The Militant - November 11, 2013 -- Students walk out to protest cop’s killing of 13-year-old boy in Calif.

Vol. 77/No. 40 November 11, 2013

(front page)
Students walk out to protest cop’s
killing of 13-year-old boy in Calif.

Militant/Joel Britton

Demonstration Oct. 25 against killing of Andy López by police officer in Santa Rosa, Calif.

BY JOEL BRITTON
SANTA ROSA, Calif. — Hundreds of middle and high school students walked out of classes Oct. 25 to march from City Hall to a rally at the Sonoma County sheriff’s office to protest the Oct. 22 killing of 13-year-old Andy López at the hands of a deputy sheriff. Parents of some of the demonstrators also took part.

López was walking by an open field, where he and friends often played, carrying an air gun that shot plastic projectiles when an officer yelled at him. Within seconds, as López was turning around to see who was yelling, another officer fired eight bullets, seven of which struck the child.

The cop “should definitely be charged” said protest participant Alondra Guerrero, 14, a student at Santa Rosa High School. One student carried a sign saying, “Death penalty for BB gun?”

Students told the Militant that they are raising money to help López’s parents, who have led several protests.

A large memorial with photos of López and dozens of candles, flowers, a Mexican flag and balloons is at the site where he was killed. More protests are planned, including an “All Communities Mass Demonstration & Vigil” Oct. 30 sponsored by 100 Thousand Poets for Change.

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