Seattle police are going through outrage and an investigation over their officer’s response to the dying of a younger girl who was struck by a patrol automobile.
a gathering It was held Saturday in honor of Jahnavi Kandola, a 23-year-old pupil from India, and introduced collectively Seattle locals and members of the South Asian neighborhood.
The offended crowds, organized by the South Asian charity Utsav, chanted calls for for justice and accountability. Washington state Democratic Home Consultant Vandana Slater addressed the gang on the intersection the place Kandola was killed: “We’re not a monolith, the Indian neighborhood. There are expatriates in the neighborhood, however we’re all united right this moment.”
Different rallies within the nation, from New York Metropolis to California in latest days, have seen comparable responses, and the Consulate Normal of India in San Francisco is demanding motion towards the officers concerned within the case. The Biden administration additionally assured the Indian authorities of a speedy investigation.
Kandola misplaced her life on January 23 after she was struck whereas crossing the road by Officer Kevin Dave, who was driving 50 mph over the velocity restrict. The case obtained nationwide consideration when physique digicam footage from the Seattle Police Division revealed Kandola being taunted by one other Seattle police officer who responded to information of her homicide in a recorded dialog with a colleague.
Daniel Oderer, a drug recognition knowledgeable and vice chairman of the Seattle Police Officers Affiliation, was on the telephone with Mike Solin, president of the Seattle Police Officers Affiliation.
“Simply write a verify for $11,000,” Oderer is heard saying with amusing, referring to the potential fee quantity to the Kandola household. “It had restricted worth.”
The revelation sparked backlash from South Asian People, together with outstanding politicians and celebrities.
Democratic US Consultant Ro Khanna tweeted: “Janavi Kandola got here right here to graduate from India. She was killed on the crosswalk by a dashing police automobile, and Officer Oderer mentioned her life was of “restricted worth.”
“I thought of my father who got here right here in his twenties. Mr. Oderer, the life of each Indian immigrant is of infinite worth.
“Anybody who believes that human life has ‘restricted worth’ shouldn’t serve in regulation enforcement,” he added.
Anybody who believes that human life has “restricted worth” shouldn’t serve in regulation enforcement.
– Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) September 14, 2023
Members of Seattle’s South Asian neighborhood got here collectively at Metropolis Corridor on Saturday to talk with Mayor Bruce Harrell, Police Chief Adrian Diaz, and Councilwoman Lisa Herbold, chair of the Public Security and Human Providers Committee.
In an apology letter “Though I didn’t know Janavi personally, I perceive that she was a caring, type, and clever younger girl who had a really brilliant and promising future forward of her. I share your disappointment that her life ended so tragically,” Harrell wrote to the Kandola household.
in video Tv presenter and comic Lilly Singh, who posted on Instagram, mentioned she was offended when she realized of Kandola’s dying months after her homicide. She described the video exhibiting the officer taunting Kandola as “disgusting” and “inhumane.”
“Each time harmless lives are misplaced, it’s heartbreaking and tragic,” Singh mentioned. “However this explicit incident makes me offended, as a result of I’ve turn out to be intimately conversant in all of the challenges that ladies in India face. Realizing that Janavi did what solely a small proportion of ladies in India have the chance to do.” With it, which is to get an training and that too overseas, however for her life to be taken and expelled on this manner is solely heartbreaking and unfair to the very best diploma.
“When will the world cease ignoring the worth of women and girls, particularly Indian women and girls?”
Actress Priyanka Chopra wrote in an Instagram story: “It’s stunning to know that such a tragic incident that occurred 9 months in the past has solely come to gentle now. Life is life. One can not put any worth on it.”
Oderer insists his feedback have been misunderstood.
in statementSeattle Police mentioned: “Though any incident of public concern is topic to OPA, SPD or OIG evaluate, no metropolis worker ought to remark, in both an official or private capability, in a fashion that means any factual, coverage or authorized conclusions have been made relating to the incident.” “.
The officer who killed Kandola has been criminally charged, and Seattle police are investigating the incident.
