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Candle light vigil held in remembrance of Sean Smith Arlt October 22, 2016
Santa Cruz turned out for a candle light vigil for Sean Arlt who was shot and Killed by Santa Cruz Police!
At least hundred people attended a candlelight vigil, that was held Saturday evening at the Town Clock in Santa Cruz, for 32 year old Sean Smith Arlt who was shot and killed by a Santa Cruz police officer on Sunday October 16, 2016! There were speakers who spoke regarding Sean's life and the problem with the interactions of police and those suffering with mental health problems. They also read from Sean's book of poetry "The Love Manifesto"! In his short life Sean was a poet, writer, a math tutor, painter, and a certified Qigong instructor!
Sean Arlt was born in Santa Cruz and attended Santa Cruz public schools, after high school he he spent a year volunteering for Americorp working with inner city children in Seattle Washington, and later graduated with honors in psychology and philosophy from Sonoma State University. Sean was also a father of a 6 year old child!
Sean's family said that "Sean was loving, caring, kind, and greatly inspired by social justice issues" They also said that Santa Cruz police were aware of Arlt’s mental health history! Sean had no criminal record other than a few traffic infractions.
The 911 caller, a man with intimate knowledge of Arlt’s medical history, also informed dispatch he was mentally ill. Santa Cruz police said that they had encounter with Arlt in front of the same Chace Street house on Oct. 11, five days prior to the shooting!
Police say Sean threatened the officers with a metal rake as he approached them, and said Sean's behavior was “erratic” and “not responsive.” Two officers deployed Tasers as they slowly retreated across the street, both of which proved ineffective.
The District Attorney’s Office is serving as the lead investigative agency while the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for collecting and analyzing the evidence. The Santa Cruz Police Department also is conducting a separate administrative investigation, The coroner officially classified his death as a homicide
Santa Cruz Police Chief Kevin Vogel said his department is committed to transparency in the investigation!
This writer hopes and prays that Chief Vogel sticks to his word!
RIP Sean!
( More pictures on my FaceBook page at: https://www.facebook.com/autumn.sun.58/media_set?set=a.10210199595561413.1073742001.1085185228&type=3&uploaded=36)
Sean Arlt was born in Santa Cruz and attended Santa Cruz public schools, after high school he he spent a year volunteering for Americorp working with inner city children in Seattle Washington, and later graduated with honors in psychology and philosophy from Sonoma State University. Sean was also a father of a 6 year old child!
Sean's family said that "Sean was loving, caring, kind, and greatly inspired by social justice issues" They also said that Santa Cruz police were aware of Arlt’s mental health history! Sean had no criminal record other than a few traffic infractions.
The 911 caller, a man with intimate knowledge of Arlt’s medical history, also informed dispatch he was mentally ill. Santa Cruz police said that they had encounter with Arlt in front of the same Chace Street house on Oct. 11, five days prior to the shooting!
Police say Sean threatened the officers with a metal rake as he approached them, and said Sean's behavior was “erratic” and “not responsive.” Two officers deployed Tasers as they slowly retreated across the street, both of which proved ineffective.
The District Attorney’s Office is serving as the lead investigative agency while the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for collecting and analyzing the evidence. The Santa Cruz Police Department also is conducting a separate administrative investigation, The coroner officially classified his death as a homicide
Santa Cruz Police Chief Kevin Vogel said his department is committed to transparency in the investigation!
This writer hopes and prays that Chief Vogel sticks to his word!
RIP Sean!
( More pictures on my FaceBook page at: https://www.facebook.com/autumn.sun.58/media_set?set=a.10210199595561413.1073742001.1085185228&type=3&uploaded=36)
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"Two officers deployed Tasers as they slowly retreated across the street, both of which proved ineffective"
All this happened withing 20 seconds of arrival according to the SCPD narrative.
Sure. As someone said about the killing of the black child Tamir Rice over a toy gun. 'The police car hadn't even stopped rocking'. The SCPD is lying.
Also consider this. If you can't take a stick away from someone without killing them you have NO RIGHT to be a policeman, because you're a coward. If there's two of you present and you can't, you're simply murderers.
All this happened withing 20 seconds of arrival according to the SCPD narrative.
Sure. As someone said about the killing of the black child Tamir Rice over a toy gun. 'The police car hadn't even stopped rocking'. The SCPD is lying.
Also consider this. If you can't take a stick away from someone without killing them you have NO RIGHT to be a policeman, because you're a coward. If there's two of you present and you can't, you're simply murderers.
At the rally we heard calls for an appearance at City Council Tuesday afternoon, a "listening session" in the following days, an independent investigation, and talk of restoring the Citizens Police Review Board. None of these things is a bad idea, but without real followup (a la Black Lives Matter protests), I fear these are token actions taken rather than mounting a real campaign for radical police reform.
Folks might again consider looking at the Campaign Zero prposals, initiated by the police murders of Michael Brown and Oscar Grant, at http://www.joincampaignzero.org/#vision . However this series of strong suggestions requires repeated direct action and protest on the streets as well as organizational time and energy.
At the Town Clock vigil, folks couldn't even move themselves to drive to the police station--the scene of the crime--to directly make demands of those who shot the guns and those who supervised their training. Walking there was ruled out by Keith McHenry, who suggested the crowd could vent by coming to City Council in the afternoon. Though his speech was the most explicit addressing local police harassment and violence, I fear a kind of profound liberal tokenism has taken deep root.
I heard worries that calling this event Anti-PoliceBrutality day (which it is across the country) would be "disrespectful" to the memory of Sean Arlt. Actually mourning without organizing is the real disrespect.
I do not exclude myself from this criticism, as I walked around the crowd, audio recording for my radio show and distributing a flyer (attached), but not pushing forward and speaking directly about the issue but going along with the tepid tone of the gathering.
After another token showing at City Council on Tuesday afternoon, is that it for us? Will the rage and shock dissolve--as it did after the brief BearCat protests last winter (also organized and tamed by activist Sherry Conable)?
My earlier comments at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/10/20/18792493.php?show_comments=1#18792539 are still relevant.
I'd be interested in working with anyone interested in an escalating push for real local police accountability, transparency, and change.
Folks might again consider looking at the Campaign Zero prposals, initiated by the police murders of Michael Brown and Oscar Grant, at http://www.joincampaignzero.org/#vision . However this series of strong suggestions requires repeated direct action and protest on the streets as well as organizational time and energy.
At the Town Clock vigil, folks couldn't even move themselves to drive to the police station--the scene of the crime--to directly make demands of those who shot the guns and those who supervised their training. Walking there was ruled out by Keith McHenry, who suggested the crowd could vent by coming to City Council in the afternoon. Though his speech was the most explicit addressing local police harassment and violence, I fear a kind of profound liberal tokenism has taken deep root.
I heard worries that calling this event Anti-PoliceBrutality day (which it is across the country) would be "disrespectful" to the memory of Sean Arlt. Actually mourning without organizing is the real disrespect.
I do not exclude myself from this criticism, as I walked around the crowd, audio recording for my radio show and distributing a flyer (attached), but not pushing forward and speaking directly about the issue but going along with the tepid tone of the gathering.
After another token showing at City Council on Tuesday afternoon, is that it for us? Will the rage and shock dissolve--as it did after the brief BearCat protests last winter (also organized and tamed by activist Sherry Conable)?
My earlier comments at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/10/20/18792493.php?show_comments=1#18792539 are still relevant.
I'd be interested in working with anyone interested in an escalating push for real local police accountability, transparency, and change.
Thank you for your comment Razer Ray! I can not say I disagree! We need and want more information as promised by the SCPD Chief!
Thank you for your comment Robert! I can not say I disagree with your comment at all! We need and want more information as promised by the SCPD Chief!
As far as walking to the S.C. Police Station, I might have to have agreed with Keith, but driving was a good option! I hope the be at the city council meeting on Tuesday, and I feel that we should plan an event at the Police Station! Lets talk more. You can write me at my email. Thanks again Robert!
As far as walking to the S.C. Police Station, I might have to have agreed with Keith, but driving was a good option! I hope the be at the city council meeting on Tuesday, and I feel that we should plan an event at the Police Station! Lets talk more. You can write me at my email. Thanks again Robert!
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