UPDATE: A grand jury will review the murder of Elijah McClain.

A grand jury is an investigative tool that has the power to compel testimony from witnesses and require the production of certain documents and other relevant information. And although AG Phil Weiser has assured the public that the investigation will be "thorough" and "guided by the facts and law, and worthy of the public's trust," the grand jury process is traditionally secretive. There's no guarantee that the public will have access to information about witnesses or evidence presented in the case. And the grand jury is not required to issue a report on its findings if the investigation doesn't result in charges.

To make matters worse, AG Weiser has a great deal of influence in whether a grand jury will recommend charges. As we saw with the murder of Breonna Taylor, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron similarly convened a grand jury, only for no charges to have been brought against the officers.

It's been 16 months since Elijah was murdered and we've seen no justice. We're not backing down now. We must continue to call on AG Phil Weiser to demand that the officers who murdered Elijah are held accountable.

Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man in Aurora, Colorado, was murdered at the hands of police almost a year ago and still no justice. 

On August 24, 2019, Elijah was stopped by three white police officers while he was walking home from a convenience store -- after a 911 caller reportedly described Elijah as a "suspicious person." The details that led to Elijah's death are horrific -- throughout the entirely unnecessary and violent altercation, police accuse Elijah of provoking arrest. According to bodycam video, officers can be heard at one point threatening to bring their dog to bite Elijah and wrongly suggesting that he reached for one officer's gun. Officers then put Elijah in a deadly chokehold that caused him to go unconscious and even after they released the hold he continued to struggle for his life. Paramedics rushed to the scene only for Elijah to later suffer from a heart attack; he was declared brain dead three days later. 

What's clear is these police officers murdered this young Black man. But the police department led autopsy report could not determine the cause of death even though they listed intense physical exertion as one of the contributing factors that sent Elijah into heart failure. To make matters worse, the police review board defended the police officers at the scene saying, " the force applied during the altercation… was within policy and consistent with training." The officers were placed on administrative leave but later put back on the force because prosecutors declined to file charges. 

It wasn't until a video of Elijah's arrest surfaced a few weeks ago that this case has been brought to national attention. And as a result of the national outcry demanding justice, Attorney General Phil Weiser was appointed yesterday to investigate Elijah's case. This first step is long overdue -- that's why we must call on AG Phil Weiser to stand up for what is right and file criminal charges against the officers who murdered Elijah McClain. These officers should not be free to roam the streets while Elijah's family is forced to mourn the loss of their loved one. 

We are demanding justice for Elijah. Sign the petition to make your voice heard. 

Below is the letter we will send to Attorney General Phil Weiser:

Dear Attorney General Phil Weiser,

"We are looking at you to ensure justice for Elijah McClain and his family who have been forced to endure the most painful loss of this young Black man who died at the hands of police violence and brutality. We won't sit by and watch any more of our people die as a result of unnecessary harm that is inflicted by the police -- the officers who murdered Elijah must be held accountable NOW. And that starts with their immediate arrest and criminal charges filed against them."