What: Press conference @ 10am Candlelight Vigil @ 7:30pm
When: March 31, 2017
Where: Press Conference: Pinellas County Justice Center, 14250 49th St N, Clearwater, FL 33762
Candlelight Vigil: Campbell Park, 601 14th St. S., St. Petersburg, FL 33705 Press Contact: KC Mackey
On Friday, March 31, 2017 at 10am, on the one year anniversary of the drowning of three black girls, Dominique Battle, Ashaunti Butler, and La’Niyah Miller, Attorney Aaron T. O’Neal, counsel for Kunde Mwamvita (Yashica Clemmons), mother of one of the three girls Dominique Battle, will be filing a Notice of Intent to Sue the Pinellas Sheriff’s Office for the drowning of Dominique Battle.
We believe the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office negligent actions caused the drowning deaths of the three girls. The PSCO illegally attempted a stop of the car of girls claiming the headlights of the car were off though video evidence obtained from PSCO shows their lights were illuminated. The PSCO began pursuit of the girls after radio dispatcher stated the deputies were not to pursue. Deputies continued a high speed chase at speeds upward of 93 mph in violation of General Order 15-2. The girls’ car was corralled into a dead end road in a cemetery, and the car plunged into a shallow pond. While at least fifteen deputies were on the scene, the girls’ car hovered above water for five minutes- a mere fifteen feet from the shore line. No deputies went into the water to rescue the girls, although they are trained first responders.
Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, in his subsequent press conference, lied and proclaimed the officers went into the water to rescue the girls but later admitted there is no video footage of any deputy entering the water. PSCO negligent actions caused Dominique Batter to suffer conscious pain and suffering, physical injuries, other damages, and death.
At the press conference, Attorney O’Neal will be joined by Eritha “Akile” Cainion, Candidate for St. Petersburg City Council District 6, James McLynas, Former Candidate for Pinellas County Sheriff, Jesse Nevel, mayoral candidate for St. Petersburg, Florida and Kunde Mwamvita, mother of 16-year-old Dominique Battle, who along with her two best friends was drowned by the PCSO on March 31, 2016.
Also, in remembrance of three girls, their friends, family and supporters of the Justice for Three Drowned Black Girls Campaign will be holding a vigil in memory of Dominique, La’Niyah and Ashaunti in Campbell Park at 7:30pm.
For more information, contact the International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement at 727-914-3618, justice3dbg@inpdum.org
