Vol. 73/No. 38      October 5, 2009

Rockford police shot and killed Barmore in a church day care center. Barmore was not armed. The two white cops involved have been placed on administrative leave.

Demonstrators also drew attention to Rockford’s unemployment, which is among the highest in the country for a metropolitan area, officially at 15 percent.

Damesha Barmore, the slain youth’s cousin, said, “They figure they got a badge and can do whatever they want. They should get the same treatment as everybody else who killed someone.”

Rev. Jesse Jackson and NAACP president Ben Jealous also addressed the crowd.

John Lyke, Jr., the attorney for the family, along with the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and the NAACP, has called for an investigation into the case by the Department of Justice.

City officials and the police have actively campaigned to justify the cops’ action. One thousand people marched in support of the cops in downtown Rockford September 19.

The Illinois NAACP has called for a march for justice for Barmore on October 3 at 1:00 p.m. at the Discovery Center, 711 North Main Street, Rockford.  
 
 
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