On January 26, communities across Southern Connecticut were outraged to learn that State’s Attorney Maureen Platt decided to press no charges against James Boulay, a Bridgeport police officer who killed unarmed 15-year-old Jayson Negron in May.
The Justice for Jayson movement, spearheaded by Jayson’s family and many organizations from different cities, has been building awareness and fightback since Jayson was brutally gunned down on May 9. On January 26, activists and community members in the coalition first mobilized to gather outside the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s office to await the announcement of what charges, if any, would be filed against Boulay.
The office kept people, including Jayson’s family, outside in the cold for over three hours later than their scheduled appointments with the state’s attorney, and finally issued the declaration that Boulay would not be prosecuted and the shooting was justified.
Immediately following the travesty in Waterbury, community members converged in Bridgeport despite the police department’s attempt to block off streets and intimidate protesters. Family, friends and supporters shared Jayson’s story and memories of him, and laid out a plan of action.
Jayson’s killing
On May 9, 2017, 15-year-old Jayson Negron and his friend Julian were headed to a studio to work on music together when their car was chased and surrounded by Bridgeport cops. James Boulay shot Jayson in the chest multiple times and shot Julian too (who luckily survived). Jayson was dragged out of the car, slammed on the ground and handcuffed, and given no medical attention until it was too late. Jayson’s body was left lying in the street for over six hours.
Bridgeport police offered some unbelievable stories. The police chief said that Jayson died instantly — even lying blatantly that he was shot in the head — despite video showing Jayson alive on the ground long after he was shot, and Jayson’s surviving friend Julian confirming that he was alive long after they were both dragged out of the car. Police accounts claim that Boulay was struck by the car and “dragged under it,” while somehow still succeeding in shooting both the driver and the passenger.
In looking at cases of police violence across the country, we see various versions of “fearing for one’s life” inevitably surfacing to try to excuse killing unarmed people. The reality is that police are trained to kill. They appear to have no remorse after taking the lives of poor Black and Brown people, even unarmed youth like Jayson. Their word is taken at face value when they take those lives.
The State Attorney’s office cleared Boulay and showed tremendous disrespect to Jayson’s family by refusing to watch the video of Jayson’s death — which would have been evidence of the police department lying about how he died. Over half a year after Jayson’s death, family and friends who had fought so hard for justice are left mourning and terrified that Jayson’s killer will be allowed back on the streets to patrol and possibly harm other people.
Fightback in Bridgeport
Immediately after the announcement that Boulay had been cleared, between 300 and 400 people converged on Bridgeport and gathered in the spot where Jayson was killed. Multiple organizations
were present, including People Against Police Brutality, Black Lives Matter, CT Core, Unidad Latina en Accion, the Party for Socialism and Liberation and many more. Kerry Ellington, an organizer with People Against Police Brutality in New Haven, addressed the crowd, promising that the fight for justice wasn’t over and that the police and government should not think for a minute that Jayson’s supporters were going to go home.
“His spirit is here with us,” Ellington said. Jazmarie Melendez, Jayson’s sister, spoke powerfully to both supporters and police. “They think we want to be here. All I want is to be home hugging my brother… Those are the riot-starters over there. They’re ready to shoot us. I don’t want there to be another brother, another sister, another friend that this happens to,” she said. “This decision doesn’t break us. This decision doesn’t make us feel weak. We fought so hard for Jayson up to this point and we’re going to keep fighting for Jayson.”
Organizers laid out a plan of action: Jayson’s supporters should not give up and should redouble the pressure on the Criminal Justice Commission of Connecticut to reopen the investigation immediately. The crowd grew, took the streets and marched to the Bridgeport City Hall Annex, filling the air with chants of “Justice for Jayson,” “No justice — no peace, no racist police” and singing “Jayson was a freedom fighter and he showed us how to fight! We gonna fight all day and night until we get it right!”
Jayson’s music was played on the loudspeaker as the community marched on the government building. On the steps of the building, supporters from many backgrounds spoke out. Jesus Morales Sanchez, an organizer with Unidad Latina en Accion, spoke on the systemic nature of police violence against both immigrant communities and Black and Brown citizens. He called for unity in ongoing action.
Organizers called out State’s Attorney Maureen Platt, the police chief and Bridgeport mayor Joe Ganim for colluding to deny Jayson’s family justice and closure. “It’s a no-go, Joe!” was a popular chant as the crowd moved back to the site of Jayson’s killing, past dozens of police officers blocking the streets.
At the end of the march, family and supporters held 20 minutes of silence in remembrance of Jayson, vowed to keep fighting and urged everyone to attend the police commission meeting on February 20 to keep putting pressure on the state. “I don’t want my friends, I don’t want the people who are here to have to deal with this anymore,” said Jazmarie. “There needs to be change in this system.” To learn more and support the Justice for Jayson movement, visit www.justiceforjayson.com.
