Oscar Penn, the new state vice president for the Racial Justice Network’s Alabama chapter, speaks during a rally at the Opelika Police Department on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. Residents marched for justice in the death of Tias Cobb, the 25-year-old Auburn man who authorities said was shot and killed by a police officer responding to a “suspicious incident.”
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“Every time one of us is shot down, they start creating a narrative of what you have done to make a justified shooting or killing. Our lives are not insignificant. Never forget that,” Penn said. “We fight for justice, no matter race, creed or color, and injustice has got to be stamped out.”
Willis said she has a background in education and has taught many children and worked with many parents throughout her life. She said she will draw on that experience in her role as the local president in Lee County.
“We are all important. No matter the color, no matter our economic status, we are all important,” Willis said. “I’m going to work on behalf of the Lee County community with the state and at the national level, to bring education, to bring whatever is needed in order to stop the killing of our young Black men here in Opelika, in Auburn, Alabama.”
Resident LaWendy Willis speaks at a march for Tias Cobb and others who have died at the hands of police on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. Authorities said the 25-year-old Auburn man was shot and killed in August by a Opelika police officer responding to a “suspicious incident.”
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Johnson followed that up by emphasizing that Willis is the most important person for people in Lee County. He encouraged people to join the chapter and said Willis needs a secretary and a treasurer.
RJN committed to reducing crime in the Black communityÂ
While Saturday’s march was primarily about Cobb’s death and police brutality, the leaders of the Racial Justice Network also touched on gun violence and crime in communities as a whole. Brewer said when she started looking into Lee County, she noticed there were a lot of cases of Black people committing crimes against other Black people across the state.
“So while I appreciate everyone for being here today, I would appreciate it more if you would start holding your brothers and sisters feet to the fire as well,” Brewer said. “We want the police to stop killing us. We gotta stop killing us as well. We gotta be our brother and sister’s keeper.”
Johnson added to that by explaining the new curriculum initiative from the RJN called “Thou Shalt Not Kill,” which he said is for children ages 3 to 18 and is aimed at teaching Black history and preventing violence between Black people. He said it involves bringing buses that have been converted to classrooms with the education material to communities. Johnson said it has been successful already and he hopes to bring it to Lee County soon.Â
“We can put one or two buses in this county to go around teaching kids ‘Thou Shalt Not Kill,’ and their history,” Johnson said. “And you will see the change. It’s not a quick fix solution to the crime that’s happening, but I guarantee you six months to a year down the road, you would really see it.”
Willis said she would use her platform to educate the community and said she hopes to bring that program into the community soon.
‘Justice for Tias Cobb’: Dozens gather to protest Auburn man’s death, police brutality
Protestors carry signs and march down Martin Luther King Boulevard in Opelika to protest the death of Tias Cobb on Saturday. Authorities said the 25-year-old Auburn man was shot and killed by a Opelika police officer responding to a “suspicious incident.”
Alex Husting photos,
A protestor carries a sign asking the Opelika Police Department to release video footage of Tias Cobb’s death on Saturday. Dozens of protestors gathered for the event in Opelika called “A March Against Police Brutality: Justice for Tias Cobb.”
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Marchers carry signs and march down Martin Luther King Boulevard in Opelika. Authorities said the 25-year-old Auburn man was shot and killed by a Opelika police officer responding to a “suspicious incident.”
Alex Husting/
Marchers carry a sign in Opelika promoting the Racial Justice Network’s national gun violence hotline on Saturday. Protestors marched for justice in the death of Tias Cobb, the 25-year-old Auburn man who authorities said was shot and killed by a Opelika police officer responding to a “suspicious incident.”
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Bishop A.L. Dowdell, president of the Alabama chapter of the Racial Justice Network, speaks to protestors ahead of a protest. Attendees demanded justice in the death of 25-year-old Tias Cobb of Auburn and spoke against police brutality.
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Casey Jones, pictured in a camouflage hat, protests the death of Tias Cobb. Authorities said the 25-year-old Auburn man was shot and killed by a Opelika police officer responding to a “suspicious incident.”
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Bishop A.L. Dowdell, president of the Alabama chapter of the Racial Justice Network, speaks to protestors ahead of a protest. Attendees demanded justice in the death of Tias Cobb, the 25-year-old Auburn man who authorities said was shot and killed by a police officer responding to a “suspicious incident.”.
Alex Husting/,
Residents carry signs and march down Martin Luther King Boulevard in Opelika to protest against police brutality on Saturday.
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Residents carry signs and march down Martin Luther King Boulevard in Opelika to protest against police brutality on Saturday, Sept. 7.
Alex Husting photos,
Residents carry signs and march down Martin Luther King Boulevard to protest the death of Tias Cobb on Sept. 7. Authorities said the 25-year-old Auburn man was shot and killed by a Opelika police officer responding to a “suspicious incident.”
Alex Husting/
Candace Brewer, national president of the Racial Justice Network, leads a chant in Opelika at a march against police brutality on Saturday, Sept. 7.
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Elder James Johnson, CEO and founder of the Racial Justice Network, walks to the Opelika Police Department to protest against police brutality on Sept. 7.
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Residents turn onto North 10th Street and head to the Opelika Police Department to protest against police brutality on Sept. 7.
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Bishop Kenneth R. Carter holds a sign during the “A March Against Police Brutality: Justice for Tias Cobb” event.
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On Sept. 7, protestors marched down Martin Luther King Boulevard in the “A March Against Police Brutality: Justice for Tias Cobb” event.
Alex Husting/
Elder James Johnson, CEO and founder of the Racial Justice Network, speaks at the rally at the Opelika Police Department on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. Residents marched for justice in the death of Tias Cobb, the 25-year-old Auburn man who authorities said was shot and killed by a police officer responding to a “suspicious incident.”
Alex Husting,
A protestor holds a sign during the rally at the “A March Against Police Brutality: Justice for Tias Cobb” event on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 in Opelika.
Alex Husting/
A protestor holds a sign during the “A March Against Police Brutality: Justice for Tias Cobb” event on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 in Opelika.
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Attorney Ryan Williams with RCW Law Group speaks at the “A March Against Police Brutality: Justice for Tias Cobb” event on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 in Opelika.
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Lee County NAACP Branch 5038 President Laticia Smith carries a sign during the “A March Against Police Brutality: Justice for Tias Cobb” event on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 in Opelika.
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Resident LaWendy Willis speaks at a march for Tias Cobb and others who have died at the hands of police on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. Authorities said the 25-year-old Auburn man was shot and killed in August by a Opelika police officer responding to a “suspicious incident.”
Alex Husting,
Sylvester Williams wears a â€Justice 4 Tias’ shirt to protest the death of Tias Cobb on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. Authorities said the 25-year-old Auburn man was shot and killed by a Opelika police officer responding to a “suspicious incident.”
Alex Husting/
Sylvester Williams speaks during the “A March Against Police Brutality: Justice for Tias Cobb” event on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 in Opelika.
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Publish date : 2024-09-13 23:00:00
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