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 – Palestinian solidarity activists attended a vigil, May 15, commemorating the Nakba, Arabic for “catastrophe,” the genocidal expulsion of Palestinians by the Zionists. From 1947 to 1949, Palestinians were killed and pushed from their homes in the drive to create Israel.

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, Utah—On May 2, more than 100 people rallied in celebration of International Workers Day. The event, put on by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, drew a large crowd to the steps of the city and county buildings. The people gathered to show solidarity with workers, immigrants, national and international movements.

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- A dozen people gathered in front of the Wallace F. Bennet Federal Building on March 20 to protest on the anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Salt Lake City, UT – Protesters came together in Salt Lake City, March 12, just hours after Rasmea Odeh walked out of a courtroom in Detroit and greeted 200 cheering supporters. Odeh is out on bond pending the appeal of her conviction for an immigration fraud charge. Odeh’s sentence of 18 months in prison and deportation was put on hold.

Salt Lake City, UT – More than 50 people gathered at the steps of the Utah State Capitol, Feb. 25, in honor of three young Arab American Muslims murdered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. On Feb 10, Craig Hicks gunned down Deah Shaddy Barakat, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha.

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 – Hundreds of people rallied at the Wallace Bennett Federal Building the night of Dec. 6, the latest in an ongoing string of protests organized by Utah Against Police Brutality. After the failure to indict Officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, a grand jury in Staten Island let NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo walk away without charges. Officer Pantaleo used an illegal chokehold on Eric Garner, resulting in what the coroner ruled a homicide.

Salt Lake City, UT – More than 1000 people rallied in front of the Wallace Bennett Federal Building on Nov. 29 to stand in solidarity with the people of Ferguson in their fight for justice. Protesters were both mournful about the police murder of Mike Brown and furious about the failure of the Ferguson grand jury to indict Brown’s killer. The large turnout in Salt Lake City is due to killer cops and police brutality in Utah, where many families are suffering injustices.

Salt Lake City, UT – 40 protesters waited in chilling weather for the Ferguson grand jury announcement. They anticipated the failure to indict police officer Darren Wilson for murdering Mike Brown by chanting “From Ferguson to SLC, end police brutality!” and “No justice, no peace, no killer police!” A body-armored Department of Homeland Security officer with an attack dog came over to inform protesters where they could exercise their rights – a clear attempt at intimidation.

Salt Lake City, UT – 70 activists gathered on Nov. 19 for a meeting of Utah Against Police Brutality at the main public library. Utah Against Police Brutality is dedicated to organizing the struggle against killer cops in Utah. People discussed everything from leading protests, to raising awareness through social media, to pressuring local politicians to change legislation.

Salt Lake City, UT – Activists rallied in front of the Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building on Nov. 16, as part of a national week of action in support of Palestinian American leader Rasmea Odeh. Participants were urged to write letters of support to Rasmea Odeh, now in Saint Clair County Jail, Port Huron, Michigan. Supporters are also making donations to her defense fund. Information can be found at stopfbi.net.

Salt Lake City, UT – Fifteen anti-war activists gathered in front of the William F Bennet Federal Building on Nov. 4 to stand in solidarity with Rasmea Odeh. Rasmea Odeh is an Arab American and women's rights activist being targeted by the FBI for her political activism. The U.S. government is attempting to weaken the Palestinian solidarity and anti-war movements. People protested across the country on the opening day of Rasmea Odeh’s trial in Detroit, including in Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake City, UT – The Utah County Attorney justified the shooting death of 22-year-old Darrien Hunt by white police officers Schauerhamer and Judson. Hunt was confronted by the Saratoga Springs police officers on September 10. He was carrying a toy sword as a prop while cosplaying, dressed as an anime (cartoon) character. Someone who saw him walking on the street called 911 and reported him as suspicious. Within minutes, Hunt was shot dead while being questioned by police.

Salt Lake City, UT – Over 100 activists gathered at the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building, Oct. 22, to protest police brutality. The protesters demanded justice for Darrien Hunt, the most recent victim murdered by officers of the Saratoga Springs Police Department, as well as all victims brutalized by police. Carrying signs that read “Comply or die is not the law” and holding photos of their loved ones murdered by the police, the crowd chanted slogans including, “From Ferguson to SLC, end police brutality,” and “Not a penny, not a dollar, we won’t pay for police to slaughter.”

Salt Lake City, UT – Over 100 activists gathered at the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building, Oct. 22, to protest police brutality. The protesters demanded justice for Darrien Hunt, the most recent victim murdered by police in Salt Lake City, as well as all victims brutalized by police. Carrying signs that read “Comply or die is not the law” and holding photos of their loved ones murdered by the police, the crowd chanted slogans including, “From Ferguson to SLC, end police brutality,” and “Not a penny, not a dollar, we won’t pay for police to slaughter.”