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Indybay Feature

Family and Friends Demand Justice at Memorial for Derrick Gaines

by Alex Darocy (alex [at] alexdarocy.com)
On June 12, family members held a memorial for Derrick Gaines, a 15 year old who was shot and killed by an officer with the South San Francisco Police Department on the evening of June 5th. Police claim that Gaines, who was walking with a friend near an Arco gas station, was engaging in "suspicious behavior". They tried to stop him, and they say he ran and produced a gun. It was at that time a still unnamed officer shot and killed Gaines. Community members want justice for Derrick Gaines, and for the truth to come out. Dr. Amos C. Brown, the President of the San Francisco chapter of the NAACP, spoke at the memorial, and declared, "We are going to fight this situation. We are not going to rest until a thorough investigation is done, and until these officers are brought to justice." [scroll down for photos and videos]
derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-1.jpg
The June 12th memorial was held at the location of Gaines' death, the Arco gas station on the corner of Westborough and Gellert Blvd in South San Francisco, and was well attended by family and friends. It has been one week since his death, and Gaines' parents were still visibly in a state of shock. Condolences came from others who have lost loved ones to police violence, including Cephus "Uncle Bobby" Johnson, the uncle of Oscar Grant, a young, black man who was murdered by BART police officer Johannes Mehserle in Oakland in 2009. Many at the memorial were studying the layout of the Arco gas station, and wondering out loud how the two security cameras that were pointed in the direction of the shooting did not reveal more that had happened that fatal evening.

With so little information released by police concerning the details of the alleged "suspicious behavior" that prompted the officer to shoot Gaines, community members have described it as a type of pedestrian check that is characteristic of racial profiling. When interviewed by a reporter with the Bay Area News Group, the owner of the Arco station said he doesn't "feel good" about what happened, and that in the 24 years the business has been in existence it has never been robbed.

The mood at the memorial was somber at first, but as the afternoon progressed more and more people Gaines' age showed up, and the memorial transitioned into a celebration of his life. Drivers were encouraged to "Honk for Derrick", community members brought flowers, and friends arranged teddy bears and hung balloons along the gas station fence on which loved ones have written affectionate messages.

Speakers at the memorial included Dr. Amos C. Brown, the President of the San Francisco chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Archbishop Franzo King of the Saint John Coltrane African Orthodox Church, Willie Cotton of the Socialist Worker's Party, and Rachel Guido Red, Gaines' mother.

The Derrick Gaines Memorial Fund has been established by family members to help pay for his burial. Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo bank branch by using account number 1636477653. Vigils for Gaines are planned to continue at the Arco station at 2300 Westborough Blvd in South San Francisco.


Alex Darocy
http://alexdarocy.blogspot.com/
§
by Alex Darocy
derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-2.jpg
§Rest in Paradise
by Alex Darocy
derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-3.jpg
Rest in Paradise - Derrick "Lil Grimey" Gaines, 9/26/1996-6/5/2012
§Derrick Gaines Sr.
by Alex Darocy
derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-4.jpg
Derrick Gaines Sr., Father of Derrick Gaines.
§Rachel Guido Red
by Alex Darocy
rachel-guido-red-derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-5.jpg
Rachel Guido Red, Mother of Derrick Gaines.
§Dolores Piper
by Alex Darocy
dolores-piper-derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-6.jpg
Dolores Piper, Great Aunt of Derrick Gaines.

Gaines was living with his Great Aunt, Dolores Piper, at the time of his death. She recalled raising Gaines, and how he would introduce her to friends as his "Great Aunt", with an affectionate emphasis on the word "great".
§Cephus "Uncle Bobby" Johnson
by Alex Darocy
cephus-johnson-derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-7.jpg
Cephus "Uncle Bobby" Johnson, the uncle of Oscar Grant, speaking with Dolores Piper.
§
by Alex Darocy
arco-mcdonalds-derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-8.jpg
The corner of Westborough and Gellert Blvd in South San Francisco.
§
by Alex Darocy
derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-9.jpg
§
by Alex Darocy
derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-10.jpg
§Rest In Love Lil Bruh
by Alex Darocy
derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-11.jpg
§
by Alex Darocy
derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-12.jpg
§
by Alex Darocy
derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-13.jpg
§
by Alex Darocy
derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-14.jpg
§Walking Out of McDonald's is Not Probable Cause
by Alex Darocy
derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-15.jpg
§Dr. Amos C. Brown of the NAACP
by Alex Darocy
dr-amos-c-brown-naacp-derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-16.jpg
Dr. Amos C. Brown of the San Francisco chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) speaks.
§
by Alex Darocy
derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-17.jpg
§Bob Ivory of the NAACP
by Alex Darocy
bob-ivory-naacp-derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-18.jpg
Bob Ivory of the NAACP (pictured with Dr. Amos C. Brown) speaks more intimately with some young people at the memorial.
§Stop Racial Profiling
by Alex Darocy
derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-19.jpg
§
by Alex Darocy
derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-20.jpg
§Justice For Derrick
by Alex Darocy
derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-21.jpg
Justice For Derrick
§We Call It Racial Profiling
by Alex Darocy
derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-22.jpg
They Call it: Pedestrian Check
We Call It: Racial Profiling
§Justice For Derrick
by Alex Darocy
derrick-gaines-memorial-south-san-francisco-june-12-2012-23.jpg
Justice For Derrick
§Part 2: Videos
by Alex Darocy
For Part 2: Videos, see:

Family and Friends Demand Justice at Memorial for Derrick Gaines (Part 2: Videos)
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2012/06/14/18715404.php
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