A rally and press conference
were held by the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) and
family of Douglas Zerby in front of the Long Beach Police Department
Headquarters on Jan. 11 to demand justice for Zerby and all victims of police
brutality in Long Beach. The crowd of family members, community supporters and
activists grew to about 100 people.
LBPD surrounded Zerby on Dec.
12 around 4:40 p.m. Police Chief Jim McDonnell admitted in a press conference
that no verbal warning or command was given for
Zerby to drop the object in his hands, a water hose nozzle, in the more
than 15 minutes the officers were present prior to the killing. He was ambushed
and it was “target practice for the Long Beach Police Department,” according to
the Zerby family’s attorney, Brian Claypool.
During the press conference,
Claypool stated that the names of the officers involved in the shootout still
remain unknown, and that requests to City Council members for time to speak
about the tragedy and address police violence have been given a “resounding
no.”
Stevie Merino spoke for the
ANSWER Coalition, noting that the Mayor’s State of the City Address was
happening simultaneously across town, and that, “one of the things they will
not be discussing today, is the unjust and cruel killing of Douglas Zerby at
the hands of the trigger happy Long Beach Police Department.”
Eden Marie Biele, Zerby’s
sister, also spoke demanding that there be “policy changes for the Long Beach
Police Department” and of the pain and frustration that her family has suffered
this past month.
Doug Kauffman of the ANSWER
Coalition closed the conference by saying, “We are here to say enough is
enough. We don’t have to take this anymore . . . we are going to reach out to
Black, Latino, white, Cambodian, Filipino and all peoples in this city to join
us. No one in this city has been left unaffected by police killings and
violence.”
Following the press conference,
a picket line was formed, and loud militant
chants such as “LBPD you are guilty!” and “Justice for Douglas!” filled the
air. Community members carried placards that read, “Justice for Douglas Zerby!”
and “LBPD: Shoot first, Lie later,” as they picketed.
The action was successful in bringing together the community and family members
to show the LBPD that a sustained movement to win justice has been launched.
The ANSWER Coalition demands a transparent investigation and the arrest of
officers responsible for Zerby’s killing. Long Beach must continue to organize
and fight back. Join the family and the ANSWER Coalition on Jan. 18 at 5 pm on
the corner of Pacific Ave. and Ocean Blvd. to rally and speak out for justice.
