- Comunidades Unidas is decrying the shooting death of Jose Hernandez in an encounter last October with Salt Lake City police.
- The immigrant advocacy group seeks to raise awareness of day laborers’ struggles.
- Hernandez, seeking work near a home improvement store, fled police responding to a call involving the man and was shot after he threw a rock at an officer.
SALT LAKE CITY — An immigrant advocacy group is decrying the death of a Salvadoran day laborer in an encounter in October with Salt Lake police, hoping to draw attention to his case and the plight such workers increasingly face.
“First and foremost, we want Jose’s story to be known,” said Maria Montes, director of power building for Comunidades Unidas, a West Valley City-based organization that advocates for immigrants and day laborers. “In order for us to be able to change the conditions that led to this happening, this horrific attack happening on our community, more people need to be aware that this is happening to begin with and need to be involved in changing the way that policing happens in our city.”
Comunidades Unidas led a vigil last Saturday, Nov. 29, near the Salt Lake City Home Depot where Jose Hernandez was shot and killed by a Salt Lake City police officer on Oct. 29 after fleeing authorities. He had thrown a rock at a pursuing officer, according to the Salt Lake City Police Department, prompting the officer to fire on him…