WATCH: Granville residents protest police killings
ST JAMES, Jamaica — In keeping with the call from the police, residents in Granville staged a peaceful protest in the community where they again protested the controversial fatal shooting of community members.
Wearing black and armed with placards, residents chanted a variety of slogans such as “end police brutality”, “justice for Buju” among others.
Buju, whose real name is Latoya Bulgin, was shot and killed during an alleged confrontation with the police last Sunday.
READ: Woman dies after alleged police shooting at protest in Granville
She was in the process of attending a protest for 17-year-old Tjey Edwards who was killed the previous Sunday, May 10 under similar circumstances.
READ: Indecom appeals for witnesses in Granville fatal shooting as police killing tally rises to 130
Both incidents along with a New Years Day event which left a four year old boy, Romaine Bowman, and two adult males, are also high on the agenda of residents as they protested on Sunday.
However, there was no blockage of the roads, in line with an appeal which came from police chief for the parish, Senior Superintendent Eron Samuels, last Thursday during a community meeting on Thursday.
He explained that if there were road blocks, then the police would have to stop the event. On Sunday the residents engaged in a peaceful protest in Granville Square, saying that they also planned to march through the community.
As it relates to peace, it was a sentiment shared by the Member of Parliament for St James West Central, Marlene Malahoo Forte, who engaged with the protesters on Sunday.
“I am happy that in the search for answers, the peace is still being maintained though we know it is a fragile peace. I continue to say to everyone, stay on the right side of the law and I am really hoping that this incident is not treated as just another incident, let the steam blow off and blow and we continue as usual,” she told Observer Online.
“There are genuine questions and genuine concerns and I am keeping faith that we are going to come out better for this and I really hope that we don’t have another incident,” she added about the situation.
Residents remained steadfast on their call for justice with some indicating that the protest will continue until they hear about how things are progressing especially as it relates to Bulgin
One of her sons was among the protesters and he did not hide his feelings about the current situation.
“I need justice for me and my family and all of the residents in Granville and also all around Jamaica. It is unfair for us to lose her life mo reason, my mother died for no reason and all of us fear for our lives right now,” he insisted.
“We fear who should be protecting us from danger and this is not right, Justice for Latoya Bulgin, Justice for Tjey Edwards, Justice for everyone who died to police brutality,” he declared.
He is adamant that the police service member at the centre of the controversy, and who is now under interdiction, should face stiff penalties.
“I want justice, that police should be in prison right now,” he insisted.
