On Aug. 3 at 9:00 a.m. in Central Islip, protesters from all across Long Island gathered to support the families of 19-year old Keenan King and 20-year old Anthony Holmes-Garriques, both of whom were killed in June by a vigilante. The families were gathered to await the indictment of Christopher Bouchard – the man who murdered their sons.
The families entered the courtroom while supporters rallied outside with signs that read “Justice for Keenan and Anthony” and “Black Lives Matter.” Protesters spent the hour outside the courtroom chanting “No justice, no peace” and “Increase the charges” to demand that Bouchard be charged with murder. After an hour, the families were told that the hearing would be postponed to October 6.
On June 23, Christopher Bouchard was arrested and charged with reckless
endangerment for mowing down King and Holmes-Garriques, killing them both.
Bouchard claims he believed the bikes to have been stolen and pursued the two despite calling the police first to report the stolen bikes. Witnesses reported seeing Bouchard driving at least 100 mph into oncoming traffic to have a full-on collision with the two young men, killing King on the spot and injuring Holmes-Garriques who died in the hospital. Witnesses also reported Bouchard and his brother, after killing King, attempted to load the bikes into their pickup truck to speed off.
Bouchard was only charged with reckless endangerment — a charge that is often given to drunk drivers, not those who murder in cold blood. The family and their supporters are demanding that the charges be increased to murder and that Bouchard’s brother be indicted as an accomplice.
These killings were not accidents. It is clear that Bouchard and his brother must be held accountable for the murder of these two young men. Bouchard’s brother, despite being in the car alongside him, was not charged with anything.
If Bouchard is only given a slap on the wrist, it will be just another way for the justice system to say that Black lives do not matter.
The segregation and oppression of Black people on Long Island are not new. Long Island has historically been the birthplace of both the American suburb and pioneered the racist practice of segregationist redlining. People of color in Long Island face the deadly threat of the ever growing Klan and racist right-wing militias, as they explode in the era of Trump. Communities of color in Suffolk County are still deprived of adequate access to public transportation, education, and justice.
The community however, is not accepting business as usual. People walking by leaving the courtrooms stopped, chanted, and shouted for justice. Protesters assembled from all over Suffolk County and Long Island, mobilized by a flyer circulated on social media alone. It is clear that a new movement is brewing. One protester, Gladys, explained, “I can feel it, a change is going to come.”
All those in attendance committed themselves to keeping the pressure on until the District Attorney hears and meets their demands. The people say no to racist vigilantes, no to white supremacy, and demand justice for Keenan King and Anthony Holmes-Garriques!
