Friday, April 18, 2003

On Wednesday, April 16th, friends and family members of Gonzalo Martinez, the family attorney, representatives from the ACLU, October 22nd and anti-police brutality activists comprised a delegation to District Attorney Steve Cooley's offices to demand indictments of the Downey police responsible for
shooting Gonzalo Martinez on the night of February 15, 2002. The event drew several radio, newspaper and TV outlets. In the Thursday, April 17th California section of the LA Times, there is a news article about the event and short update on the status of the case.

As we prepared for our delegation to go to Cooley's office, protesters in front of the Criminal Courts Building held banners and placards demanding
justice for Gonzalo. One large banner featured a frame by frame photo account of the shooting of Gonzalo, which includes clear-cut evidence that
his hands were in the air when he was shot. Activists came to the event from Long Beach, Pasadena, Downey, and LA to show their support.

As many October 22nd Coalition activists are aware, Gonzalo Martinez was cut down in a hail of automatic machine gun fire by Downey police. The shooting
was videotaped by a media "stringer" and the tape of this murder has been shown internationally, in Latin America and in Europe, as well as in the U.S.
The videotape shows Gonzalo in his car, surrounded by many Downey police. After several minutes Gonzalo gets out of his car, facing the police with
both of his hands in the air. Unarmed, clearly no threat to anyone, his hands in the air -- it's at that point the Downey police open fire with their automatic assault weapons. 34 shots are fired and Gonzalo is hit numerous times. After being shot, clearly fighting for his life, rather that call for medical help, the Downey Police leave him there to die, surrounded by Downey
cops and barking police canines.

Since Gonzalo's murder by police, the family and friends of Gonzalo Martinez along with many others have been holding protests to shine a spotlight on
this egregious killing. Gonzalo's parents have traveled to Argentina, with the Stolen Lives book, to expose what happened to their son and to build support. They attended the national meeting of October 22nd to talk about their case and hook up with other family members. For months they have spoken out at Downey City Council meetings. Anti-police brutality activists have come from all over Southern California into Downey to hold protests of several hundred people to make sure this case is not "pushed under the rug" like so many others. The ACLU has worked with the family as well, fighting for their right to protest.

Nevertheless the Downey police and city government have not indicted the cops who shot Gonzalo. Instead, they proposed "officer of the year" awards to those responsible. Norma, Gonzalo's mother, told them you will do this "over my dead body." They backed down from delivering these awards to the killer cops, however not one cop has been charged.

The LA District Attorney's office says they are investigating the case. They told our delegation the results of the investigation will be complete in a
few weeks. This police murder must not be swept under the rug! We are calling on everyone to call, email or write District Attorney Steve Cooley
and urge him to bring these killer cops to justice.

The Downey police officers who shot Gonzalo Martinez are:

Brian Baker
Ronald Gee
William Kautz

These officers were supervised by:

Sgt. Dan Murray

Contact LA District Attorney Steve Cooley at:

Telephone: (213) 974-3512
Fax: (213) 974-1484
Email: lada@co.la.ca.us
(cc to nobrutality@cs.com)

Los Angeles Office
October 22nd Coalition
(213) 413-4755

Norberto Martinez, Gonzalo's father, says he can't bare to look at the banner he is holding, "Its just too painful," that shows stills from the video footage taken of his son when he was murdered.

another stolen life... justice for Gonzalo!!!!!!!!!

The Police arrogance has no limits

Its ashamed that Mr.Martinez was killed but the simple facft of the matter is that if he would have stoped when he was supposed to he would still be alive today. i have read in many stories that Gonzalo had never had any problems with the police and was a good kid thefore i can not see any reason why he ran the way he did . its sad whenever a good person is killed or dies but as painful as it may sound Gonzalo was partialy to blame for his own unfortunate death . thank you very much ........

It's absurd to suggest that since he didn't stop he deserved to be killed. I think what people need to understand is that to folks of color the police are like lions. They may be friendly one moment, but they can turn on us at any minute and try to bite our heads off. So yes, It is understandable that a person of color with no criminal record was afraid of the police. Imagine if a lion was running behind you, wouldn't you be nervous? And maybe your judgment would little off. So don't blame the victim. Try to understand! It can't hurt you. These fucking police are a bunch of cowards, how many of them does it take to subdue ONE person? FUCK THEM.

I went to school with Gonzo and from what I remember he was noting but a party animal. Did you even know him? Are you one of the so called "Friends of Gonzo"? Where were all of these "friends" when he was driving home drunk or when he wouldn't stop for police. I support the Downey PD or give a fuck about them or do I give a FUCK about Gonzo. To me it is just one less drunk driver off the street. I wish everyone would stop making him out to be some innocent victim because he is far from that and his family knows that their just looking for a free ride. Just to prove that I'm not talking out of my ass. Gonzo was voted most bizzare for our class of 1993! That should say it all!!

I went to school with Gonzo and from what I remember he was noting but a party animal. Did you even know him? Are you one of the so called "Friends of Gonzo"? Where were all of these "friends" when he was driving home drunk or when he wouldn't stop for police. I don't support the Downey PD or give a fuck about them, but more importantly I don't give a FUCK about Gonzo. To me it is just one less drunk driver off the street. I wish everyone would stop making him out to be some innocent victim because he is far from that and his family knows that their just looking for a free ride. Just to prove that I'm not talking out of my ass. Gonzo was voted most bizzare for our class of 1993! That should say it all!!

I went to school with Gonzo and from what I remember he was noting but a party animal. Did you even know him? Are you one of the so called "Friends of Gonzo"? Where were all of these "friends" when he was driving home drunk or when he wouldn't stop for police. I don't support the Downey PD or give a fuck about them, but more importantly I don't give a FUCK about Gonzo. To me it is just one less drunk driver off the street. I wish everyone would stop making him out to be some innocent victim because he is far from that and his family knows that their just looking for a free ride. Just to prove that I'm not talking out of my ass. Gonzo was voted most bizzare for our class of 1993! That should say it all!!

'Cop kill a creep, Pow Pow Pow!'
trouble coming everyday

I'm mentally unstable.

Don't you care?

How #$%@%@$%can you be. Have you seen a picture of Gonzalo. He looks white. I'm sick of people saying this was a racist act since he was of color. Again, he looks white!!! Open your eyes...he was drunk and running from police. What if he would have hit a innocent bistander?What if it was your child driving next to Gonzo? Luckily the Downey Police stopped him before any real INOCENT people were killed. These so called Gonzo supporter are looking for something else...not justice. The police did what they had to do, they gave the Downey residents justice and protection from people like Gonzo. Gonzo was strange...he had no family life, he was a raver and alcoholic, so his mother is in denial. She and Gonzo didn't even get along because of his attitude. PLEASE PEOPLE....GIVE IT UP! It's over, the investigation were done and the truth came out.