GOV., PROTESTERS: KILLING OF ROBERT BROOKS BY PRISON GUARD GANG 'MURDER'
GRAND JURY TO CONSIDER CHARGES ON MONDAY, SPECIAL PROSECUTOR WILLIAM J. FITZPATRICK SAYS
Justice for Robert Brooks Coalition outside the office of Onondaga County District Attorney William J. Fitzpatrick, demanding that murder charges be brought against the prison guards who killed Robert Brooks. Photo credit: unknown, provided by the Justice for Robert Brooks Coalition.
Feb. 6, 2025
Dozens of protesters demanding murder charges against the prison guards who killed Robert Brooks demonstrated outside the office of the special prosecutor assigned to the case on Thursday.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, meanwhile, called the killing a "murder" and demanded "the full force of our justice system" be brought down on Brooks' murderers.
“Say his name! Robert Brooks!" and "What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!" were some of the things protesters chanted in front of the office of special prosecutor William J. Fitzpatrick, the Onondaga County District Attorney.
Fitzpatrick was appointed by Attorney General Letitia James because of a conflict of interest after The Free Lance revealed she was defending some of the same guards who killed Brooks from federal civil rights lawsuits alleging they unjustifiably beat other prisoners.
Renny Smith was one of the organizers of Thursday's protest. He rode a bus from New York City to Syracuse with about 40 other people. The group was joined outside Fitzpatrick's downtown Syracuse office by local activists. He said the group called itself "Justice for Robert Brooks Coalition."
"I don't really have confidence in the prosecutor," Smith said.
Referring to the almost two months that have passed since Brooks' killing without anyone being charged, "It makes no sense to wait for the autopsy to determine the cause of death when you got a video. It's ludicrous."
Brooks was killed by a "beat-up squad" of state prison guards inside the infirmary at the Marcy Correctional Facility on Dec. 9, 2024. It was unintentionally captured on video by body cameras worn by four of the guards.
Two days ago, The Free Lance exclusively revealed the Onondaga County Medical Examiner had concluded its investigation, finding Brooks' killing was a homicide. Gov. Hochul first called for charges against Brooks' killers on Jan. 3.
"Too much time has passed without charges being brought against the individuals responsible," Hochul said then. "The video of this horrific attack demonstrates that crimes clearly were committed."
On Tuesday, Gov. Hochul called Brooks' killing a murder and said "the family of Mr. Brooks deserves no further delays.”
Justice for Robert Brooks Coalition outside the office of Onondaga County District Attorney William J. Fitzpatrick, demanding that murder charges be brought against the prison guards who killed Robert Brooks. Photo credit: unknown, provided by the Justice for Robert Brooks Coalition.
Reverend Kevin McCall, a Brooklyn-based civil rights leader who has been organizing with formerly-incarcerated activists leading the charge for accountability and systemic change in the wake of Brooks' killing, said he met with Fitzpatrick before the protest. McCall called the meeting "productive" and "respectful."
"I let him know what our demands were," Rev. McCall said. "We want these corrections officers and staff be charged to the fullest extent of the law. There shouldn't be no plea deals done."
He said Fitzpatrick replied by telling him he would "do the work the People of Syracuse elected him to do, which is represent the office of the District Attorney."
Fitzpatrick, he said, revealed he would begin presenting evidence to an Oneida County grand jury on Monday, Feb. 10.
Derrick Hamilton, another organizer of Thursday's protest, said "today's visit was just to remind the prosecutor that there are people who care about Robert Brooks."
"We're not going anywhere. We're here to stay," Hamilton added. "To the completion of the guilty verdicts, until all these people are sent to prison."
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