More Than 100 Show Up to Protest Police Killing of Feras Morad

Morad Family Supporters Confront Police

Article and photos by Crystal Niebla, Contributing Reporter

Armed with signs, megaphones and solidarity, more than 100 protesters marched to the Long Beach Police Department June 4, demanding justice for the killing of 20-year-old  Feras Morad.

Morad was killed May 27 by 12-year veteran Officer Matthew Hernandez, whose identity had been kept from the public until June 8.

The Morad family and community members, who also experienced the death of a loved ones at the hands of police, shared their stories.

“I don’t know how I’m standing up here right now, but I know my brother is giving me power,” said Ghada Morad, Feras Morad’s 16-year-old sister,  said to a crowd in front of the LBPD headquarters. “And, I know we cannot put up with this anymore.”

LBPD officers responded to a report that a man, who was later identified as Morad, had fallen from a two-story window near an alley on the 4600 block of 15th Street.  Morad was reportedly intoxicated with hallucinogenic mushrooms and acting violently. Police officials said that Morad was bloodily injured but aggressive when police offered medical assistance.

On June 4, the LBPD released transcripts of the caller who reported Morad intoxicated and injured at around 7:30 p.m. Recorded conversations indicate that a dispatcher warned police that Morad was acting violently, but was unarmed.

Kareem Morad, cousin of Feras, shared his frustrations with unarmed police shootings and lack of transparency.

“Long Beach PD killed my cousin Wednesday night,” Morad said. “The family found out Friday morning. I came here Friday morning. I asked them for answers. They had no comment.”

Among few of the other Long Beach community members that lost a family member to police was Ruben Morejon, brother of 19-year-old Hector Morejon, who was killed by police on April 23.

“The facts are, he was unarmed,” Ruben said. “Those are the facts, and the police officer shot him. Why? Those are the big questions. We want a transparent investigation.”

Many of the protestors say that after seeing a trend in unarmed police shootings nationwide and locally, the community is losing its trust in police. Those who attended often chanted, “Who can we trust? Not the cops.”

Michael Brown, 36, one of the four co-founders of Black Lives Matter in Long Beach and an activist based in North Long Beach who helped organize the demonstration, said his goal was to meet Morad’s family. Brown said he wanted also get them introduced to the family of Hector Morejon and other Long Beach families like them.

Brown said he believes that self-organization and mobilization by the community is essential to end such police shootings.

“The transcripts just came out showing that the officer knew he was unarmed,” Brown said. “So, there was no reason to go into that situation to kill him.  This is them acting with impunity again and killing like they’ve always done, and they know that they’re going to get a slap on the wrist or no penalty at all.”

Morad’s family remembers him as a graduate from El Camino Real Charter High School and a nationally ranked debater who planned to attend Cal State University Long Beach.

Bernardo Cazarez, 28, a friend of Morad’s debate students, said he joined the demonstration to show support the fight for police transparency and #Justice4Feras.

“You have the family, and it’s very emotional,” Cazarez said. “They come out, and they’re screaming, and you feel the emotion in their words. It brings you up, and it has an underlining anger because this is not what is should be.”

Hernandez has been removed from field duty while the case is being reviewed by LBPD Chief Luna and the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.