California Capitol Protest Highlights Deaths At Hands Of Law Enforcement
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Protesters in Sacramento marched from the state Capitol to the Department of Justice to focus attention on what they call wrongful police killings.
Wednesday's march was one of many across the country that was organized by The Coalition To End Police Terror.
Organizers tell CBS13 that the protest from Ferguson, Missouri, is now spilling onto the steps of the Capitol.
"They should be protecting and serving and not killing," said Jamier Sale.
Protesters were escorted by local officers they often mistrust and scrutinize. The coalition is hoping Sacramento onlookers will listen.
"There's definitely tension in Ferguson but there's tension all over and understandably so," said Estevan Hernandez.
The coalition believes the shooting that left unarmed teenager Michael Brown dead and officer Darren Wilson at the center of a grand jury investigation validates and underscores its message.
"Because in every single city if you're poor or if you're brown if you're a person of color the police profile you they beat you down and in many cases they kill you," Hernandez said.
Protesters illustrated their point at the Capitol by laying out cardboard coffins representing men, women and teens they say were killed by California law enforcement. The message is that the Ferguson shooting is not just Missouri's problem.
"We should find a way to get justice for this young man and all the other victims,"
Police say one protester was arrested for assault on an officer after allegedly striking them with a replica toy gun