A virtual news conference by the Racial Justice Coalition San Diego was cut short Friday by "zoom bombers" who interrupted the session with racial epithets.
The Coalition was renewing its demand for an end to neck restraint holds by all law enforcement departments in San Diego County.
“We’re warning and encouraging the city to take us seriously when it comes to banning all neck restraints in San Diego,” said Coalition spokesman Yusef Miller.
The Coalition said it has been calling for the end of neck restraint holds since the 2017 death of Eric Garner in New York City. This latest demand comes against the backdrop of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
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Law enforcement has resisted those demands over the years, contending that when the carotid hold is used properly, people simply pass out. But activists like Miller said it’s far too easy for things to go terribly wrong, with deadly results.
“The carotid restraint becomes the chokehold in the field and people are killed in this manner,” he said.
Miller was joined by other racial justice advocates during the virtual news conference. One San Diego mom talked about her son’s encounter with police while he was a 15-year old student at Lincoln High School. A neck restraint hold was used on him and though she said he was injured, he survived.
The interruption came at nearly 41 minutes into the conference, as San Diego Police Citizens Advisory Board member Samantha Jenkins was talking about the video of an encounter between a La Mesa police officer and a black man at the Grossmont Trolley Station Wednesday.
"George Floyd deserved it," said a voice. Racial epithets followed. The host cut off the meeting seconds later.
