SALT LAKE CITY — The violent unrest gripping Ferguson, Missouri, in the wake of the grand jury decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the death of unarmed resident Michael Brown prompted a solidarity demonstration in Utah.

Scores of people rallied on the plaza of the Wallace Bennett Federal Building on Saturday in downtown Salt Lake in support of those families — like the Browns — who have lost loved ones in officer-involved shootings.

Organizers say too many people are being killed in Utah and across the country at the hands of police, and no one is being held accountable.

“We want to fight for justice for those families,” said Chris Manor with Utahns Against Police Brutality. “We have to empower people of color so that the equality of (everyone) does mean that all lives matter.”

That fact that no charges will be brought against officers in the deaths of Mike Brown in Missouri, or Darrien Hunt and Danielle Willard in Utah, Manor said, means police can kill with impunity, leaving families to suffer, while the officers involved receive no consequences.

“The only way to combat militant police forces is with militant activists, people who fight for the families and fight for justice,” he said.

The group called on civic leaders to develop policies that help ensure that law enforcement is held accountable for their actions, particularly in cases involving violence against citizens.

“Today marks a turning point, where people are committed to fighting back against killer cops, and we will no longer take the abuses by police in our communities,” Manor said.

Among those in attendance, many expressed dismay about the spate of violent encounters involving police that have cost citizens their lives.

East Hollywood High School student Stormy Sambor, 16, said policy changes need to be made in order to protect the public, as well as officers.

“Body cameras (should be) required, and each time a cop kills someone, they ought to be accountable for what they did, and there is video evidence of exactly what happened,” she explained.

“I want the police to protect and serve everyone in the community,” said Salt Lake resident Reece Davis, 20. He commented that the interests of the poor and people of color are being underserved by law enforcement, which he called “troubling.”

Ross Dittman, 19, said he would like to see a movement launched to address the seemingly growing issue of police violence happening in Utah and elsewhere.

“My parents always taught me that police were there to protect and serve you,” he explained. “But now I’m really questioning a lot of that. I’m afraid for everyone.”

Featured speaker, former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, said the abuses perpetrated by some police officers are upsetting to many in the community and protests such Saturday's gathering demonstrate the discontent that many residents feel regarding the violent treatment that has occurred in recent months.

Related:

Ferguson officer who shot Michael Brown resigns

The Ferguson police officer who fatally shot Michael Brown has resigned, his attorney said Saturday, nearly four months after the confrontation between the white officer and unarmed black 18-year-old that ignited protests in the St. Louis suburb and across the nation.

“These kind of events let those in authority know that (excessive police violence) will not be tolerated,” he said. “There needs to be a demand of our elected officials that we have independent citizen review boards in every community, and when there are abuses that people be held accountable.”

Anderson said police should receive enhanced training that help officers “de-escalate” interactions with citizens rather than have them escalate into a potentially tragic and deadly situation.

In the months ahead, he said he hopes to see a growing coalition of citizens and civic leaders come together to address such an important community concern.

“If anybody really cares about these kinds of (matters), then they ought to join the movement,” Anderson said. “We ought to see people of every race, every class, every political party, standing together and saying, 'This has got to come to an end.'"

Contributing: Sandra Yi

Related topics