Community Activists Petition FBI, Ask For Federal Investigation Into Denver Police Department
DENVER (CBS4)- Community activists have delivered a petition to the FBI asking for a federal investigation of the Denver Police Department after the officer-involved shooting death of a 17-year-old girl.
They are upset over the shooting death of Jessie Hernandez. She was shot and killed last month by police who say she was driving a stolen car and tried to run down officers.
The Colorado Anti-violence group and Presente.com delivered 20,000 signatures they collected online to the FBI office in Denver, asking for an investigation.
They're asking for a federal investigation of the Denver Police Department for the death of Hernandez and other minorities killed by officers last year.
Cecilia Kluding-Rodriguez said minorities, along with the LGBTQ community have been targeted by Denver police, "As young people of color we know that an officer knows that his life is more valuable than ours."
The group then gathered in the alley near 26th and Newport where Hernandez was killed. They carried signs with her picture and the words "Rest In Power."
"They failed to recognize that Jessie was a human being that did have a life and fall back on what the narrative that is delivered by the officers," said Kluding-Rodriguez.
Several people also lit candles at the vigil and laid flowers in the spot where Hernandez was shot.
As for the petition, the Department of Justice generally allows local district attorneys investigate the case and then get involved if they feel it is necessary.
