GRIID Interview with Jose Rodriguez: Police repression happens when activists want to hold the GRPD accountable

I sat down with Jose Rodriguez on Sunday to talk about why the GRPD contact him two weeks after he participated in a march demanding Justice for Patrick Lyoya and then charging him with a misdemeanor. 

The march, which took place on April 6th, just two days after the second anniversary of the GRPD murder of Patrick Lyoya. The march was organized by the Comrades Collective, which included several members of Patrick Lyoya’s family.

Below are the six questions I asked Jose during the interview:

• Can you tell us what your involvement was during the April 6th Justice for Patrick Lyoya march organized by the Comrades Collective?
• How many days after the march were you contacted by the GRPD and what were they charging you with?
• If you weren’t  doing anything different than the dozens of people who participated in the march on April 6th, why do you think the GRPD is targeting you?
• It’s not lost on many of us that the two people that the GRPD have targeted with charges after the protest are BIPOC. DO you think that the GRPD’s actions are in part racially motivated?
• Why do you think what happened to you is important for people to know?
• In what ways can people support you and be involved in the campaign to fight for justice for Patrick Lyoya?