Protesters demand charges against Louisiana troopers in Ronald Greene death

Hundreds of activists have held a demonstration in the United States to demand charges against the Louisiana state troopers involved in the 2019 death of African American Ronald Greene.

Demonstrators spoke on Thursday outside of the Louisiana state capitol building where they demanded the termination of every officer involved in Greene’s death and for their arrests.

Greene’s death has sparked outrage across the US since The Associated Press released portions of body camera footage showing the fatal encounter between the officers and the motorist. 

“Stay clear and focused on what this is: We want every trooper involved in this incident to be terminated immediately,” said Judy Reese Morse, president and CEO of the Urban League of Louisiana, according to USA Today. “And then after the termination, we want every single trooper involved in this incident to be arrested. And then we want them to be charged.”

Alanah Odoms, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, said the police officers involved “had no faith in the laws of this land ... they had no faith in the Constitution,” according to USA Today.

Authorities in Louisiana released the bodycam footage last week that shows a high-speed pursuit and Louisiana state troopers punching Greene while he was already in handcuffed. 

The 49-year-man was also dragged across the ground by shackled feet, and stunned with tasers as he cried, "I'm scared."

The authorities said two state troopers were notified that they will be suspended.

Police said Greene led police officers on a high-speed chase on May 10, 2019, and crashed his car before being taken into custody.

Greene was dragged “on his stomach by the leg shackles” following his violent arrest, according to reports.

The internal State Police records obtained recently by the Associated Press mark the first public acknowledgement by State Police that Greene was mistreated.

The records confirm details provided last year by an attorney for Greene’s family who viewed a graphic body camera video of the 2019 arrest.

Louisiana State Police arrests 4 troopers for 'use of force encounters'

Four Louisiana State Police troopers have been arrested "following an extensive and detailed review of use of force encounters in the Monroe area."

The case became another national touchstone of police abuse after the unauthorized release of police video by the Associated Press.

State Police, which have previously refused to publicly release the video, have also been unwilling to talk about Greene’s death. The agency initially blamed the Black man’s fatal injuries on a car accident outside Monroe, La.

Black Americans are far more likely to be shot, arrested and imprisoned by police than any other racial group, according to various studies.

Experts say the dramatic gap in police shootings and prison rates reflects biased policing as well as the vast economic and educational inequalities that plague much of the country.
 

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