Share and Follow
SAVANNAH, Ga. – In the wake of a recent police shooting in Savannah, the Racial Justice Network is urging Georgia lawmakers to advocate for legislative changes. The call comes after Thursday’s incident involving law enforcement, which tragically ended with the death of 27-year-old Mark Dennis Whibbey, Jr.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has issued a statement detailing the events surrounding the shooting. According to their report, officers repeatedly instructed Whibbey to drop his firearm. Despite attempts to subdue him with a taser, the effort failed, leading officers to continue their verbal commands before ultimately resorting to lethal force.
Alan Mainor, who leads the Savannah Chapter, has expressed doubts about the justification of these procedures. Together with Marilyn Jackson, President of The Daughters of Mary Magdalene, Mainor is actively seeking the backing of Georgia legislators to implement three specific changes, though their exact nature has not been detailed here.
Leader of the Savannah Chapter Alan Mainor questioned whether those practices were justified.
In partnership with Marilyn Jackson, President at The Daughters of Mary Magdalene, Mainor is asking for the support of Georgia lawmakers to do three things:
- For the Federal Bureau of Investigation to investigate the situation, instead of the GBI.
- For the Racial Justice Network to be able to view the footage themselves.
- To pass the the George Floyd in Policing Act bill.
The bill’s intention is to, “To hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct in court, improve transparency through data collection and reform police training and policies.”
“It will also restrict the use of the no knock warrant that they’ve been using which killed Breanna Taylor, the chokehold that killed George Floyd, and this other hold where they can put their hand on your artery and they can actually stop your blood from flowing,” said Jackson.
The act is currently under consideration in Congress. Mainor said Rep. Carl Gilliard said he was on board, but they have not heard a response from anyone else.
You can read Mayor Van Johnson’s statement on Thursday’s shooting below.
“Our top priority is the safety of our community and our officers. I am grateful that no officers were injured during this incident. I want to thank Savannah Police and our partner agencies for their immediate response. As this investigation moves forward, we will continue to be transparent and keep the public informed.”
The GBI confirmed this is still an ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the GBI Regional Investigative Office at +1-770-388-5019. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
