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DA-Elect George Gascón Meets with Black Lives Matter, Promises To Review Old Police Shootings
In his first public meeting as DA-elect last night, George Gascón told the families of people shot by police in L.A. that he would review their cases to see if the officers should face criminal charges.
The extraordinary meeting was organized by the L.A. chapter of Black Lives Matter and was held in the basement of the McCarty Memorial Christian Church in the West Adams District.
Gascón has already promised to reopen four police shooting cases that outgoing DA Jackie Lacey deemed lawful. But last night he sought to lower expectations in the crowd — some of whose loved ones were armed when they were killed by police. “Obviously not every case is going to be a case that will be prosecutable,” he said.
Gascón’s presence nonetheless lifted the hopes of those in attendance.
Black Lives Matter leader Melina Abdullah called it a “great first step,” while quickly adding, “we also want to make it very clear that we plan to hold you accountable.”
While Gascón was supported by many in the police reform movement, prosecutors and police unions staunchly opposed him — and his agenda of potentially prosecuting more police officers.
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