Marchers Remember Kenneth Chamberlain - fmr. Black Marine Killed by White Plains Police Officer who yelled n*****
/Family, friends, community leaders and those seeking justice for Kenneth Chamberlain, Sr. marched on the White Plains Police Department on Saturday one year after he was killed.
With the anniversary of the death of Chamberlain on Monday, the White Plains/Greenburgh branch of the NAACP organized the march demanding justice for the man shot and killed in his home by White Plains Police.
Leroy Gadsen, chairman of Criminal Justice for the New York State Conference of NAACP Branches, said that the marchers are not seeking a handout, but justice. Gadsen and the marchers asked for accountability from Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore who didn't indict any of the police officers involved in Chamberlain's death.
"We are asking if justice applies to African-Americans," Gadsen said. "Kenneth Chamberlain was as patriotic as one could get. He survived Vietnam but did not survive the White Plains Police Department."
Chamberlain, 68, was shot by Officer Anthony Carelli after police responded to a medical alert from Life Aid that Chamberlain accidentally triggered in the early morning of Nov. 19. During an hourlong standoff at his apartment, Chamberlain refused to open his door to allow police to verify his condition.
Kenneth Chamberlain, Jr., the victim's son, said that it took five months for Mayor Tom Roach to offer "condolences" to the Chamberlain family adding that it was only through an email and he hasn"t heard from the mayor or anybody in the city government since.
"It was too little too late," Chamberlain said. "When you say the pledge of allegiance it says 'justice for all,' not 'justice for some.'"
Chamberlain said that he will continue to stand firm until there is an arrest of the police officers involved in the incident.
"This is conduct unbecoming of police officers," Chamberlain said. "There was only one person suspended for this incident. We will continue to go to Common Council meetings to denounce the analysis that justifies the killing of my father."
Chamberlain family lawyers have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of White Plains, its Police Department and Housing Authority, and are pursuing charges against the officers involved through the U.S. Attorney's Office.
