Justice For Ryan Ronquillo Benefit

Featuring:
Johnny 5 of Flobots
Sole
Dj Molina
Time
Stay Tuned

Some anarchist folks here in Denver have been working alongside the family and communities affected by the recent police murder here, to organize a response to the State violence we see all the time here. Please come and show some support to Ryan’s family and friends, enjoy the show and work with them to work to bringing some sort of justice to this fucked up situation.

On July 2, 2014 20 year old Ryan Ronquillo was repeatedly shot by Denver Police in the parking lot of the Romero Family Funeral Home in Northwest Denver during a funeral service.

While attending a friend’s funeral service, Ryan stepped out to decompress and sit in his parked car. Police stormed the area, speeding several unmarked cars into the parking lot. In a matter of seconds, Ryan was dead, shot nearly a dozen times by multiple officers.

Police allege that they were in the process of serving a warrant for “auto-theft and other felonies”, and that Ryan “started to back the car in the direction of officers”. Statements from witnesses are at odds with the police statements. Witnesses at the scene describe a horrific chaotic mess. Many in attendance did not even know who the individuals shooting at Ryan were, let alone that they were even police officers.

Other witnesses claim that Ryan was left to die, choking on his own blood, as police denied medical help at the scene and instead waited for paramedics to arrive before any aid was administered.

Ryan was unarmed and suspected of participating in non-violent offenses. Although police considered him a “flight risk”, no statements from Denver officials or the police indicate that there was any suspicion of Ryan being dangerous or armed.

Police claim that they had been following him all day in an effort to serve the warrant. They claim that they chose the funeral, where dozens of people, including many small children were in attendence, because it proved “tactically beneficial”. In the end, instead of a peaceful arrest anywhere else, people who were already in the process of mourning one lost youth had to witness the murder of another.

Following Ryan’s death, his family was not even contacted by Denver police or officials. They had to find out about the death of their son from his friends and media reports.

As the quest for justice begins, Ryan’s family needs desperate help paying for his funeral and burial. Any amount, no matter how large, or how small would go a long way to beginning the process of bringing peace to his family.

Any excess donations over the requested amount will go toward other expenses incurred by the family, including missing work, and hiring an attorney.

That’s all. In love and rage,
– Some anarchists.