018, has vowed to continue fighting for justice even after a federal judge dismissed their wrongful death lawsuit against the city. Speaking at a May 23 press conference, on the Oneida Nation Indian Reservation, the Tubby family responded to Judge William Griesbach's decision with a renewed call for changes to the policing system in the United States.

“Judge Griesbach had a great chance to make some changes, he could've created the start of systematic change,” said Sue Doxator, Jonathon's aunt. “He missed out on this opportunity for so many people.”

Doxator continued, “It shows how deeply rooted the corruption is, and how much harder we have to fight for these changes to accountability and justice and to make sure people feel safe in their own town.”

The family also revealed that Brown County had sent them a bill for over $19,000 to cover the costs of investigating the killing of their own family member, highlighting again how the legal system in America punishes those who try to seek actual justice.

Asked whether they will pay the bill and what the plan is going forward, the Tubby family said they are appealing the decision in the 7th Circuit Court and will continue to fight for justice and police accountability for Jonathon and all victims of police crimes.

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“The family of Jonathon Tubby supports the decision of the Green Bay city council for finally getting body cams for the police force. In Jonathon’s case it’s too late but we hope this prevents any Green Bay officer from killing anyone else. Everything we’ve done since October 19, 2018 was to prevent any other family from experiencing what we went through,” read a statement prepared for Fight Back! by the Tubby family after the decision.

The statement continued, “We hope that having the body cams will prevent more killings and hold officers accountable for their actions. We also hope that the body cams will hold officers accountable for not stepping in and protecting the people they are to protect and serve.”

The total package for the police department includes the body cameras and training officers in de-escalation. A significant portion of the cost was covered by the Green Bay Packers football team, which offered approximately $750,000 to offset the purchase. Many of the city council members raised concerns about the price of the body cameras, but ultimately relented as members of the Green Bay community attending the virtual council meeting called their priorities into question.

The only video evidence of Tubby’s murder came from cameras in the police vehicles. Due to “lack of evidence” and incomplete and false officer testimony, Erik O’Brien was never charged, and later received a promotion to sergeant by the department.

The requirement of body cameras by GBPD is an important step in making sure the people of Green Bay can hold out-of-control police officers accountable for their violence. It shows how community demands can force a police department to take a second look at their conduct. That being said, many understand that simply having these cameras is not enough.

“We celebrate the council’s vote as a victory in the struggle for justice for Jonathon, but we know that cops in other cities around the country continue to kill and get away with murder even while wearing cameras,” said Aodhan Bowman, a member of the Wisconsin Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. “In order to hold these killers accountable, and try to prevent more of the same from happening again, we need community control of the police and CPAC.”

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Approximately 100 vehicles were in a procession through the Oneida reservation with signs reading, “No justice – no peace” and “Justice for Jonathon.” They made stops in residential streets, where they were greeted with cheers and raised fists in solidarity with the Nation, and distributed treats to watching children.

Jonathon Tubby was taken into police custody in October 2018, where he was shot five times by officer Erik O’Brien while “unarmed, in handcuffs, face-down, [and] restrained by a police canine.” Lawyers for the accused officers have moved to dismiss the lawsuit by blaming Jonathon for his own death, saying, “Any injuries or damages suffered by Mr. Tubby were caused by reason of his own wrong acts.”

The family and their allies within the city of Green Bay, across the state of Wisconsin, and across the country, will not rest until justice has been achieved. Officer O’Brien must be immediately fired from the Green Bay Police Department, the case needs to be reopened, and this killer cop must be charged and convicted of murder.

#GreenBayWI #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #IndigenousPeoples #PoliceBrutality #Antiracism #OneidaNation #JonathonTubby #JusticeForJonathonTubby