Love in Action : Elijah McClain One Year Later
Love in Action : Week 6
Love in Action : Wednesday 6-7pm mst
Please join Lead with Love for zoom work session each week that highlights current issues related to justice, freedom and climate change that need of our help. We will provide tangible actions and perform these efforts within the 1 hour meeting.
This week our efforts will focus on justice for Elijah McClain.
We believe it is not only important to acknowledge systemic racism in our country but also critical to take actions in support of equal rights and justice for everyone. Our country’s foundation in slavery has developed into a system that still affords more rights, protections and opportunities to white people than black, indigenous and people of color. We see our system of policing and justice as an area where black rights and safety are particularly at risk.
If you haven’t yet registered for Love in Action, please do so by clicking the button below.
What You’ll Need
Pen/Pencil
Paper/Journal
Computer with Email/Wifi
Phone
About Elijah McClain
Elijah McClain of Aurora Colorado, was a 23 year black man who died after an altercation with police officers and first responders on August 24, 2019. He was unarmed and had committed no crime.
McClain was a massage therapist. One of his clients described him this way: “He was the sweetest, purest person I have ever met. He was definitely a light in a whole lot of darkness.” A colleague of McClain’s also described: “Eli was all about tolerance and acceptance, advancing himself and helping others do that,” he said. “He was always trying to evolve, if you will.”
Elijah McClain was a vegetarian and taught himself to play the guitar and violin. He would play violin for animals in the shelter because he believed it soothed their anxiety and eased their loneliness.
Some background…
Elijah McClain’s death occurred almost exactly one year ago. His case resurfaced after the death of George Floyd and gained national attention as another injustice of a black man by white police officers.
On the night of August 24, 2019 Elijah McClain was walking home from a convenience store when a 911 call was placed that reported him as behaving suspiciously. He was wearing a ski mask as he did typically to keep himself warm as a result of his light body weight and anemic condition. People close to him also speculated that the face covering eased his social anxiety. The 911 called also reported him as waving his arms around, but it’s been since understood that he was moving and dancing to music that he was listening to through his headphones. The caller specified that they hadn’t seen him commit a crime and that he appeared to be unarmed.
Police officers, Nathan Woodyard, Jason Rosenblatt and Randy Roedema arrived on the scene and claim in a police report that McClain was resisting arrest but it is caught on tape that McClain was trying to stop his music so he could listen to the officers. The encounter advanced into struggle which led to an officer restraining Elijah McClain using a carotid control hold, cutting off oxygen to his brain and rendering McClain unconscious. The restraints caused Elijah McClain to vomit (which he can be heard apologizing about) and cry out, “I can’t breathe.” Most of what we know about the struggle in this case is from the police report and audio from the officer’s body cams. We do not have visuals from the recording because the officers report that all three of their cameras fell off. At around the 15:38 mark, an officer seems to give the direction to “move the camera” just before the camera is dropped in the grass. Nonetheless, from the audio, we hear Elijah McClain’s final words:
I can’t breathe. I have my ID right here. My name is Elijah McClain. That’s my house. I was just going home. I’m an introvert. I’m just different. That’s all. I’m so sorry. I have no gun. I don’t do that stuff. I don’t do any fighting. Why are you attacking me? I don’t even kill flies! I don’t eat meat! But I don’t judge people, I don’t judge people who do eat meat. Forgive me. All I was trying to do was become better. I will do it. I will do anything. Sacrifice my identity, I’ll do it. You all are phenomenal. You are beautiful and I love you. Try to forgive me. I’m a mood Gemini. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Ow, that really hurt. You are all very strong. Teamwork makes the dream work. Oh, I’m sorry I wasn’t trying to do that. I just can’t breathe correctly.
When the first responders arrived, they administered 500mg of ketamine despite already being restrained. This dosage is about twice the amount typically used on someone his weight, 140 lbs. Elijah McClain, went into cardiac arrest. He was pronounced brain dead three days later and was removed from life support three days after that. He was an organ donor.
Dave Young, the district attorney for Adams County, determined that the autopsy could not connect the cause of death being to the actions of the officers, so they were cleared of wrongdoing and reinstated after a short administrative leave.
This June, all three officers were pulled from street duty which appears to have been a decision made for their own protection. Later in June, one officer, Rosenblatt, was fired in connection with a photo taken by fellow officers that jokingly reenacted the choke hold near the scene of the encounter. He has filed lawsuits against his termination. All other officers and people involved in this case continue to serve on their respective jobs. No arrests have been made.
There are many investigations currently open at the local, state and federal level. Most recently, McClain’s family filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city of Aurora.
"We have filed this civil rights lawsuit to demand justice for Elijah McClain, to hold accountable the Aurora officials, police officers, and paramedics responsible for his murder, and to force the City of Aurora to change it longstanding pattern of brutal and racist policing,"
McClain family attorney, Mari Newman
Key figures
Elijah
Mcclain
Randy
Roedema
Sheneen
mcclain
Nathan
Woodyard
jared
Polis
Jason
Rosenblatt
Phil
Weiser
Jeremy
Cooper
Mike
Coffman
Mary newman
Dave
Young
Issues Arising from this Case
Profiling
Systemic Racism
Excessive Force
Protest Pressure
Justice for Elijah
PUBLIC PRESSURE
Elijah McClain’s case was reopened as a result of nearly 2 million signatures on a petition by June 2020. Nearly one year after his fatal encounter with public officials.
Choke hold ban
Vanessa Wilson, the interim chief of the Aurora Police Department, announced a ban on carotid holds, like the one used on Mr. McClain. Further ,the city council fortified the measure by passing the ban legislatively.
#sayhISname
Keep Elijah’s name alive, give him the chance to create nationwide progress, and demand justice by “saying her name.”
Charging Officers
Many people and organizations are calling for the arrests of the involved officers and first responders.
Investigations
Currently there are open investigations at the local, state and federal levels.
Elijah's family and community remember him for his outsized kindness and grace, his desire to help and heal, and his thoughtful, spiritual approach to life.
Excerpt From Lawsuit filed by McClain Family
Ongoing Issues with Aurora Police Department
Officers staging parody photoshoot of Elijah McClain’s deadly encounter with police and paramedics
11/2019
Aurora Police Department
using riot techniques
on peaceful protestors
6/27/2020
aurora police handcuff Black family, including children, at gunpoint in a mistaken stop
8/2/2020
Action List
Call / Email:
Keep calling, emailing, and writing to Aurora and CO officials to demand that Elijah’s case is at the TOP of their agendas and that we work effectively to address systemic racism in our public systems and police departments.
If you are in state, include your zip code.
If you email, use a discreet , creative or somewhat unrelated subject line to bypass junk filters.
Governor Jared Polis : (303) 866 2471 : Governorpolis@state.co.us
My name is ******. I am calling to thank you for joining us and the millions of people around the world to demand truth and justice about the murder of Elijah McClain. We appreciate that you’ve opened a state level investigation and agree that Elijah’s family and to the Colorado community are owed justice through a transparent investigation by Phil Weiser into the cause of death and excessive force used by the three officers as well as the first responders. This incident with Elijah McClain, along with numerous incidents henceforth are clear evidence of systemic racism within the structure of the Colorado police departments. I am also asking for an analysis of this systemic racism and a clear and public action plan to be enacted that protects our black community from these injustices. Please continue to use your position of power to help your state heal, regain trust in the system, and seek justice for Elijah McClain and his family. The country is watching.
You may also:
Demand that all first responders are fired.
Demand that the officers and first responders are arrested for the murder of Elijah McClain.
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman : (303) 739 7015 : mcoffman@auroragov.org
Ask for Mike Coffman’s line and leave message.
My name is ******. I am calling to demand truth and justice about the death of Elijah McClain. Mr. Mayor, Please uphold your promise to keep this investigation at the top of your agenda so that your city may heal, regain trust in the system, and to seek justice for Elijah McClain and his family. This incident with Elijah McClain, along with numerous police-related incidents henceforth are clear evidence of systemic racism within the structure of the Aurora police department. I am also asking for an analysis of this systemic racism and a clear and public action plan to be enacted that protects our black community from these injustices. The nation is watching your city.
AG Phil Weiser : (720) 508 6000 : Contact Form - click here
Press 0 / stay on the line. Voicemail may be full if you don’t reach him through a receptionist.
My name is ******. I am calling to thank you for joining us and the millions of people around the world in pursuit of truth and justice about the death of Elijah McClain. We appreciate how you’ve been a champion against excessive force by the police department and hope your position is reflected in the way you choose to conduct your investigation in this case. Elijah’s family and the Colorado community are owed justice through a transparent investigation into the cause of death and excessive force used by the three officers as well as the first responders. Please continue to use your position of power to help your state heal, regain trust in the system, and seek justice for Elijah McClain and his family.
Council Members
Can be used for each city council member listed below:
My name is ******. I am calling to thank you for joining us and the millions of people around the world to demand truth and justice about the murder of Elijah McClain. We appreciate that you’re moving forward on a ban on carotid control holds and choke holds. We also appreciate that you’ve opened a local investigation and are taking care to select an appropriate team. Elijah’s family and the Aurora community are owed justice through a transparent investigation by Jonathan Smith into the cause of death and excessive force used by the three officers as well as the first responders. This incident with Elijah McClain, along with numerous incidents henceforth are clear evidence of systemic racism within the structure of the Aurora police department. I am also asking for an analysis of this systemic racism and a clear and public action plan to be enacted that protects our black community from these injustices. Please continue to use your position of power to help your city heal, regain trust in the system, and seek justice for Elijah McClain and his family. The country is watching.
Crystal Murillo (303) 739 7502 • cmurillo@auroragov.org
Françoise Bergan (720) 465 1830 • fbergan@auroragov.org
Nicole Johnston (303) 739 7506 • njohnsto@auroragov.org
Curtis Gardner (720) 505 4312 • cgardner@auroragov.org
Marsha Berzins (303) 739 7508 • mberzins@auroragov.org
Dave Gruber (303) 739 7514 • dgruber@auroragov.org
Alison Coombs (720) 505 3332 • acoombs@auroragov.org
Allison Hiltz (720) 767 2685 • ahiltz@auroragov.org
Juan Marcano (720) 634 6927 • jmarcano@auroragov.org
Can’t be reached by phone, but we encourage you to listen to his inspiring outgoing voice message which describes the impact our actions are having on this case and future legislation. Please contact by email as well.
Angela Lawson (720) 244 6932 • alawson@auroragov.org
Invites contact by text at the number above.
Jason Crow, Congressman for Colorado’s 6th District : (720) 748-7514
My name is ******. I am calling to thank you for joining us and the millions of people around the world to demand truth and justice about the murder of Elijah McClain. We appreciate that the vote you made on behalf of Elijah McClain in favor of the George Floyd Policing Act. This incident with Elijah McClain, along with numerous incidents henceforth are clear evidence of systemic racism within the structure of the Colorado police departments. I am also asking for an analysis of this systemic racism and a clear and public action plan to be enacted that protects our black community from these injustices. Please continue to use your position of power to help your state heal, regain trust in the system, and seek justice for Elijah McClain and his family. The country is watching.
Sign
Tweet Elijah’s Mom
Send kind words to Sheneen McClain’s twitter account: https://twitter.com/EagleEyezReads
Resources
Donate
Started by Elijah’s mother Sheneen McClain
Post
POST about Elijah, using the hashtags:
#JusticeForElijahMcClain
#AuroraPoliceDepartment
#SayHisName
Share his story, images of his smiling face, and tag the responsible parties
On Twitter, use
@govofco
@jaredpolis
@repmikecoffman
@auroragov
@aurorapd
@da17colorado
@leslieherod
On Instagram, use
@govofco
@jaredpolis
@repmikecoffman
@auroragov
@aurorapd
@progressnowco
@leslieherod
Please help us support these amazing artists by tagging their work in your post!
