Require First Responders and Police to be Trained on How to Manage People w/ Special Needs

Require First Responders and Police to be Trained on How to Manage People w/ Special Needs

Started
June 27, 2020
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Signatures: 270,023Next Goal: 300,000
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Why this petition matters

Started by Sophie Mosley

AJ Mitchell, a 19 year old boy with autism, died in November 2019, only 3 weeks before his 20th birthday. AJ was ordering food at a Bojangles in Fulton county, GA when his card was declined. As an individual with autism, he was obviously upset. There’s no doubt that comforting or reassuring someone on the spectrum can be a challenge. But rather than attempting to deal with it peacefully, the employees beat AJ until police came. Upon arriving to the scene, the police further mishandled the situation; they restrained AJ. By the time AJs mom had arrived, the police had AJ face down in the parking lot, with a bag over his head, as they knelt on his back. AJs mom took him home where he died only about 15 minutes later. The autopsy declared the cause of death was “undetermined.” And the police failed to share the report and any footage of the incident (from both the restaurant and from their body cams). AJ died because of excessive police force and their negligence of his health and well-being. Demand reform. Demand change. Demand justice.

First responders need to be well educated in dealing with various disabilities (both mental and physical). They cannot continue to mistreat, hurt, and kill those who are different from them. 

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Signatures: 270,023Next Goal: 300,000
Support now
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