CopBlock in DesMoines, Iowa Saturday to Protest Killing

On Tuesday June 9th Des Moines Police killed an unarmed man, Ryan Bolinger, for “walking purposefully” because “it’s whatever the officer is feeling”. As the Huffington Post has pointed out, the response to this has been dismal-

So how do white people in Iowa respond when police kill a white person under questionable circumstances in a heavily white neighborhood? If Des Moines is any example, they don’t: A single protester showed up outside the police press conference on Wednesday, according to the Register. There was no wall-to-wall media coverage of large-scale demonstrations, because there were no demonstrations to cover.

Well, as a white Iowan and a CopBlock editor and writer, I will be responding. And I will be joined by Ademo and Deo, who are coming down from Ohio to demand accountability in this grisly killing. And hopefully, we will see many of you there, too!

We will be meeting at the Des Moines police station at 4pm on Saturday June 13th which is located at: 25 East First Street right downtown.

Also happening this weekend in downtown Des Moines is the ComicCon Wizard World event and DesMoines PrideFest, so there should be lots of diverse people there to talk with and hopefully join us!

This killing was absolutely unjustified. A young man was killed for no apparent reason, leaving behind a fiancee and three children, one yet unborn, who will never know it’s father. We do not want that family live in and a world that won’t let his death be met with indifference.

Here is the Facebook Event Page for the protest

GoFundMe Account for Ryan’s fiancee and children

Even if you cannot make it, you can help spread the word in social media, or you can contact the police directly to demand accountability.

Des Moines Police Department (515-283-4824)

Des Moines Police Facebook Page

Support the CopBlock Network, that helps make events like this possible.