Jacob Harris, age 19, suspected of robbing a Whataburger. The police changed their story from “he motioned at them with a gun” to “they may have seen a gun.” The official police report–not released until Jacob’s father sued the city–is full of inconsistencies and does not accurately reflect the findings of the autopsy. One of the officers involved has admitted he lied to the grand jury.
The police refuse to release video of the incident and claim the murder was “justified,” but what little footage has been released contradicts their (changing) story. They’ve also arrested three other people supposedly involved in the robbery, claiming they’re responsible for Jacob’s death. The youngest was 14 at the time of arrest. All three face first-degree murder charges.
There is little doubt Jacob Harris committed a robbery, and should have faced appropriate consequences for this. However, he was denied all due process: shot in the back while fleeing in fear, never arrested, never read his rights, never provided an attorney, never given a fair and speedy trial judged by a jury of his peers. All of these things were supposed to be guaranteed to him under the United States Constitution. Being shot and murdered without due process is not appropriate consequences. He chose to commit a crime–but to be clear and repeat myself for all the yahoos who are going to scream “but he did a bad thing,” that does not mean he should have been denied due process and shot in the back while running away. Black lives matter even when they belong to people who have made the wrong decisions.
Rest in power, Jacob.
Mr. Roland Harris, I’m bringing your fight forward to as many eyes as I can. We will see justice for your son.
Further information:
Phoenix New Times did a full writeup on the case.
Phoenix 12 News released a standard-form news story.
AZFamily reports that police are obstructing media coverage.
Phoenix 12 News released what little video is available. WARNING: although only shown in infrared, Jacob’s death is shown in this video. (Also don’t read the comments, but you knew that already.)
I just want to make it clear I’m going to keep reblogging this post until it blows the fuck up and I see the same outrage and outreach for Jacob that I do for victims like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. That his father should still have to have this message painted on his car a year and a half later, instead of seeing justice, is a fucking disgrace.
A Black man who made the wrong choice deserves the same due process as a white man who made the same wrong choice.
A Black man who made the wrong choice does not deserve to be summarily executed.
A BLACK MAN WHO MADE THE WRONG CHOICE STILL HAD A LIFE THAT MATTERED.
If your activism only extends to “innocent victims,” it’s bullshit activism. Jacob Harris committed an armed robbery. Jacob Harris deserved an attorney and a fair and speedy trial, judged by a jury of his peers, AS WAS HIS RIGHT UNDER THE SIXTH AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. The police here have to face off against armed militiamen and do so without killing anyone. There is no reason Jacob had to be shot with deadly force. None. (My immediate question is why he wasn’t apprehended leaving the store. The police were already on the scene. But failing that, why shoot him? Why not tase him? Why shoot him in the back instead of the knee, if no taser was available? How many non-deadly options were skipped over for this young man to die?)
Jacob Harris lost his life because of poor police procedure (if you choose to watch the 12 News video, the bright flash you see to the right of the camera just before Jacob exits the vehicle is a flash grenade; police told a grand jury that none were thrown, then after the jury’s decision was handed down, admitted that was a lie), systemic racism, and excessive use of deadly force.
Jacob Harris committed a crime. He still did not deserve to die.
Now stop liking this post instead of reblogging it because you’re afraid of being accused of supporting crime or something, AND PUT HIS NAME IN YOUR MOUTH. His name was Jacob Harris, he was nineteen years old, he was denied his Constitutional rights and summarily executed without trial by Phoenix police, AND EVERYTHING ABOUT THAT IS FUCKING WRONG.
A reminder that a) robbery isn’t even CLOSE to a crime punishable by the death sentence and b) EVEN IF IT WERE the perpetrator would still deserve due process and be innocent until proven guilty.
Oh and c) POLICE ARE NOT MEANT TO BE EXECUTIONERS. THAT IS NOT THEIR FUCKING JOB. THESE PIECES OF SHIT MURDERED A TEENAGER AND LIED ABOUT IT.
