Rose City Copwatch. Aug 1:
Billy Wayne Simms
On Saturday, July 28th, Portland Police Officer Justin Clary fired multiple rounds into the car driven by Billy Wayne Simms as he attempted to drive away. The vehicle plowed into an occupied apartment building, after which police placed a guarded perimeter around the scene. Simms was left wounded in his car without medical attention and his family was denied access to him or to any information about him during this time. Hours later, Simms was pronounced dead at the wheel of the car.
Since then, the Police and local media have attempted to justify this murder by expounding a litany of violent offenses the victim was alleged to have been involved in in the days prior. Regardless of any past criminal history and whether police accusations against the victim are true or not, there is no justification for Billy Wayne Simms’ murder. The actions of this officer and of the Portland Police Bureau in supporting him are a brutal, tragic reminder of the realities of police violence in working class communities.
Billy Wayne’s family has been hit with an unimaginable, sudden tragedy. On top of loosing their son, the family must come up with $1500 to retrieve Billy’s body from the morgue in the next few days. They are asking for the community’s support to help them raise this money.
We need YOUR help raising this $1500 so that Billy’s family can have a proper funeral for him.
You can contribute right now by giving any amount here: https://www.wepay.com/donations/billy-wayne-simms-memorial-fund
Though the looming political questions raised by yet an other police murder will have to be addressed in the coming weeks, immediate support to Billy’s family is needed. If you want to be updated on future actions after these funds have been raised, email us and let us know.
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Photos from corporate media article in The Oregonian. July 30:
GREY COAST ANARCHIST NEWS 