Funeral Care for the Mulkey Family
Donation protected
When we say Black Lives Matter, we mean ALL Black Lives Matter. Dominique Mulkey was only 26 when he was shot and killed by the Tampa Police Department on October 20th. Despite the situation, your mutual aid is needed to help a family say their final farewell to their lost loved one. Please, donate and share!
Below is text from Creative Loafing article:
“All Black lives matter,” said KD an organizer with BCM Tampa . “A Black person that is a criminal matters… a Black person does not have to be perfect to not die at the hands of a police officer.”
“The Tampa Police Department murdered a man today,” one Tampa activist shared Tuesday on social media following initial reporting. “They murdered this black man with mental health issues over a bag of chips.”
Video footage from the Tampa Dollar General, acquired and shared by the Tampa Police Department, shows Mulkey stuffing a black trash bag with store merchandise, later identified as various snack items. When store clerks took the bag away from Mulkey, he pulled out a handgun. The store clerks called 911, and Mulkey fled the store with the bag on foot.
Police argue that video from one of the officers’ bodycams shows Mulkey “pointed/raised his gun at" the officers. TPD spokesperson Jamel Laneè told the Times that when that happened, “[officers] became victims of aggravated assault with a firearm.” (TPD lies again!)
Williams, however, disputes this claim, and asserts that the acquired footage from both the body-worn camera and Dollar General showed that Mulkey had not pointed his gun at the police officers, nor the store clerks. Nor was Mulkey violent, despite the evident threat posed by the firearm.
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Mulkey's story is not an unusual one in the United States. It is easy from where we are sitting to judge a man who robs a Dollar General. As the evidence shows, he had no intention of harming anyone. He only displayed the gun when they tried to intervene, clearly showing his intent was to leave with the food.
The only criminal in this situation is the City of Tampa, and it's leadership. Had our City prioritized ending food deserts, fighting gentrification, and making mental health accessible to all, Mulkey never would have been in an unthinkable situation to have to ever do what he did.
We cannot pass judgement on individuals who are forced to make choices most of us would never fathom having to make. The entire situation was avoidable, but we cannot point our finger at judge Mulkey, nor his family, when we have had a world that prioritizes the rich, while the poor continue to suffer.19 percent of the City lives at or below the poverty line and 13 percent of the City have no access to health care . Due to systemic racism a large majority of those impacted by these figures are Black .
While City Council and the Mayor continue to prioritize policing, and building up rich areas of town, communities like Mulkey's continue to go without, and are often forced into unimaginable conditions.
Regardless of your take on this, a mother is grieving. Siblings are grieving. Families and friends are hurting. We need to show community care, even when the situation at hand isn't pretty or "respectable".
Dominique Mulkey wasn't unarmed, but he was a human. And Tampa Police knows how to deescalate armed white men in one case having done so when the white man shot an officer and he is not only alive today but receiving mental health treatment instead of jail.
We need to support the family in this time of grief, and reject the dehumanization, judgement, and vilification.
Per community activist who is close to the Mulkey family and the situation, Michelle Williams, the total cost is anticipated to be $6873.19, we hope to raise $7,000 to ensure it is covered when accounting for fees.
The proceeds from this fund, less fees, will go directly to pay Gudes Funeral Home for funeral expenses. Excess will be distributed to the family. If you have questions or concerns about this gofundme, please contact the Restorative Justice Coalition.
Below is text from Creative Loafing article:
“All Black lives matter,” said KD an organizer with BCM Tampa . “A Black person that is a criminal matters… a Black person does not have to be perfect to not die at the hands of a police officer.”
“The Tampa Police Department murdered a man today,” one Tampa activist shared Tuesday on social media following initial reporting. “They murdered this black man with mental health issues over a bag of chips.”
Video footage from the Tampa Dollar General, acquired and shared by the Tampa Police Department, shows Mulkey stuffing a black trash bag with store merchandise, later identified as various snack items. When store clerks took the bag away from Mulkey, he pulled out a handgun. The store clerks called 911, and Mulkey fled the store with the bag on foot.
Police argue that video from one of the officers’ bodycams shows Mulkey “pointed/raised his gun at" the officers. TPD spokesperson Jamel Laneè told the Times that when that happened, “[officers] became victims of aggravated assault with a firearm.” (TPD lies again!)
Williams, however, disputes this claim, and asserts that the acquired footage from both the body-worn camera and Dollar General showed that Mulkey had not pointed his gun at the police officers, nor the store clerks. Nor was Mulkey violent, despite the evident threat posed by the firearm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mulkey's story is not an unusual one in the United States. It is easy from where we are sitting to judge a man who robs a Dollar General. As the evidence shows, he had no intention of harming anyone. He only displayed the gun when they tried to intervene, clearly showing his intent was to leave with the food.
The only criminal in this situation is the City of Tampa, and it's leadership. Had our City prioritized ending food deserts, fighting gentrification, and making mental health accessible to all, Mulkey never would have been in an unthinkable situation to have to ever do what he did.
We cannot pass judgement on individuals who are forced to make choices most of us would never fathom having to make. The entire situation was avoidable, but we cannot point our finger at judge Mulkey, nor his family, when we have had a world that prioritizes the rich, while the poor continue to suffer.19 percent of the City lives at or below the poverty line and 13 percent of the City have no access to health care . Due to systemic racism a large majority of those impacted by these figures are Black .
While City Council and the Mayor continue to prioritize policing, and building up rich areas of town, communities like Mulkey's continue to go without, and are often forced into unimaginable conditions.
Regardless of your take on this, a mother is grieving. Siblings are grieving. Families and friends are hurting. We need to show community care, even when the situation at hand isn't pretty or "respectable".
Dominique Mulkey wasn't unarmed, but he was a human. And Tampa Police knows how to deescalate armed white men in one case having done so when the white man shot an officer and he is not only alive today but receiving mental health treatment instead of jail.
We need to support the family in this time of grief, and reject the dehumanization, judgement, and vilification.
Per community activist who is close to the Mulkey family and the situation, Michelle Williams, the total cost is anticipated to be $6873.19, we hope to raise $7,000 to ensure it is covered when accounting for fees.
The proceeds from this fund, less fees, will go directly to pay Gudes Funeral Home for funeral expenses. Excess will be distributed to the family. If you have questions or concerns about this gofundme, please contact the Restorative Justice Coalition.
Organizer
D'Angelo Angel
Organizer
Riverview, FL