On April 9, 2020, plain clothed Cleveland Police officer Jose Garcia, badge #2168 shot and killed Desmond Franklin. Garcia drove in an unmarked car, fired five shots into Franklin’s moving vehicle, killing Franklin, whose car crashed into a cemetery wall. Special prosecutor Daniel Kasaris, from Ohio Attorney’s General Dave Yost’s office has taken the case and is currently considering whether to present to the Grand Jury. Meanwhile, Garcia remains on paid leave.
What you can do to help:
If you live in Ohio, call the Ohio AG’s office (1-800-282-0515), and urge them to take this case to the Grand Jury to seek indictment of Officer Garcia.
If you are a Cleveland resident, call City of Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson (216-664-2000) and demand the firing of Jose Garcia by Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams for the murder of Desmond Franklin.
Don’t stop there, demand that Calvin Williams be removed, and in 2021 vote Mayor Jackson out of office.
This interview with Desmond’s father, Emanuel was recorded on November 21, 2020 at the offices of Black Lives Matter Cleveland.
Interview Questions:
0:00 – What happened to Desmond?
7:52 – What is the current state of the investigation?
9:44 – What would accountability look like to you?
12:14 – What was your opinion of the police prior to this?
22:00 – Has anything been especially encouraging or frustrating about the public’s response?
23:12 – Do you think of yourself as an activist now?
24:33 – Final thoughts