Fear and Doubt Hang Over Immigrant Community Impact of Police Shooting in Yarmouth, MA |
On Sunday, July 27th, Andre L. Martins, 25, a Brazilian immigrant and the young father of a 5-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old son, was killed by the first of three gunshots by Officer Christopher Van Ness in Yarmouth, MA. Last Friday, after eight weeks of investigations, the District Attorney's Office produced a report that concludes, "no reasonable fact finder could conclude that the officer in discharging his weapon after issuing commands to the operator, after observing the operator accelerate toward him as he occupied a four to five foot space between his cruiser and the path of the vehicle, had an unreasonable apprehension of great bodily harm. In fact, it must be proven that the officer's apprehension of great bodily harm was unreasonable beyond a reasonable doubt in order to sustain legal proceedings against him. Therefore, there will be no further official action by this office with respect to the case."
The following is a statement by Eva A. Millona, Acting Executive Director of the MIRA Coalition:
"We were not there, nor did we witness the event, so we cannot know what really happened that night. What we do know is the impact on the community today. Many are afraid. Many are angry. All are rightfully concerned. It is understandable how many in the community are left to doubt, for there are many causes for doubt in these difficult times."
"Immigrant communities are now under constant attack. Media personalities and politicians continue to use immigrants as scapegoats, unfairly blaming immigrants for all our shared problems in healthcare, the economy, and crime. This climate has produced armed vigilantism with groups like the Minutemen. This climate led three high school football stars to scream racial anti-immigrant epithets and beat a young Mexican man to death, in Shenandoah, PA, just two months ago."
"We live in a climate of fear. The sense of siege is visceral but the anti-immigrant lynch mob mentality is not the only cause of fear. Government and law enforcement officials have also been creating a sense of siege and terror in immigrant communities, as a pattern of abuse and neglect builds among recent cases."
"Last month, a young immigrant father died in a Rhode Island prison after months of neglect, left to suffer for months, and eventually to die from illness and injuries that included a broken spine. Another young immigrant mother of two arrested for an immigration violation, died last month in solitary confinement, in a county jail in Kentucky."
"Martin's father, a police officer in Brazil, stated that his son might have tried to flee the local police, afraid to stop because he did not have a valid driver's license. While this is another reason policymakers should expand access to licensure and insurance for all capable drivers, that alone will not alleviate the climate of fear gripping the community."
"It is in the best interest of the Yarmouth police, the Cape Cod community, and the entire state, for local police departments to reach out to the diverse community who they are charged to protect. Public safety is best served when the local police has the trust of the public and the community."
"Police and other law enforcement officials must strive to communicate effectively and openly with the community. Every effort should be made to be as transparent and forthcoming as possible. Police departments should ensure that every officer is trained properly, not only in the minimal duties of policing, but also in understanding and working with the diverse communities in his/her jurisdiction."
"Only through the development and deepening of trust and cooperation can the community embrace the police as reflective and representative of the public trust."
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Andre L. Martins' family, his wife, and his young children who are now left fatherless."
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### MIRA works to advocate for the rights and opportunities of immigrants and refugees. In partnership with its members, MIRA advances this mission through education, training, leadership development, organizing, policy analysis and advocacy. |
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