San Francisco Marks Mario Woods Day As Police Unions Object
SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) – Friday has been declared "Mario Woods Day" in San Francisco, to remember a man who was fatally shot by police last year. Meanwhile, law enforcement groups have raised their objections.
Police unions representing officers in San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose, along with the International Association of Firefighters paid $15,000 for a full-page ad in Friday's San Francisco Chronicle.
Here's the full page ad in the @sfchronicle by @SanFranciscoPOA. It's sending a message against #MarioWoods Day. pic.twitter.com/X7UqQQCMTT
— Jackie Ward (@jackiewardmedia) July 22, 2016
The ad shows a picture of dozens of officers saluting. Underneath the photo the ad reads, "It is a day to honor all of the brave men and women - as well as all public safety workers in California and this nation who have made the ultimate sacrifice."
Woods, who was suspected in a stabbing, was fatally shot by police officers in the Bayview on December 2nd. He was shot more than 20 times.
Former Police Chief Greg Suhr initially said police shot Woods because he was threatening them with a knife. The shooting remains under investigation.
On Friday morning, the San Francisco police union will hold its own "day of remembrance" in honor of public safety officers, especially the five in Dallas who were killed earlier this month.
The Justice for Mario Woods Coalition is also planning an event on Friday at the Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church, across the street from where Woods was killed. The event starts at 5 p.m.