Gonzalo Martinez
an unarmed man killed by Downey Police Department on February 15, 2002
__________________________________________________________________________________
This page is dedicated to justice for the death of Gonzalo Martinez!
KEEP CHECKING BACK. WE WILL BE POSTING VERY INFORMATIVE ANONYMOUS LETTERS TO THE SITE!
CITY COUNCIL STATEMENTS
The following should present itself as a series of open statements to the Downey City Council. As they are posted the council members should have heard every word. This a means of documenting that the council members have been noticed regarding certain details of the case. The reason being that the Mayor, NMeredith Perkins, calims to not have watched the video of Gonzalo's Death.
City Council Meeting - November 5, 2002
My name is Robert Douglas, resident of the South Bay area.
I come before you today in hopes that you will try and open your minds to the corruption that is happening within the Downey Police Department. That you as Mayor, Police Chief and City Council Members will look beyond petty politics, public relations and most of all racism.
I was raised and educated in both South Gate and Downey and know first hand what it*s like to be different and be harassed by police and other community members in Downey. Although I am a so called white american, my friends and I have always stood out from the mainstream whether we were punks, goths, skaters, Latinos, Asian or African Americans. Of course I could shed my clothes in defeat but people of color can not shed their skin.
I know that racism exist in police departments. I have relatives on local police forces and therefore have first hand knowledge of the repertoire. It*s also been proven in case after case of racial profiling throughout history and especially in the history of the Los Angeles area. Whether you want to admit it or not you know that white families have left Downey because they felt the Latinos were moving in. I know because my family did. I know because my friends families did.
I know that Sergeant Dan Murray is a racist because it has been documented in every police brutality case he has against him. These are the cases where people had the courage to stand up and complain or else had been struck or shot by Officer Murray. Who knows how many other cases exist. I know and you know in your hearts that Dan Murray is a racist and we all know that Dan Murray shot and participated in the killing of Gonzalo Martinez.
I also know that there were several anonymous letters sent to the Martinez family and to you Mr. Mayor from someone who is obviously on the inside of the workings of the city of Downey. This person knows not only about the records of several of your police officers but also knows in depth about there personal lives. The claims of those letters must be investigated. This person states that almost all of the officers that have been abusing their positions have been promoted or at the very least not reprimanded for their crimes against society. He or she also states that several officers have left Downey P.D. in exchange for lower paying jobs due to the corruption. There is something truly wrong at the core and the very top of the Downey Police Department.
The conflicts in the Martinez case alone are enough to warrant a revolution. The coroners report states that Gonzalo made a futile movement with his left hand. After realizing that he had already been shot in his left shoulder the preliminary police report states that it was his right hand. The list goes on and on and on and on and I*m not going to stand here and tell you what you already know.
Keep in mind that I do not think ill of all police officers. I have relatives that are polices officers. but I do think ill of those who do not report brutality and wrongdoing. There are obviously good cops and they should be rewarded.
Is the city of Downey looking for another Rampart scandal? Because it is coming. And what I have to say to you Mr. Mayor and Mr. Police Chief is that it is your humane duty to protect the people of Downey and to serve them. If you are looking at the slightest possibility of corruption on your police force or within your government it is your duty to stand up for the people of your community not the abuse of the people of your community. You must lead other police departments by never putting political, monetary or public relations gains in front of abusing your loved ones and neighbors. You must learn to love every human the same. Racism is not an option and you should fight it within yourself and your departments.
We are not fools to be laughed off and joked about with your buddies. We are tireless and we will never give up. The Martinez family is tireless and they will never give up. We are in a time where great numbers of the community are watching every move you make and if you don*t handle these things properly you and all involved will fall.
JUSTICE FOR GONZALO.