Content warning: Tragic police violence against a young Black man is the subject of this email.
John --
Just last month, Ryan Gainer was tragically taken from his family when he was senselessly murdered by a San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy. Ryan was a beloved 15-year-old Black boy with a passion for running and the dream to be an engineer.
Before Ryan's life was taken, he was in distress due to his autism. His family called 911 to have a professional come to help de-escalate the situation, but tragically as Ryan approached the deputies holding a gardening tool, he was murdered.
The economic hardship families of victims of police violence face is often overlooked. You can help change that by donating to the GoFundMe that Ryan's family put together here.
Ryan's future was stolen from him. He deserved a system that recognized his humanity and offered support, not one that ended his life. He was a cross-country runner and wanted to be an engineer. His dreams and aspirations should have been nurtured, not violently taken away.
Since Ryan's death, Black Lives Matter was able to quickly turn around an easy-to-use call tool for the public to call the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department and demand the release of all information connected to this investigation, including body cam footage, 911 calls, and the TERMINATION of ALL deputies involved. We've spread the word about these needs widely across all our digital channels and outlets.
We have expanded the calls for accountability far and wide beyond San Bernardino. This kind of outreach is critical for police accountability and ensuring that the police know we aren't going anywhere until Ryan Gainer's family has the answers they long deserve.
We are committed to continuing our police accountability efforts, including our everlasting fight to #DefundThePolice and create a system of public safety where Black people can thrive, not just merely survive.
The economic hardship families of victims of police violence face is often overlooked. Help advance BLM's efforts toward these critical pieces of the fight by chipping in $3 or whatever you can.
In love and solidarity,
Black Lives Matter
