DC Ferguson condemns lack of Federal charges for DC cops who killed Ralphael Briscoe

On the 16th of February, DC Ferguson released a statement condemning the refusal of a Federal jury to old DC cops even civally liable for the murder of Ralphael Briscoe during a "jump-out" attack by the police. Once again there is no justice for those murdered by the police, just the people. DC Ferguson has also called for a rally and march on Sunday, Feb 22 at 6PM starting at the Congress Heights Metro station. This protest will march to the 7th district police station.

DC Ferguson has released the press release below concerning the murder of Ralphael Briscoe by jump-outs:

#DCFerguson: “No Federal Civil Charges for Officers Who Murdered Ralphael Briscoe Underscores Need for Urgent Action on Police Abuses and an Immediate End to Militarized Jump-Out Tactics”

The clearing of Officers Leo and Torres of federal civil charges in the murder of Ralphael Briscoe demonstrates the urgent need for definitive solutions to the ongoing and widespread abuses perpetuated by law enforcement agencies in the District of Columbia and across the country.

Ralphael Briscoe was murdered by DC police in 2011, leading to an initial internal police investigation that not only resulted in the non-indictments of the officers involved in his execution, but also allowed the officers to return to duty to the same unit and same patrol. A few years later, Ralphael mother, Bridzette Lane, filed federal civil charges against Leo and Torres, in an attempt to attain some level of justice for the murder of her son. On February 13, 2015, in an egregious miscarriage of justice, these officers were cleared of federal civil charges.

The case of Ralphael Briscoe demonstrates the deadly consequence of militarized tactics, including the jump-out tactic, that allow police to terrorize Black communities and a “justice” system that allows police to murder with impunity.

The DCFerguson Movement has organized a campaign against jump-outs that has received national and international media attention. DCFerguson street teams have mobilized to gather signatures for the petition against jump-outs, which will be presented to D.C. City Council and the Mayor. Organizations and leaders across the city, including Black Lives Matter DMV, ThinkMoor, HandsUp Coalition, and the The Black Youth Project 100 have kept the movement for racial justice alive and at the forefront of public attention through a variety of direct actions and protest. The time is now for serious action on the local, state, and federal level. The militarization of the police in both weapons and tactics must end immediately.

DCFerguson also recognizes the indisputable linkages between militarized, racist policing and the dispossession of Black communities in the District of Columbia through discriminatory policies supported by city politicians and government entities. These entities have given law enforcement agencies license to protect profit and property at the expense of human lives, therefore only serving those with wealth and power, and facilitating the expulsion of disadvantaged communities from their own city. Ralphael was shot and killed in Ward 8 - a predominately Black neighborhood that is not only one of the more heavily policed areas in the city, but one of the more impoverished areas as well.

Ultimately actions must be taken to address the poverty and inequality that lie at the root of today’s racially and class biased criminal legal system. We plan to continue our efforts to end policies like “jump-outs” in the District as well as continuing to demand changes on the national level.

The #DCFerguson Movement was initiated by the National Black United Front, ANSWER Coalition, WE ACT Radio as well as organizers affiliated with ONE DC and of no particular affiliation.