TAKE ACTION: Stand Against Police Violence, Demand Justice for Stephanie and Paul!

ADD YOUR NAME: Tell Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney: Provide the people with an immediate fair, moral, and transparent independent investigation that holds all officers involved accountable.

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Two weeks ago police officers in Connecticut opened fire on a car at a gas station in a neighborhood near Yale University. Inside the vehicle were two unarmed people of color,Stephanie Washington, 22, and Paul Witherspoon III, 21. They were listening to music, singing love songs to each other.

Stephanie was hit in the face and torso, and taken to the hospital. Paul was not physically harmed but was arrested and later released with no charges. Paul was lucky not to be hit by the 15 shots fired by police, and Stephanie is fortunately still alive. But this violence is all too common for black and brown people in Connecticut and across our country.

Police say that Paul and Stephanie’s vehicle was associated with an alleged attempted armed robbery. Prior to being shot at by the police, Paul reportedly had a heated exchange at the gas station, but there were neither any physical altercation nor any robbery attempts. This is not the first time law enforcement officials in Connecticut have harmed people of color under highly questionable circumstances. Enough is enough.

No family should ever have to suffer from senseless police violence. We send our love and support to families of Stephanie and Paul and to countless other families of people of color who have been killed and assaulted by police. Meanwhile the officials in Connecticut must hold the alleged assailants fully accountable.

Tell Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney: Provide the people with an immediate fair, moral, and transparent independent investigation that holds all officers involved accountable.