I guess they found out we were coming and they're scared! #justice4mariowoods #BlackLivesMatter #firechiefsuhr pic.twitter.com/yEIsqiKdKO
— Justice4MarioWoods (@Justice4MWNow) December 30, 2015
In an apparent bid to forestall engaging with a planned protest, the San Francisco Police Department yesterday canceled a scheduled forum set to discuss the relationship between SFPD and San Francisco's African-American community in the wake of the fatal police shooting of 26-year-old Mario Woods.
Woods was shot by five SFPD officers on December 2 in front of numerous bystanders, and video of his death has since been widely shared.
The forum, originally intended to be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday at police headquarters, was to be the second meeting of Chief Greg Suhr's African-American Community Advisory Forum, reports the Examiner.
When police found out about a planned protest of the meeting, they decided the best thing to do was to cancel the forum.
“Not knowing the size and the potential action that could take place, we spent most of our time trying to figure out how to facilitate the protest,” Officer Carlos Manfredi told the paper. “We wanted to [be] on the side of safety.”
The SFPD judged it too tricky, evidently, to "facilitate the protest" and conduct a meeting simultaneously.
And as to the protesters' intentions?
“We wanted to meet with the advisory board and find out what they're advising,” explained Reverend Franzo King.
The police did not inform protesters that they had canceled the meeting, and the Examiner notes that around 100 people showed up for about an hour, many of whom chanted the now familiar “Fire Chief Suhr!”
The forum was rescheduled for today, and it is likely to be met with more protest.
#MarioWoods supporters face off against SFPD at steps of police headquarters, which has been shutdown to the public. pic.twitter.com/6a9XdGqivG
— Michael Barba (@mdbarba) December 30, 2015
#MarioWoods' brother has joined protesters outside SFPD headquarters. "Power to the people, we the people!" pic.twitter.com/nDfKqeeIEZ
— Michael Barba (@mdbarba) December 30, 2015
Previously: Gascon On Mario Woods Shooting: 'This Is Not A Conversation About Tasers'