[News] Philadelphia youth react when charges dropped against killer cop

[Anti-Imperialist News]

workers.org <https://www.workers.org/2023/09/73584/> Philadelphia youth
react when charges dropped against killer cop
Betsey Piette - September 27, 2023

Protesters express outrage to charges being dropped against killer cop,
Sept. 26.

Reminiscent of the mass reaction in the aftermath of the George Floyd
lynching in May 2020, angry youth reacted in a similar situation in
Philadelphia in the wake of a Sept. 26 decision by Philadelphia Municipal
Court Judge Wendy L. Pew to dismiss all charges against Philadelphia police
officer Mark Dial, who fatally shot Eddie Irizarry, Jr on Aug. 14.

As the evening developed, large groups of youth were taking to the streets
across the city. Reports are coming in of youth expropriating expensive
items from high priced Center City stores and in multiple shopping
corridors — beyond what the cops can control.

Earlier tonight, Irizarry’s family and community supporters protested
outside City Hall on Sept. 26. They demanded that the charges against Dial
be refiled. Over 100 protesters gathered for a rally at City Hall, followed
by a march around City Hall ending at the Criminal Justice Center at 13th
and Filbert Street, chanting “No good cops in a racist system.” Speakers
included Irizarry family members, and Mike Africa, who lost 11 family
members at the hands of the Philadelphia police in 1985.

Family of Eddie Irizarry, Jr. demand justice, Sept. 26.

*Body cam supports murder charge*

On Sept. 8, just days after he was fired from the Philadelphia PD, Dial was
charged with first degree murder, voluntary manslaughter and five other
counts by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.

Body cam video from Dial and his partner, Officer Michael Morris, provide
clear evidence to support the charges. The body cam videos also contradict
statements the officers initially made to reporters claiming Irizarry
“lunged at them with a 3-inch pocket knife while outside his car.”

The videos prove that while Irizarry never got out of his car, Dial exitted
his car with his weapon drawn, firing several shots through the windows of
Irizarry’s vehicle within seconds of his arriving at the scene. For what
was supposedly a “routine traffic stop,” prosecutors argued first-degree
murder charges were appropriate because Dial had his gun drawn before he
approached Irizarry’s car.

The officers claimed they ordered Irizarry to drop his weapon while he
allegedly was outside the car. However, not only did Irizarry not leave his
car, but — coming recently from Puerto Rico — he did not speak or
understand English.

It appears that Judge Pew based her decision in part on the highly
questionable testimony of Dial’s partner, Officer Michael Morris, who
claimed that he shouted “knife” when he approached Irizarry’s car. Yet the
video shows he yelled “gun,” claiming in court that he was afraid for his
life. (CNN, Sept. 26) In initial interviews with reporters, Morris is
backing up Dial’s claim that Irizarry was outside of his car.

At the hearing, Dial’s defense attorney claimed that Irizarry’s 3-inch
pocket knife “had a handle similar to a gun handle” and could have been
mistaken for a gun in the officers’ eyes. (Inquirer, Sept. 26) Yet in body
cam footage, the officers can be heard frantically trying to find the knife
in Irizarry’s car. Despite ample evidence of Dial’s guilt, Judge Pew
dismissed the charges.

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office disagreed with Pew’s decision
and refiled all seven charges with the Court of Common Pleas (a higher
court).

Irizarry’s aunt, Zoraida Garcia, told CNN: “They said there was a lack of
evidence. What more evidence do you want? You can see the video; the video
was played in the court. The judge has seen the video. For her to drop all
charges, she shouldn’t even be a judge. She dropped the charges, so it’s
okay for you to murder someone and get away with it.”

The struggle for justice for Eddie Irizarry Jr, — affectionately called
Junito by family members — is growing and will not stop until Dial and all
killer cops are jailed.
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