To: Anthony Silva, Mayor of Stockton, CA and City Council, of Stockton, CA

Investigate apparent assault by Stockton cops and decriminalize jaywalking

16 year olds should not be brutalized and arrested for jaywalking!

I am horrified by the video of Stockton police brutalizing 16 year old Emilio Mayfield for jaywalking. By all accounts, it appears that the police behaved criminally. We want you to launch an independent investigation into the arresting officers with assault of a minor and de-criminalize jaywalking in Stockton.

Why is this important?

The criminalization of Black youth is out of control! On the heels of a Texas teen being arrested for bringing a clock to school, Stockton, CA police brutalized 16 year old Emilio Mayfield for jaywalking. The cops were the threat to public safety, not the minor getting off the bus.

We demand the cops be charged with assaulting a minor, that Restorative Justice methods are used to resolve non-violent victimless “crimes,” and—we can’t believe we have to say this—the decriminalization of jaywalking.