Latinos Aiding Policeman Who Killed 2 Blacks
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MIAMI — The Latino community started a drive Friday to raise money on behalf of a Colombian-born policeman convicted of killing two black men.
Black leaders have hailed the manslaughter conviction of Miami officer William Lozano, 31, as a victory for justice. But many Latinos, particularly those in the 200,000-strong Colombian community, say that the officer is a scapegoat to racial politics. The deaths of the two black men touched off three days of rioting in January.
Colombian-oriented stations WOCN-AM and WKAT-AM have organized efforts to help the officer and his family. Lozano’s mother went on the air Friday to ask for help in paying legal expenses.
WOCN scheduled a “radiothon” and rally at noon today to raise funds and to seek signatures on a petition asking for leniency when Lozano is sentenced on Jan. 24.
A group of Jewish, Protestant and lay religious leaders declared a weekend of prayer for the families of Lozano and the victims, Clement Lloyd and Allan Blanchard.
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