16 min read. It pitted the unjust death of an innocent young black man against the unjust scapegoating of a young Asian police officer who was frightened, poorly trained, and who committed a terrible accident. We hope you consider making a contribution so we can continue to provide you with quality content that informs, educates and inspires the Asian community. 2023 THE STANFORD DAILY PUBLISHING CORPORATION, Privacy Policy Accessibility Advertise, Donate and support The Daily when you shop on Amazon, On April 19th, a New York State Supreme Court in Brooklyn, former NYPD officer Peter Liang to five years of probation for the, shooting of unarmed Black man Akai Gurley, Earlier this year, Liangs conviction drew fierce backlash from New Yorks Chinese-American community. Peter Liang, a Hong Kong-born officer with the NYPD, shot Akai Gurley, 28, while on patrol with his partner Shaun Landau. She also spoke briefly to members of the Asian American community who came out in support of Akai Gurleys family. Americas. [51][46] Joseph Lin, a real estate agent and activist, had helped to organize the protests due to feeling that Asian Americans had been too passive with no political voice, saying that, "If he's a black officer, I guarantee you Al Sharpton will come out. About 18 months after graduating from the New York City Police Academy, Liang fired his gun from the eighth floor while on patrol. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, Officer Liang is not merely a bad apple, though thankfully he has been stripped of his gun and will likely face a grand jury in coming months. The controversy also had the potential of escalating tensions between the Black and Asian communities. The film is inspired by real events that took place at the Louis Heaton Pink housing complex in Brooklyn on the night of Nov. 20, 2014. This happened in 2014, the same year Gurley died, but Pantaleo wasnt even indicted, let alone convicted, despite a clearly stronger case and more outrageous wrongdoing. While many professions require CPR recertification, the NYPD does not. "[48], New York City councilwoman Margaret Chin stated that she was satisfied with the grand jury indicting Liang but had also asked for leniency in Liang's sentencing. Liangs gun discharged and the bullet ricochet off the wall and struck Gurley, killing him. And this argument is irrefutable. (718) 447-6544. An earlier version of this story stated that Liang and the Brooklyn District Attorney had filed appeals. See Rivkah Reyes Now At 30. A New York City Law Department spokesperson told NBC News that the city will pay $4.1 million, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) $400,000, and former New York Police Department Officer Peter Liang $25,000. [11][12], Peter Liang (born c.1987), a Hong Kong American, had less than 18 months of experience with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) at the time of the shooting. Gurley was visiting his girlfriend and getting his hair braided before Thanksgiving. A month later, Liang began serving out his sentence at a non-profit community center in the city, cleaning tables, mopping floors, and preparing meals. Gurley was black. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. The bullet ricocheted off a wall and pierced the chest of Gurley, who was walking 14 steps below. Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. Gurley, 28, and his girlfriend were taking the stairs rather than having to wait for an elevator when the bullet ricocheted off a wall. Liang entered a dark stairwell while patrolling a public housing complex in New York when Gurley apparently startled him. Meanwhile, Gurley's girlfriend, Melissa Butler, tried to resuscitate Gurley, following instructions called out by a neighbor who was on the phone with a 911 operator. Before the conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd, there was Peter Liang. Anger as cop escapes jail for shooting death of unarmed black man. Culturally, I was always told to not ruffle any feathers, to not wash dirty laundry outside and to keep my head down, she added, convinced that Asian Americans should now stand in solidarity with other minorities. She said the organizers had a real emotional stake in what happened and that spilled over to her film crew as well. On the issue of NYPD patrolling, he considered it essential to public safety; he also characterized the notions of Liang being a scapegoat [16] and police brutality cases somehow being linked together to be non-existent. Q SO-KO, Nagoya, 11 March - 7 May. Former NYPD officer Peter Liang's sentenced was reduced today. So, when Liang was convicted, it was a watershed for Asian Americans. They wanted to feel its weight in their . But, this defense is paradoxical, because while Asian Americans are included in the power structure, they are never equal partners when something goes south, as it did in this case, the Asian American is the first to be blamed. The protests largely centered around two claims. He turned left and "it just went off when my whole body tensed up," Liang testified. But this is a prize, remember. That direction ended up playing the role of impartial observer. 027-86699610 58377363@163.com qq3310059649 In all honesty, I was blown away by the response the Chinese-American community fielded in defense of Peter Liang. The case sparked intense emotions with many seeing this as another case of police misconduct against the Black community and others seeing Liang as a scapegoat for other injustices. Actor Kenny Leu ( Midway) leads the movie A Shot Through the Wall, inspired by the story of former New York City police officer Peter Liang, who was convicted of criminally negligent homicide. My family consists of my father and mother, me, and my younger brother and sister. Peter Liang was 28 years old and 18 months out of the police academy when he was patrolling a public housing project in Brooklyn, New York, in November 2014. However, one of Liang's defense attorneys, Rae Koshetz, argued that what had happened was a tragedy, not a crime, because the bullet bounced off the wall and coincidentally hit Gurley. "Peter Liang is one individual within a larger, corrupted criminal injustice system that doesn't value black nor brown lives," she said. [44][45], Following his conviction, Asian Americans denounced the verdict at various gatherings across the country. And there was a little bit of a bridging, of opinions and, and listening. They played a supportive role in the movement, taking a step back to actively elevate Black organizers. They requested Landau be fired from the department and for the city to invest in programs like affordable housing, community centers, and after-school programs, instead of hiring more NYPD officers.[38]. Actor Kenny Leu ( Midway) leads the movie A Shot Through the Wall, inspired by the story of former New York City police officer Peter Liang, who was convicted of criminally negligent homicide in 2016 after killing unarmed Akai Gurley at a Brooklyn housing project, when a bullet from Liang's gun . Anastasia Savira, Echolocation (still), 2023. After hearing a noise, Liang, who was on a pitch-dark stairwell, accidentally fired his weapon. Ballingers wrongful death suit accused NYCHA of failing to maintain the stairwell and lighting at the Pink Houses, which it oversees. The officer, Peter Liang, 28, was found guilty of manslaughter and official misconduct earlier this month in the shooting death of Akai Gurley, 28. They Played 'Katie' On School of Rock. Now new officers are assigned two at a time to work with a more experienced field training officer. Many people might not know this, but despite our large and loyal following which we are immensely grateful for, NextShark is still a small bootstrapped startup that runs on no outside funding or loans. Even a $1 contribution goes a long way. 'I was panicking. So, when Liang was convicted, it was a watershed for Asian Americans. When he fired his gun in a pitch-dark public housing stairwell, he at first thought he had hurt nothing but his career. Akai Gurley, 28 (pictured), was unarmed when he was shoot and killed by an NYPD officer in 2014. One woman left screaming and crying while another said she was having a panic attack. Our system failed Gurley and it failed Liang. Palmer dismissed Liang's claim the shooting was an accident, saying it was murder. And, as the article points out, Asian Americans, like whites, enjoy a priceless set of structural privileges and immunities. And there is no denying that. or debate this issue live on our message boards. Liang is Chinese-American. The money will be placed in a fund for Gurley's four-year-old daughter, Akaila, which she won't have access to without court approval until she turns 18, according to the Daily News, which quoted Scott Rynecki, the attorney representing Kimberly Ballinger, the mother of Gurley's daughter and Gurleys domestic partner. Before Meghan Markle came into the picture, Prince Harry, Prince William, and Kate Middleton seemed inseparable but that does not mean the . Fliedner was also the prosecutor who won a manslaughter conviction against NYPD cop Peter Liang for the 2014 accidental shooting of Akai Gurley in a darkened housing-project stairwell. Liang is not the only police officer who has taken an innocent life, and he should not be the only one held accountable for doing so. I live in Hopkinton, which is known for being the starting point of the Boston Marathon. They have filed notices of appeal. Liang was convicted of. 'Between you and Melissa Butler, who do you think was in a better position to provide CPR?' [27][36] Media initially reported that both officers had text-messaged their union representatives before calling for help;[21] the claim was refuted as being false by both the police union and the District Attorney's office. never making any promises about the direction the film would take. [32][33][34], New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton declared the shooting to be an accident and that Gurley was a "total innocent. Even if we assume that Liang had unintentionally shot Gurley due to a misfire, his subsequent failure to get medical help for him is still unacceptable. We believe this is a fair resolution of a tragic matter, the spokesperson said in a statement. A daily dose of Asian America's essential stories - in under 5 minutes, 2022 NextShark, Inc. All rights reserved.Terms & Conditions. Dr. Peter Liang is a gastroenterologist in New York, New York and is affiliated with Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Healthcare System-Brooklyn. Lawyers for Liang say the evidence doesn't meet legal requirements for the charges, which accuse him of disregarding a substantial and unjustifiable risk of serious injury or death, and have asked the judge to dismiss the case. [14], The Pink Houses are considered to be among the worst housing developments in New York. [38], Gurley's funeral was conducted December 6 at the Brown Memorial Baptist Church in Fort Greene. The police department fired Liang shortly after the verdict. He said that neither of them tried to revive Gurley, with both of them saying they did not feel qualified to perform CPR. Liang emigrated to the United States as a child to Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, with his parents and grandmother; he also has a younger brother in college. The gathering was organized by CAAAV Organizing Asian. Some current officers who were cadets at around the same time as Liang have said they remember being given the questions to the test before they took the CPR exam. See Bonnie Wright Now At He Played 'Jack' In Hook. 'The sadness, the emptiness in my heart, the emotional depression is still overwhelming. Liang, who is Chinese American, was convicted of second-degree manslaughter and one count of official misconduct for the shooting of Akai Gurley, a 28-year-old black man and father, during an. [73], In August 2016, New York City reached an agreement with Gurley's family for $4.1 million, settling a lawsuit brought by Kimberley Ballinger, Akaila's mother. The case quickly spurred a division between Asian Americans. White cops such as Daniel Pantaleo, who killed Eric Garner with a chokehold, and Darren Wilson, who shot Michael Brown, are regularly acquitted of these killings. Liang said he fired unintentionally after a noise startled him while he was patrolling with his gun drawn, his finger on the weapon's side. Many of Liang's supporters demanded that all killers should be prosecuted and that there should be no such thing as selective prosecution, scapegoating, or racism. Liang faces manslaughter and other charges. The press conference was held Tuesday outside Brooklyn Supreme Court where NYPD Officer Peter Liang appeared for a hearing. Its a truly monumental and unprecedented show of force, demonstrating a level of organization and mobilization that neither I nor anyone else thought the community was capable of achieving and man, it was a breathtakingly powerful force to behold. Liang did not insert herself into the story. Forget the cliched myths and stereotypes about how Asian Americans are politically apathetic or dont vote the overwhelming protests, marches and political pressure the community exerted downright frightened me with just its sheer scale. Yes, it is undeniable that Asian Americans are generally in a significantly better socioeconomic position than other minority groups in this country. [10] He was not a resident of the Pink Houses but lived in nearby Brownsville with his domestic partner, her daughter, and their two-year-old daughter. ", "Thousands protest prosecution of NYPD officer", "Thousands Rally in Boston Common Calling for Equal Justice for Officer Peter Liang", "National Rallies Planned for Indicted NYPD Officer Peter Liang", "Many Asians Express Dismay and Frustration After Liang Verdict", "10,000 protesters rallying in support of ex-cop Peter Liang", "Supporters rally behind convicted cop Peter Liang", "Protests planned after NYPD officer Liang found guilty", "Race 'Doesn't Matter': Reactions to Officer Liang's Indictment", "NYPD Officer Indicted in Shooting of Akai Gurley: Reports", "Watch Brooklyn Protesters Demand Justice for Akai Gurley", "NY police shooting that has divided Chinese Americans will be tried by jury", "N.Y. Police Shooting Case Divides City's Asian-Americans", "NYPD Officer Peter Liang Indicted In Fatal Shooting Of Akai Gurley", "Officer Indicted in Shooting Death of Akai Gurley", "Police Department Fires Partner of Ex-Officer Peter Liang", "NYPD Officer Peter Liang found guilty of second-degree manslaughter in fatal shooting of Akai Gurley in Brooklyn housing development", "NYPD OFFICER TESTIFIES AT MANSLAUGHTER TRIAL OF HIS FORMER PARTNER, PETER LIANG", "Police department fires partner of ex-officer Peter Liang", "Officer Guilty of Negligence in '03 Killing", "Prosecutor rips Peter Liang's defense in Akai Gurley killing", "Why was Peter Liang one of so few cops convicted for killing an unarmed man? That money will be invested in annuities to provide around $10 million for Akaila over her life, the Daily News reported. I'm not going to ignore all of this and go to bat for him just because he's also Chinese. Before the conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd, there was Peter Liang.
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