Family of man killed by Phoenix police: Don't focus on race

Source: USA Today

Two days after an unarmed Black man was killed by a White police officer in Phoenix at the height of national unrest over racially charged incidents, a grieving family wants to redirect the dialogue.

Rumain Brisbon's mother and girlfriend don't want the conversation about his death to center on race. Nora Brisbon, who is black, and Dana Klinger, who is white, want the conversation to be about the son, boyfriend and father they loved.

"This had nothing to do with race," Nora Brisbon said. "This is about Rumain and the wrong that was done to him, and I want people to focus on that. If they want to rally, let's support him positively."

Approximately 150 people gathered downtown at Phoenix Civic Space Park on Thursday night to "begin an active campaign of direct action and civil disobedience over the police-brutality-related death of Rumain Brisbon," said the Rev. Jarrett Maupin, a civil-rights advocate. Maupin, who organized the event, led demonstrators in practicing their protest chants before marching more than a mile to Phoenix police headquarters. That's not what Nora Brisbon was asking for. She said she would rather that the focus be on the positive aspects of her son's life.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/12/05/family-of-man-killed-by-police-dont-focus-on-race/19935523/