South Bend, IN — On Friday, July 29th, just over three years after the murder of our beloved Eric Logan, the South Bend Police Department murdered another Black man, Dante Kittrell.

Police surrounded Dante outside of a local school building as he was having a suicidal mental health crisis. Dante was known among community members to have long struggled with his mental health. Both his mother and family pastor attempted to approach and talk with Dante, who was walking aimlessly in an open field, but the police prohibited them from doing so. After police surrounding Dante for an hour, the SWAT unit was called to the scene and subsequently moved in on him. The SWAT team fired on Dante, executing  him in front of his mother, pastor and community.

Police should not act as first responders when community members like Dante are battling with suicidal ideation or other mental health crises. Police are trained to shoot and kill, full stop. Just as they did in Dante's case.

Dante's murder is patently unacceptable and cruel. We must hold South Bend Mayor James Muller and his police department accountable.  

Black Lives Matter joins Faith in Indiana, Justice for Michiana and the Michiana Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression in demanding justice.

We demand:

1. A Special Prosecutor from outside of St. Joseph County to investigate the murder of Dante
   
2. The immediate release of all body cam footage and 911 dispatch recordings
3. The immediate adoption of clinician-led mobile crisis response teams in dealing with situations that involve mental health and substance use
4. Financial compensation to Dante's family

We also continue to demand compensation to the family of Eric Logan.

Please sign and share this petition.