On Tuesday, July 2, 2008 over a dozen different organizations joined together at The National Black United Front-Houston Chapter (NBUF) to call for a JUSTICE MARCH on Thursday, July 10, 2008 - 5:00pm at the Harris County Court House 1201 Franklin, Houston, Texas. The press conference came in the wake of the Harris County Grand Jury's no bill of Joe Horn who gunned down two Colombians of African descent (Hernando Riascos Torres & Diego Ortiz) who were suspects in a robbery of his neighbors house. Mr. Horn left his home and shot the suspects in the back after repeatedly being told by law enforcement not to leave the safety of his home. Observers say Hispanic surnames of victims and anti-immigrant sentiment also played a role in the no bill by the grand jury.
Quannel X, family members of one victim and organizational representatives condemned the alleged burglary while at the same time expressing outrage over the no bill by the grand jury. Speakers highlighted the fact that Black men have been indicted by the grand jury for shooting a dog and protecting property with a fire arm without killing anyone. The Harris County/Texas "Criminal Justice System" has been rocked by scandal after scandal including: incompetence in evidence testing at the Houston Police Department Crime Lab, Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal forced to resign after racist/sexist e-mails revealed to public, Harris County Sheriff Tommy Thomas currently under pressure to resign after inmate deaths in custody, media reveal racist, Islam bashing e-mails and secret police squads and Juvenile Justice system exposed for sexual mistreatment of inmates.
(For More Information Contact: Parnell Herbert 832-494-4027 or NBUF-Houston 713-942-0365)
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