Pubdate: Tue, 13 Jan 2004
Source: Ledger-Enquirer (GA)
Copyright: 2004 Ledger-Enquirer
Contact:  http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/enquirer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/237
Author: Kelli Esters
Bookmark: 
http://www.mapinc.org/people/Kenneth+Walker 
(Walker, Kenneth)

PROTESTERS DEMAND ACTION IN SHOOTING PROBE

Local Rainbow PUSH Official: 'We Can't And Won't Let It Be Swept Under The 
Rug'

Several dozen people picketed the Government Center on Monday afternoon to 
protest the handling of the Kenneth B. Walker shooting investigation.

"This is an incident that demands our attention," said the Rev. William 
Howell, Rainbow PUSH Columbus chapter president. "We can't and won't let it 
be swept under the rug."

Walker was fatally shot Dec. 10 by a Muscogee County sheriff's deputy 
during a traffic stop of a vehicle suspected of having armed drug 
traffickers inside. Walker and three others were pulled from the vehicle. 
No drugs or weapons were found. Since the the shooting, authorities have 
not released the name of the deputy who shot Walker or a video recording of 
the incident.

The local Rainbow PUSH chapter organized Monday's protest, which lasted 
from noon to 4 p.m. Two groups of protesters marched in single-file lines 
in front of the Government Center, one along Second Avenue and the other 
along Ninth Street.

Some of the signs the protesters held read:

. "One Columbus is a fair and just Columbus"

. "2004. Times have changed. Have you?"

. "Walker was unarmed."

. Willie Sumpter, of Columbus, held a sign that read: "This is not a black 
thing/white thing. This is a human thing."

"I'm just a concerned citizen," Sumpter said. "This could have happened to 
me. It could have happened to you. It could have happened to anybody. I 
would just like to see justice being done."

Representatives from the Rainbow PUSH office in Atlanta are expected to be 
in Columbus this week to help with some of the actions being taken. In a 
statement released Friday, Rainbow PUSH National President the Rev. Jesse 
Jackson said police brutality and excessive use of force must come to an end.

"We are prepared to take whatever steps are necessary to support the Walker 
family, the Columbus chapter of Rainbow PUSH and the entire community in 
their search for justice," Jackson said. "We share the community's 
righteous indignation over this senseless death."

Muscogee Sheriff Ralph Johnson said he has no qualms about the picketers 
who expressed their First Amendment rights outside the Government Center 
where the sheriff's office is located. He said that he is open to meet with 
Rainbow PUSH officials to discuss some of their concerns with law 
enforcement. He also said that he has been having meetings to find ways to 
enhance the department's visibility.

Through patience the community will know the facts, and the issues 
surrounding the Walker case will be resolved, Johnson said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman