SAN DIEGO
Cop killing of Black athlete sparks protest
By Bob
McCubbin
Close to a hundred people picketed in front of the Hall of
Justice in downtown San Diego on Aug. 27. They were protesting
the July 24 police killing of Demetrius DuBose.
DuBose was a 28-year-old Afri can American athlete. He was
football team captain while at the University of Notre Dame. He
later played professionally in the National Football
League.
According to police, DuBose charged at them with nunchukas
he had allegedly wrest led away from cops. The police said they
had been trying to arrest him outside of his home in Mission
Beach on suspicion of burglary. But the charge of burglary was
based on a misunderstanding that had been completely resolved
before the police arrived.
Moreover, according to witnesses who saw the shooting,
DuBose was bending down and had his back to the police when
they began shooting. The police shot DuBose nine times,
including six bullets in his back. Then they waited for him to
die.
Brian Watkins, the lawyer for DuBose's family, told the San
Diego Union Tribune: "He fell to the ground convulsing while
officers stood over him with guns still pointed at him. Rather
than render assistance, police continued to stand over him
another 10 minutes.
"Then one officer put on a rubber glove, checked his pulse,
and continued to wait. DuBose bled to death before he reached
the hospital."
The Coalition of African American Organizations--the
demonstration's sponsor--has promised to organize protests
every week until the police responsible for DuBose's death are
punished.
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