Students protest police shooting

Ryan Garner

Protesters organized a rally Feb. 24 to speak out against Scottsdale Police Officer James Peters, who is currently on administrative leave after his alleged sixth civilian shooting in 10 years.

The most recent of which resulted in the death of 50-year-old John Loxas, who was allegedly shot from behind while in the confines of his residence.

Loxas was reported to be holding his 7-month-old grandson when he was fatally wounded by Peters, who was the first responder to a call made by a neighbor who claimed they were threatened by Loxas at gunpoint.

According to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Peters, previous five fatal shootings have all been deemed justifiable in court investigations.

However protesters were not content with Scottsdale Police Department’s granting of administrative leave for the officer; instead, they demanded the department “fire, arrest, and charge this cop with murder,” according to protester Mickey Zoom.

Eight bicycle officers arrived on the scene at 9:15 p.m. to ensure the protest remained peaceful. The officers were unable to provide any details on possible investigations.

MCC political science major, Brian Ashley, was present at the rally as officers arrived, saying, “The cops showed up like they’re gonna assault Fallujah.”

After attempting to rouse local bar patrons from what Ashley referred to as “alcoholic anesthesia,” he urged nearby citizens to “get out of the bars, into the streets, stop drinking and join us. Stop police brutality.”

Ashley, an honors  student, said that police brutality like Loxas’ case was part of a “systemic societal issue” that “teachers have been told to be quiet about.”

“Our teachers need to be honest and tell the truth about what’s going on. Not once in two years at MCC have we talked about the war or police brutality in any real context. At ASU I have a human rights and ethics class, and week seven into the class, I raised my hand and I asked, ‘we’re seven weeks into this class and we haven’t once mentioned that the United States has been in the longest war in its history?'”

Ashley claimed the current teacher-student relationship is a “circus, a façade of education. When I try to bring up issues such as the war, police brutality, or crimes of American politicians, I’m hushed.

“The teachers are pressured by society and administration. In the ’60s and the ’70s you saw those huge student movements because teachers were unafraid to tell the truth.

“Teachers were out there condemning the war, condemning the atrocities.

“These issues seem so distant to everyone,” continued Ashley, “but if people realized that unarmed civilians were being killed right here in their own home they’d be taking a greater stand.

“Their families’ lives are at stake. Their neighbor’s lives are at stake.”

Brooke Melton, an Army veteran and previous journalism student at MCC said, “that’s everyone’s complaint; ‘what can I do.’  We’re just rats in a cage.”

  • Mesa Legend Staff

    These are archived stories from Mesa Legend editions before Fall 2018. See article for corresponding author.

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