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<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://www.workers.org/2023/09/73584/">workers.org</a>
<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Philadelphia youth react when charges dropped against killer cop</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">Betsey Piette - September 27, 2023<br></div>
<div><div id="gmail-attachment_73587" class="gmail-wp-caption"><p><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73587" src="https://www.workers.org/wp-content/uploads/MHXU97AeDgWqAK7s-678x423.png" alt="" width="399" height="249" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img" style="margin-right: 0px;"></p><p id="gmail-caption-attachment-73587" class="gmail-wp-caption-text">Protesters express outrage to charges being dropped against killer cop, Sept. 26.</p></div>
<p><span>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 </span><span>Wendy L. Pew to dismiss all charges
against Philadelphia police officer Mark Dial, who fatally shot Eddie
Irizarry, Jr on Aug. 14. </span></p>
<p><span>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.</span></p>
<p><span>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.</span></p>
<div id="gmail-attachment_73589" class="gmail-wp-caption"><p><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73589" src="https://www.workers.org/wp-content/uploads/DSC_3037-678x418.jpg" alt="" width="399" height="246" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img" style="margin-right: 0px;"></p><p id="gmail-caption-attachment-73589" class="gmail-wp-caption-text">Family of Eddie Irizarry, Jr. demand justice, Sept. 26.</p></div>
<p><b>Body cam supports murder charge</b></p>
<p><span>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. </span></p>
<p><span>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.” </span></p>
<p><span>T</span><span>he 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.</span></p>
<p><span>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.</span></p>
<p><span>It appears that Judge Pew based her decision in part on the highly questionable testimony of Dial’s partner, Officer </span><span>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.</span></p>
<p><span>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. </span></p>
<p><span>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). </span></p>
<p><span>Irizarry’s aunt, Zoraida Garcia, told CNN: “</span><span>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.”</span></p>
<p><span>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.</span></p></div>
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