TALLAHASSEE, Fl. (WTXL) — Outside of the Florida State Capitol, dozens showed up for a vigil honoring Tony McDade and others who have been killed by law enforcement across the country.
McDade died after being shot by a Tallahassee police officer in May. Not only was it a vigil, but also a way for the Dream Defenders organization to list off their demands. One of those is to have more counselors be called to incidents rather than police. Another demand by the Dream Defenders is to defund the police by $10 million.
Marie Rattigan, the field organizer for Dream Defenders said, “TPD gets at least 60 million dollars and we want to get at least 10 million dollars to be funneled back into the areas, such as where Tony McDade died.” McDade was killed by police at the Leon Arms Apartment complex.
Mutaque Akabar is the attorney for the family of McDade. He said everyone must keep their foot on the gas, “Because it’s systemic, it’s going to take a lot to change it. To be able to change it, we have to continue to put pressure on the system in order to change it.”
Lined up along the path to the courthouse steps were pictures and candles of people who have been killed by law enforcement.
