The NAACP is demanding big changes following the dismissal of Mark McNamara, the former San Jose officer who was let go from his position last week for sending racist text messages.
A coalition, which is being spearheaded by the NAACP’s South Bay chapter, a public defender and police watchdog groups, said their outrage and resentment has been years in the making.
McNamara shot K’uan Green four times outside the La Victoria Taqueria in San Jose last year. McNamara was responding to a fight inside the restaurant. However, Green was the one who had broken up the fight and seized the attacker’s gun.
McNamara was deposed in June about the incident and did his best to feign remorse. However, he was let go by the police department last week after an internal affairs investigation revealed racist texts in which he made fun of Green and showed his true disdain for Black people.
“The other day this [N-word] lawyer is like Mr. McNamara, you know we can still find you guilty of excessive force right?! I’m like, hmmmm yeah then what happens?? Nothing?? Cool,” McNamara wrote. “Think I give a fuck what y’all [N-word] think!??? I’ll shoot you too!!!! AHHHHH!!!”
The NAACP wants the city to meet all of Green’s civil lawsuit demands. They also want more accountability for McNamara in the form of decertification which would make it impossible for him to become a police officer again.
San Jose police Chief Anthony Mata agreed with the NAACP in a statement that McNamara should not be a cop in any other community.
“I want our community to know that I am committed to an anti-racism culture within our department and am already working with our community partners to update our officer training,” it read.
In addition, Silicon Valley De-Bug is seeking to stop city police funding altogether.