On Oct. 22nd, PV Sonoma joined the community for the 12th annual gathering to honor the life and legacy of Andy Lopez at the memorial park that bears his name. His controversial death became a symbol for police reform and social justice in Sonoma County. The annual event is organized through Concepcion Dominguez, a longtime friend of the Lopez family and a PV Sonoma Parent Leader.
In 2013, Andy’s life was cut short at just 13 years old when he was shot and killed by Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputy Erick Gelhaus. Andy had been carrying a toy rifle, which authorities say the deputy mistook for a real firearm. The Sheriff’s Office appeared to criminalize Andy Lopez by investigating him as a suspected gang member. His family called those false accusations. “Andy was not criminal. He was a boy with a toy,” Anita Ruiz, a family friend, told CNN. Andy was a trumpet player at Lawrence Cook Middle School in Santa Rosa and loved by many.
In Sonoma County, Andy’s tragic death sparked the “Justice for Andy Lopez” protests and ripped open the secrecy of racial misconduct and use of excessive force inside law enforcement. It led to the launch of the Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach (IOLERO) and the passage of “Measure P” to expand oversight of the Sheriff’s Office in Sonoma County. The Lopez family settled a civil lawsuit with Sonoma County for $3 million.
In 2018, Sonoma County built Andy Lopez Unity Park with a memorial space dedicated to Andy Lopez, where a remembrance ceremony is held each year. PV Sonoma Organizer Martha Valdez joins the memorial with fellow neighbors. “While his family no longer lives here, we as a community carry the commitment to always remember Andy, and we will never let the police forget what happened here,” said Martha. “Our message is: this should never happen again to our children. This park pays tribute to his life.”
Andy Lopez Unity Park is located in Santa Rosa.
To watch KPBS “3 Seconds in October—The Killing of Andy Lopez,” click here.
