AUSTIN, Minn. 00Dozens of people gathered to pay respects to Kouko Christopher Fiafonou, who was shot and killed by police last week, and to demand action. The emotional rally, organized by a Mineapolos-based group, United Against Police Brutality, was peaceful on a chilly afternoon. There were chants and prayers — and some dangerous encounters with drivers as the crowd of mourners and activists movedstreets between a down retail sectin and the the Austin police station. Amog testimials:
Dorothy Gales, Fiafonou’s fiance: “He didn’t deserve it, he did not deserve it. Do you understand what I’m saying? He was a father. He was a father, a friend, a lover, a neighbor. He didn’t bother anybody. That was my fiance. That was the father of my daughter.”
Michelle Gross, president of United Against Police Brutalit: “They turned that into a stone-cold disaster where they killed a man, and destroyed a family home. So there’s no part of this that’s not egregious, and this family deserves to know what happened to their loved one, and to be fully made right, and made whole from what has happened.”
David Kodzode, a cousin: “He was was a good man who prayed every morning and preached from the Bible. “I’m here now protesting, seeking for justice because I just think they killed an innocent man.”
Antranette Smith, with whom Fiafonou lived wigth her husband and children: “He was a peaceful man, a godly man. He believed in peace, saving everybody. They took an innocent man’s life. We don’t get no justice, We will never have peace.”
Fiafonou’s son and daughter also spoke. A consistent theme was that police had harassed Fianfonou while in the throes of a mental health crisis.
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Gross. Rally organizer with an accusation of excessive policing.
Hugs and tears. And anger. And memories.
Words spoken. And hand-written words on placards.