Citizens protest Andrew Holland’s death outside county courthouse
Former president of the SLO Democratic Club and former Associate Dean of Orfalea College of Business and professor Zaf Iqbal took his clothes off and took a turn in the restraint chair to protest the death of Andrew Holland. He is pictured here next to Holland’s cousin’s wife Jackie Holland, who was scheduled for a turn in the chair. Temperatures dipped into the upper 30s during the 46-hour protest.
–Starting on Saturday at 1 p.m., citizens gathered in front of the San Luis Obispo County Courthouse to rally against the alleged injustice occurring at the jail surrounding the death of Andrew Holland.
The event was organized by the SLO County Progressives, but the demonstration and protest were non-partisan. San Luis Obispo Mayor Heidi Harmon called for Sheriff Ian Parkinson to step down from the upcoming election, according to SLO County Progressives Co-Chair and SLO Democratic Party Vice Chair Nick Andre. SLO Progressives are calling for him to step down immediately. The SLO Democratic party will decide their stance at their next meeting.
SLO Progressives are endorsing the candidate that is running against Parkinson, Greg Clayton, as well as the candidate running against District Attorney Dan Dow, Judge Mike Cummings, who they say should have ordered an investigation into the incident.
They set up a “restraint chair” where activists took turns sitting in it for 46 straight hours in front of the courthouse to bring awareness to what the organizers call a “major criminal justice issue.”
Related stories:
Video shows inmate died naked on the floor as deputies watched
Sheriff’s office responds to claims about Andrew Holland’s Death
