A clergy-led vigil and protest in Pasadena against police-involved killings of black men in California, New York City, Missouri
and elsewhere drew about 300 people on Sunday.
The observance, which got under way at 2 p.m., was led by the Social Action Commission of First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Pasadena.
It began with prayers at All Saints Church and was followed by a march to Pasadena City Hall by protesters who carried signs and chanted “hands up don’t shoot,” and “I can’t breathe.”
The latter phrase echoes the last words of Eric Garner, who died of a heart attack after a New York police officer used a choke hold on him while he and other officers took Garner into custody for allegedly selling individual cigarettes. A grand jury declined to indict the officers.
Joining clergy at the vigil and protest were Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez, Councilwoman Jacque Robinson and the mother of Kendrec McDade, a 19-year-old Azusa man who was fatally shot by Pasadena police in 2012 after a man whose backpack was stolen falsely reported that the suspects were armed.
Police say the man lied to get a faster response from law enforcement.
The event was one of many that took place at black churches in cities across the U.S. today.
