Activists demand justice over racist texts from police

(22 Jul 2023)

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4445649

RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Martinez, California - 21 July 2023
1. Aerial footage of Contra Costa County Superior Court building
HEADLINE: Activists demand justice over racist texts from police
2. Shirelle Cobbs consoled outside courthouse
3. Exterior of Contra Costa County Superior Court building
ANNOTATION: A court hearing was held Friday to determine if Antioch police officers who traded racist text messages violated a state law aimed at combating racism.
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Taunita Trotter, community activist, Reimagine Antioch:
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"What we would like is transparency. We want decertification. We want those that are involved, whether they are police officers or other persons within the community. We would like them fired. They need to be gone."
5. Aerial footage of courthouse and surrounding area
6. Cobbs with supporters and reporters
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Frank Sterling Jr., community activist, Reimagine Antioch:
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"A lot of the community in Antioch has been there, has seen the racism, the hatred, the bias by the police. And now that the text messages are out, the broader community can now see and know what's going on. And hopefully it will wake some of them up."
8. Bray Courts Building sign
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Frank Sterling Jr., community activist, Reimagine Antioch:
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"We want to see the Racial Justice Act applied, and we know that this may mean that some cases with serious allegations may be dismissed. But it's important to keep the integrity of the court system"
10. Aerial footage of courthouse

STORYLINE:
Community activists and residents in the Northern California city of Antioch demanded justice and reform Friday outside a court hearing for police officers who traded racist text messages.

The court hearing was being held to determine whether the Antioch police officers violated a state law aimed at eliminating racism in the criminal justice system. Up to eight officers were expected to take the stand to speak about the scandal that has roiled the city in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Defense attorneys for four men charged with murder and attempted murder in a 2021 shooting subpoenaed the officers to testify about heavily redacted text messages made public in April by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s office.

The attorneys were expected to argue before Judge David Goldstein that their clients, two of them mentioned in the text messages, were unfairly targeted based on their race. The state’s Racial Justice Act prohibits the state from pursuing or securing criminal convictions or sentences on the basis of race, ethnicity or national origin.

Seventeen Antioch police officers have been named for sending texts that discuss falsifying evidence and beating up suspects, that make racist and homophobic remarks or use sexually explicit language. Most of the messages were sent in 2020 and 2021 and go far beyond the case up for discussion in court.

In addition to the officers who may testify Friday, five others who were subpoenaed have claimed they were injured on the job and are not medically cleared to testify.

Antioch Police Chief Steven Ford was also subpoenaed to testify, but Goldstein ruled Friday he did not need to appear because his testimony was not relevant to whether the officers sent the texts or showed racial bias when investigating and arresting the men on trial. Ford was not the police chief at the time.












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