Co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement Patrisse Cullors has accused the Los Angeles Police Department of murdering her cousin.
The social justice activist took to Instagram Sunday to condemn the LAPD who she believes unjustly killed 31-year-old Keenan Anderson, who said, “[deserved] to be alive right now.”
“This is my cousin Keenan Anderson. He was killed by LAPD in Venice on Jan. 3, 2023. My cousin was an educator and worked with high school-aged children. He was an English teacher,” Cullors explained. “LAPD has killed three people this year. One of them is my family member.”
She continued: “Keenan deserves to be alive right now, his child deserves to be raised by his father. Keenan we will fight for you and for all of our loved ones impacted by state violence. I love you.”
According to police, officers were called to the scene after Anderson was seen “running in the middle of the street and exhibiting erratic behavior” on the afternoon of January 3.
Witnesses told police that Anderson had caused a traffic accident in the area, reports indicate.
When officers approached Anderson, they “requested additional units for a DUI investigation.” Anderson obliged with the officers’ request and was found sitting on “the northeast corner of Venice and Lincoln Boulevard for several minutes as the officer spoke with him,” reports say.
But authorities say the English teacher proceeded to flee the scene, which led to a subsequent police chase. Anderson resisted police restraint so an officer used a Taser on him, leading him into cardiac arrest.
He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A spokesperson for Black Lives Matter released a statement demanding justice.
“A minor traffic accident shouldn’t lead to death,” reads the statement from Black Lives Matter Los Angeles’ Instagram account. “#KeenanAnderson is father of a 6-year-old boy, he is a committed high school English teacher, he’s a son, a brother, beloved partner, nephew, and cousin of #BlackLivesMatter cofounder Patrisse Cullors. LAPD stole him from them and from us by tasing him to death. As we uplift his Spirit, we demand justice in his name.”
