Activists Demand Dante Servin Be 'Brought To Justice' In Rekia Boyd Shooting
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Clergy and civil rights activists are demanding Chicago police officer Dante Servin be "brought to justice" after his acquittal on a technicality for firing a gun into a crowd and killing Rekia Boyd.
Podcast
During a press conference at St. James AME Church, at 92nd and Lafayette, clergy members joined with Rainbow-Push leaders in condemning the prosecution of Detective Dante Servin and demanding that the U.S. Justice Department take up the case.
Bishop John Richard Brant, standing with clergy and others at the front of the church, said, "All who stand behind me are feeling the pain and frustration of the people."
Jonathan Jackson, National Spokesman for Rainbow-Push, said justice wasn't served in the case.
"There was an officer that was guilty of murder that was found innocent."
Jackson and the Rev. Jeanette Wilson, also of Rainbow-Push, said the relationship between police and prosecutors is too cozy.
Wilson said, "Obviously we cannot trust local law enforcement and local state's attorneys to be objective in cases where African Americans and people of color are involved as victims."
Wilson said Servin was under-charged. He was charged with involuntary manslaughter, reckless conduct, and reckless discharge of a firearm.
In acquitting the officer, the judge in the case all but came out and said he should have been charged with first-degree murder.
Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez defended the way the case was handled, saying it was done in good faith after a careful legal analysis.
