WASHINGTON — Family members and others gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial Nov. 17 to protest after federal prosecutors decided not to file charges against U.S. Park Police officers Alejandro Amaya and Lucas Vinyard for the 2017 killing of Bijan Ghaisar.
His sister, Negeen Ghaisar, led chants of “This is not over” and “We are Bijan.” His father James and mother Kelly also participated.
“For two years I kept my hope that there would be justice, to protect others from the brutality that killed my son. For two years we were left in the dark,” James Ghaisar said at the protest. “Be concerned for yourself that you and your loved ones can be executed military style within minutes of a fender bender.”
Ghaisar had stopped his Jeep Grand Cherokee on the George Washington Memorial Parkway and was hit from behind by another car. He drove off and was chased by the two cops. They pulled in front of his car and shot Ghaisar nine times, four times in the head. He was unarmed.
In announcing the decision not to press charges, U.S. Attorney for the District Jessie Liu said it’s not a crime if “an officer acted out of fear, mistake, panic, misperception, negligence or even poor judgment.”