Brian Babb Rally and Press Conference: Family of Veteran Shot by Eugene Police Continues to Speak Out

The shooting of a veteran with PTSD, Brian Babb, by the Eugene Police Department comes before the review board today. Check out the detailed story in the R-G on the issue.

Babb’s family continues to speak out about the shooting. Here is the press release from the Babb family:

The family of Captain Brian Babb will be hosting a press conference/rally Wednesday August 12 in the Wayne Morse Free-Speech Plaza at noon. In calling for this rally Brian’s sister Stephanie Babb states, “police brutality in this country has become an epidemic.”

In a show of solidarity around the issue of mental health and police responses, Eric Richardson, President of the Lane County branch of the NAACP will be joining the rally. A statement will be read by a family member from Brian’s counselor Becky Higgins. The family will be addressing recent media coverage and the tragic events that they say have brought the injustice of police brutality into focus.

According to Brian’s sister Ronda McGowan, “Veterans are not criminals; they are deserving of our help and support, but are receiving bullets and death at the hands of law enforcement.” Organizers believe that the inclusion of the NAACP speaks to the common thread of police conduct and the systemic problems they have, when it comes to people of color and veterans.

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