About a thousand people marched peacefully around El Cajon’s civic center Saturday to protest the shooting death of Alfred Olango.
The man was shot and killed by an El Cajon Police Officer Tuesday and the video of that shooting was released to the public Friday.
“What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now! What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!” they chanted as they walked past El Cajon Police Headquarters.
The protest started Saturday morning in a park across the street from City Hall. Religious and community leaders spoke to several hundred people gathered in the park.
“It is time for immediate and urgent action on behalf of these who suffer in our cities,” said one pastor.
Many of the speakers called for protests to continue peacefully while condemning the El Cajon Police.
“The officers should have taken steps to deescalate the situation,” said another religious leader.
Roughly a thousand people then walked around the city’s civic center and right by El Cajon Police headquarters.
That’s when about a dozen motorcycle officers from San Diego and El Cajon started blocking traffic for the march even though the march wasn’t planned.
One woman was heard yelling expletives at the protesters. However, a handful of protesters pulling up the rear of the march kept people moving while ignoring the screams.
The march ended in a plaza outside El Cajon City Hall. Alfred Olango’s father addressed the crowd and called for change.
“I will also demand the Chief of Police of El Cajon to step down,” he said to the supportive crowd.
