#Justice4AkaiGurley & Family @justice4akaigurley - Tumblr Blog

Trial Adjourned Until Tues 2/2 @ 9:45 am

2/1 Brooklyn, NY - The courtroom was packed this morning with supporters of Akai Gurley and his family including Akai's partner, his childhood caretaker, aunt and father. In addition, Assembly member Charles Barron and Frank Graham, father of Ramarley Graham were present alongside supporters from NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund, Black Youth Project 100, CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities and many others.

Peter Liang had 3 supporters and two rows of police solidarity including one row of PBA representatives.

Due to one juror being in the hospital this morning, the trial was postponed by the judge until tomorrow morning,Tuesday 2/2 at 9:45am.

#justice4akaigurley #akaigurley #BlackLivesMatter #LiangOnTrial #holdALLcopsaccountable

Jan 26: Criminal Trial of Peter Liang Day 2

January 26, 2016 Brooklyn- Support from a diverse community of Black, Asian & Latinx supporters remains strong for Akai Gurley and his family. When folks enter the courthouse, they go through security on the first floor and are again searched thoroughly and required to check cell phones and laptops before entering the courtroom. Everyone is required to adhere to these rules, except for NYPD employees who are able to walk past the line into the courtroom with cell phones in hand.

All of Akai Gurley’s supporters were able to get seats inside the courtroom today.

Overall, the witnesses who were called today established the sequence of events and painted a picture of what happened that night.

Significantly, the 2 officers who were first on the scene were called as witnesses and both said they immediately began to administer CPR to Akai at the direction of their supervisor. Both officers acknowledged trying to help him, even asking Melissa Butler his name so they could call it and said, “Stay with me” for several seconds.

In the afternoon, a forensic detective and forensic specialist were called to testify. The detective showed a video walk-through from the 8th floor to the 4th floor where bloodstains were found where Akai Gurley tumbled down.

Judge does not hold court on Wednesdays, and court will resume at 9:45am on Thursday, 1/28. There may not be court on 1/29 because the witness list was going very quickly.

#AkaiGurley #JusticeforAkaiGurley #PacktheCourt4Akai #LiangOnTrial #BlackLivesMatter #WhichSideAreYouOn #holdALLcopsAccountable #APIs4BlackLives

Jan 25: Criminal Trial of Peter Liang Day 1

January 25, 2016 Brooklyn- Nearly 70 supporters of the family of Akai Gurley packed the court today including the Justice for Akai Gurley Family Committee, ANSWER Coalition, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, NYC Shut It Down, Peoples Power Assemblies, NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities, Bronx Accountability and many more individuals and organizations who have continuously supported Akai's family over the past 14 months.

The courtroom was packed with attorneys and only about 20 seats remained open in the morning for Akai Gurley’s supporters. About 40 supporters of Akai Gurley's family were not able to enter the courtroom. When asked about an overflow room, court officers and the ADA Marc Fliedner responded that they would do what they could. An overflow room with a live circuit TV was never set up at any point despite organizers asking several times and making calls to Fliedner's office. The Brooklyn courts should find a way to set up a live circuit TV of the trial like there was for the Floyd v. City of New York case so that all New Yorkers who want to support Akai Gurley and his family and care about holding police accountable are able to watch the proceedings.

Significantly, the 911 tape of when Akai’s friend Melissa’s neighbor called was played in the courtroom. It’s a 7-minute recording of the neighbor saying “he’s breathing” in the first couple minutes of the tape and at one point saying he was no longer breathing as Melissa attempted to administer CPR through directions from the EMS technician on the phone. The tape also catches the neighbor saying, “there’s like a million cops but no ambulance” while she’s talking to EMS.

At 1pm, Akai's Aunt Hertencia Petersen and his cousin Mesha held a press conference covered by over 30 journalists including NY Times reporters and many major news stations. The press conference was emceed by Kerbie Joseph, member of the Justice for Akai Gurley Family Committee and ANSWER coalition. A statement from Akai's stepfather was read, and then his Aunt Hertencia read a statement.

Back inside, the witness who had been scheduled to be questioned was not present and court was adjourned for the day, but not before the judge predicted that the trial will end by Feb 8.

Akai's family is asking that folks pack the court but not bring signs, chant or heckle inside or outside the courtroom. We ask everyone for their solidarity and to adhere to their wishes.

#akaigurley #justiceforakaigurley #BlackLivesMatter #LiangOnTrial #HoldALLCopsAccountable #WhichSideAreYouOn