Long Beach punk band Wacko played to around 125 protesters during a demonstration at Long Beach City Hall, Tuesday, June 16, 2020. Photo by Brandon Richardson.
Local punk band Wacko played at Long Beach City Hall where, for the second week in a row, demonstrators gathered to protest police brutality, Mayor Robert Garcia and the continued closure of city council meetings to the public.
During the gathering, organizer Franklin Sims announced that he is formally beginning the process to recall Garcia.
“It’s not easy for me to say, ‘This man should lose his livelihood, he should lose his job,’ ” Sims said. “But there have been too many deaths. There’s too much unaccountability. There have been too many dollars that go to the wrong hands.”
For the recall effort to move forward, 10% of the city’s registered voters must sign a petition, which means the campaign to recall Garcia requires about 26,500 verifiable signatures within 160 days. Sims encouraged protesters to register to vote, which is a requirement for signing the petition.
Protest organizer Franklin Sims, right, addresses about 125 protesters gathered at Long Beach City Hall for the second week in a row to protest police brutality, Mayor Robert Garcia and the continued closure of city council meetings to the public, Tuesday, June 16, 2020. Photo by Brandon Richardson.Long Beach punk band Wacko played during a protest at City Hall, Tuesday, June 16, 2020. Photo by Brandon Richardson.Protesters lay on their stomachs, hands behind their backs, while others kneel beside them, Tuesday, June 16, 2020. The group held the position for 8 minutes and 46 seconds—the same amount of time a police officer kept his knee on the neck of George Floyd in Minneapolis resulting in his death last month. Photo by Brandon Richardson.Several protesters write a message for Mayor Robert Garcia while punk band Wacko sets up to play in front of Long Beach City Hall, Tuesday, June 16, 2020. Photo by Brandon Richardson.A protester gives the finger to police officers who are looking out over the crowd from the second floor of City Hall, Tuesday, June 16, 2020. Photo by Brandon Richardson.Protesters rest during a gathering at Long Beach City Hall, Tuesday, June 16, 2020. Photo by Brandon Richardson.A protester brought their dog to Long Beach City Hall, Tuesday, June 16, 2020. Photo by Brandon Richardson.
