**URGENT ACTION**

HELP US FIGHT FOR RICHMOND POLICE REFORM AND ACCOUNTABILITY BY PARTICIPATING IN OUR LETTER CAMPAIGN!

EACH TIME A SUBMISSION IS MADE, A LETTER WITH AN INVITATION IS EMAILED TO:

- Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham

- Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney

- Richmond City Council Members (Addison, Gray, Hilbert, Larson, Agelasto, Robertson, Newbille, Trammell, and Jones)

READ THE LETTER BELOW:

Marcus-David Peters, a beloved high school biology teacher and VCU graduate, was shot to death by Richmond police while unarmed and in clear distress on Monday, May 14th. Marcus needed help, but instead his life was taken from him.

The Richmond community is outraged after seeing the bodycam footage of the May 14th shooting. The officer noted that Marcus may have been experiencing a mental health issue, yet NO crisis intervention was implemented. Marcus deserved better from the Richmond Police Department. He was unarmed. He was clearly in distress. Why is it that using deadly force is not a last resort within the RPD? What went wrong on this day? How effective is Richmond Police Crisis Intervention Training anyway? How many other Richmond families will suffer until RPD and the City of Richmond promise true police reform?

Chief Durham and Mayor Stoney: as you can see, we (the Richmond community) have unanswered questions. You have responded to our genuine demands for police reform and accountability by ignoring formal invitations to address community concerns - sticking to "procedure". We demand these answers from the officials we have elected into office. What if Marcus-David Peters was your loved one? Would his death be justifiable then?

We encourage the Richmond community, Chief Durham, Mayor Stoney, as well as Richmond City Council members to attend Commanding Justice and Reformation for Marcus-David Peters. Saturday, June 30, 1PM-3PM, Second Baptist Church (1400 Idlewood Ave). More details can be found at bit.ly/JusticeandReformation. We will continue to fight for justice, not only for Marcus, but for all Richmond citizens. "He needed help, not death."