Members of the Champaign-Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice and Black Lives Matter: Champaign-Urbana staged a protest Friday in opposition of State’s Attorney Julia Rietz’s decision not to indict Champaign Police Department officer Matt Rush.

The demonstration was held at the Champaign County Courthouse, 101 E. Main St..

Rush has been a CPD officer since 2010; he was on trial for use of excessive force several times in the area.

“Time and time again, from Ferguson to New York to Chicago, we have seen the failure to prosecute police. With each non-indictment comes the erosion of any notion of American ‘justice,’” a press release from the group stated. “The immunity granted to police often leads to total impunity. The police have been given too much power. As the public becomes increasingly aware of this, we are seeing expressions of outrage across the country.”

The release states that State’s Attorney Julia Rietz did not interview Precious Jackson, one of Rush’s victims, and called the decision not to indict Rush “political manipulation.”

The groups are also collecting signatures on a petition urging Rietz to prosecute Rush. The petition has over 400 signatures.

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