'Jail Killer Cops': South Asian Community In Seattle Holds Rally Seeking Justice For Jaahnavi Kandula
On January 23, Kandula, 23, was crossing the street when she was struck by a police car driven by Officer Kevin Dave.
Members of the South Asian community in Seattle met with Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and other city officials to demand justice for Jaahnavi Kandula, and they also organised a demonstration at the location where the Indian student was hit and killed by a speeding police patrol car, news agency PTI reported. They held banners stating: “Jaahnavi had more value than Seattle Police Department” and “Justice for Jaahnavi, jail killer cops.” UTSAV, an institution that helps South Asians engage with their communities, staged the rally. On January 23, Kandula, 23, was crossing the street when she was struck by a police car driven by Officer Kevin Dave. He was travelling at 74 mph (more than 119 kmh) on his way to a heroin overdose call.
Officer Daniel Auderer chuckled about the fatal accident in bodycam footage released by the Seattle Police Department on Monday, dismissing any suggestion Dave was at fault or that a criminal probe was required.
Following the deadly collision, Auderer can be heard making inappropriate remarks such as "limited value" and laughing.
On Saturday, leaders and organisations from Seattle's South Asian community met with Mayor Bruce Harrell, Police Chief Adrian Diaz, and other municipal officials.
“Effective public safety is built on trust between City government and the communities we serve. When that trust is breached, it is the City’s obligation to do the work necessary to restore and rebuild it,” Mayor Harrell was quoted as saying by Komo TV, PTI reported.
According to community leaders, Mayor Harrell's statements to date, that the derogatory remarks are a rare incident, do not go far enough in dealing with the system and police culture.
Harrell further said that: "We want to express our extreme condolences for your loss. Many comments that have been made do not reflect the sympathy and the empathy and the condolences that we have. I'm standing with our Chief of Police, Adrian Diaz and again with the Indian...the who's who in the Indian community in the greater region, all coming together because of unfortunate and insensitive remarks that we believe were made. Making sure that our apologies as a city official are felt to your community and your family."
Diaz further added that: "...I know that I talked to the brother and some of the other family. But we're here to continue to listen, because we're here. We want to stand with you. We want to figure out ways that you also feel in a situation. We want to work to ensure that that we value our human life that we do not dehumanise others." On Saturday, more than 100 members of the Seattle area's South Asian community met at Denny Park and marched to the junction where Kandula was killed by the speeding police car.
“The South Asian community and I grieve for Jaahnavi and are in shock over the lack of empathy and deeply offensive remarks regarding a young woman’s life and potential,” State Representative Vandana Slatter was quoted by PTI in its report.
“Jaahnavi is a part of our community, and her story is reflected in every one of us. It is time for swift and accountable action, not apathy, so that Jaahnavi’s family can have justice and the community can begin the long journey to rebuilding trust,” she said.
“We’re not a monolith, the Indian community,” Slatter said to the gathering.
“There’s diaspora in the community, but we are all united today,” she said.
On Saturday, rallygoers emphasised the importance of Kandula's life.
Shifali Jamwal, who accompanied her 3-year-old kid, said Kandula was a master's student who travelled to America for her education so “her life would have more value.” “I can only imagine what Jaahnavi’s mom is going through,” Jamwal said.
Kyla Carrillo, 25, another participant, termed Auderer's remarks "completely disrespectful."
“Not even unbelievable, not shocking, but just for [him] to value somebody’s life as such was disrespectful,” she said.
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