Nkencho was shot last week.
Two weeks of virtual protests following the death of George Nkencho will begin today.
27-year-old Nkencho was shot by an armed Garda on Wednesday in Hartstown, Co Dublin following an altercation with a Eurospar employee and a 30 minute stand-off.
Nkencho was treated for his injuries at the scene before being transferred to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown. He was later pronounced dead.
14 days of virtual protests following the shooting will begin today. Organised by the Migrants and Ethnic Minorities for Reproductive Justice (MERJ), participants have been asked to share the hashtags ‘GeorgeNkencho’ and ‘JusticeForGeorgeNkencho’ on social media at 6pm for two weeks.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CJn0WUnnxAm/
Multiple peaceful rallies have taken place in Dublin city, outside Blanchardstown Garda station and elsewhere following the shooting. Many have also taken to social media to protest Nkencho’s death and the resulting misinformation that has since been spread online.
Among them was TD Brid Smith who urged the public to consider “the real facts” before discussing the incident.
This comes after several social media posts falsely claimed that Nkencho had 30 previous convictions. It later transpired that he had none.
“What saddens me is the number of decent people that believe the lies,” Smith said. “George Nkencho, shot dead by Gardaí last week, was a man with mental health issues, but NO CRIMINAL RECORD.
“I don’t intend to respond to the vile and insulting things racists say about or to me, but I do ask ordinary decent people to consider the facts, the REAL facts, and ask yourself ‘what if it was your son, your brother, your friend…?’”
#GeorgeNkencho pic.twitter.com/8haeaJiwo6
— Glo🌻 (@glopopz) December 31, 2020
The shooting is now being investigated by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC). Nkencho’s family have since asked the public not to share footage of the incident online.
In a statement, sister Gloria said her brother was “suffering from serious mental illness and those who knew him know the type of person he was, he was not a thug nor a criminal.”
“Thank you all for your condolences and prayers. My siblings and I have witnessed the most traumatic experience of our lives as our brother was shot in front of us.
“My family greatly appreciate everything everyone is doing. I kindly ask to refrain from sharing the video of the shooting. It is not something I wish to be reminded of.”
