My name is Jeanette Padilla and I'm a civil rights activist based in Salt Lake City. 

On July 9th, protestors filled the streets in front of the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office to demand justice for the unjust killing of Bernardo Palacios-Carbajal and all other community members unjustly murdered by police. They're now facing possible life sentences. Bernardo was shot over 34 times in his back, torso, arms, hands, and legs. SLCo DA Sim Gill, ruled Bernado's killing by the SLCPD justified earlier that day. 

That evening of July 9th, the community came to protest the ruling and demand justice for Bernardo while denouncing police violence and brutality. Some protesters held paper signs while chanting “justice for Bernardo”, some taped signs to the DA’s office, while still others painted the streets red to symbolize the blood on the hands of Sim Gill and the police. 

Riot police showed up to quell the peaceful protest by charging without warning, ramming their body shields against protesters, hitting them with their batons, and even firing non-lethal rounds. While most protesters walked away battered and bruised, some sustained serious injuries, including a concussion, a broken nose, and a deep gaping thigh wound from being shot close-range with a bean bag round. 

Police called the peaceful gathering unlawful and labeled it a riot then later charged protestors with rioting and held their bail at $25,000. It should be noted that there is no definition of “unlawful assembly” in Utah code, so any assembly becomes unlawful at the moment cops deem it to be unlawful.

Since July 9, police have stalked, targeted, arrested, and searched the homes of protesters without providing search warrants. As of now, 11 protesters have been charged with various counts of misdemeanors and third-degree to first-degree felonies, some facing life in prison. Answering a protest against police brutality with more police brutality and then charging protestors with first-degree felonies is the kind of backward logic permeating the Salt Lake City Police Department and the District Attorney's office. 

The majority of protestors are young adults who are now experiencing trauma from being beaten by riot police and the possibility of life-altering circumstances brought on if convicted of a felony. Sim Gill is literally sending the message that spilling red paint is a serious enough crime to warrant a possible life sentence in prison.

We are demanding Sim Gill drop all charges against protestors involved in events of July 9th. Please sign and share this petition to help protect civil liberties!