JUSTICE FOR INDIA BEATY
In 2016, India Beaty was in a parking lot when two plainclothes police officers approached her from behind. It is unclear why they did so – some accounts claim that India was arguing with a man, while others say that the argument was between two men. Either way, the Norfolk Police Department officers were not called to the scene and were originally there for a different purpose.
While there are contradicting accounts of exactly what transpired, what is clear is that within seconds of their arrival, police officers opened fire, shooting India five times in the back and ending her life. Officers claimed that they thought India was holding a real gun in her hand, which later turned out to be a non-firing replica. India's family disputes this account, and a witness at the scene said that India was holding her cell phone.
In January, 2017, the Norfolk Commonwealth Attorney’s Office announced that no charges would be leveled against the officers who killed India. This is unconscionable. Police officers should not be able to kill a wholly unrelated woman purely on suspicion of her behavior, and those that do should be removed and charged for homicide. (Norfolk, Virginia)
Please join us in demanding justice for India and other victims of police violence!