Protesters Hit the Streets After Ex-Cop’s Acquittal

HOUSTON (AP) _ More than 200 people marched in front of the Harris County criminal courthouse in Houston to protest the acquittal of a former Houston police officer in the alleged beating of a teenage burglary suspect.

The protesters allege that racism lay behind the Wednesday acquittal of fired Houston police officer Andrew Blomberg by an all-white jury.

However, Blomberg attorney Dick DeGuerin told the Houston Chronicle that jurors told him no single element of the case decided their verdict. He said at least two jurors said they believed Blomberg did not stomp 15-year-old Chad Holley’s head as prosecutors alleged.

Meanwhile, leading Houston black community activists appealed to protesters to vote and answer calls to serve on juries. Then, as they marched, the crowd of protesters chanted “No more all-white juries.”

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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