LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A small group met face to face with some Las Vegas police officers on Tuesday night in front of the Venetian hotel and casino before a short march to demand justice in another high-profile police shooting death.
The Black Lives Matter group gathered near a fountain at the iconic property and asked officers if they were wearing body cameras and if they were turned on.
The group used a loudspeaker to chant several things including a demand to arrest the officers involved in the shooting death of Jorge Gomez during a Black Lives Matter protest in Las Vegas in 2020.
“The reality is justice doesn’t happen in the State of Nevada, so for Nevadans who are engaged in this topic it’s really important for folks to understand what’s happening locally," said Nissa Tzun, with the Forced Trajectory Project.
Tzun's group spotlights local police violence.
Tzun says the Chauvin verdict is only the beginning of an American racial reckoning.
“I don’t want people to think it’s over, we have justice now," said Tzun.
"We need to continue to stay vigilant with this movement, especially for cases that need to be reopened cases, the majority of 99% of the cases around the country, families are suffering, families are traumatized from hearing about police violence," added Tzun.
The group on Tuesday marched from the Venetian to the Bellagio and turned around and walked north back to where the march started.
Nearly a year ago the Strip served as the original gathering point for groups like Black Lives Matter to demand justice for Floyd.
At that time, protesters made their way down Las Vegas Boulevard chanting phrases like "I can't breathe" and "no justice, no peace" during largely peaceful demonstrations.
There were some tense standoffs between police and demonstrators, especially at night and closer to the downtown area, as well as a few arrests.
On Tuesday, the world watched as Chauvin's verdict was read in court -- guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.
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President Joe Biden said the verdict can be a giant step forward for the country against systemic racism, but reform can’t stop with just the verdict.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department held a press conference after the verdict was read saying the Chauvin trial encouraged dialog regarding a "bigger issue about American policing."
"We have worked hard to ensure there is no environment on this police department for an officer like Derek Chauvin," said Undersheriff Christopher Darcy.
