500 signatures reached
To: District Attorney Nathan Hochman
Prosecute the ICE Agent Who Killed #KeithPorter
On New Year’s Eve, Black father, son, neighbor, and community member, #KeithPorter stepped outside the front door of his apartment in Northridge. Through a community investigation, it was learned that ICE agent, Brian Palacios who, unbeknownst to Keith, lived in the same complex set his sights on Keith - not as a neighbor, but as a target. Palacios put on his tactical gear, grabbed his ICE-issued firearm, stepped back outside, and shot this Black girl-dad dead in front of his own home.
Keith Porter’s family, organizers with Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles, and more than 30 activists met with the District Attorney less than a week after Keith Porter was killed, gave him the information from the community, and demanded prosecution. In that meeting, DA Hochman said that he was waiting on the LAPD investigation to be turned over. That report was received by DA Hochman on July 1st, and his office is now saying that it may be another 7 months or more before he determines whether or not he will pursue charges.
Now that DA Nathan Hochman has the case, we demand that he immediately file charges with the urgency and seriousness that this deserves. DA Hochman has refused to file charges against any cop in the killing of any Angeleno despite the number in the County topping 100 since he took office. Additionally, in the midst of the criminal trial of the cops who killed #ChristopherDeAndreMitchell, Hochman fired the special prosecutor and dropped the charges, allowing them to walk. His office also fumbled the case against the LAPD cop who murdered #BrendonGlenn.
Why is this important?
It is outrageous that the County’s prosecutor takes a “tough on crime” position when it comes to righteous protest, youth offenses, and “crimes” of property, but the greenlight to crime, violence, and even murder when committed by ICE and police. Refusing to charge ICE agent Brian Palacios for the murder of #KeithPorter not only serves as a miscarriage of justice for those who love and miss Keith Porter, including his daughters and mother but also sends a dangerous message to ICE agents and all police that they can kill and harm our people with impunity.