Dozens gathered in the rain on Sunday to demand justice for Eddie Irizarry, a 27-year-old man who former Philadelphia police officer Mark Dial fatally shot during a traffic stop in Kensington last year.
The rally took place a few days after the first anniversary of Irizarry’s death near the intersection of Willard and Lee streets, where Dial shot him. It also followed the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office’s recent decision to drop the first-degree murder charge against Dial. Dial, 28, who is out on bail, will now face a third-degree murder charge, among others.
“We want to make sure that nobody in this community forgets and that the city of Philadelphia doesn’t forget Eddie,” said Talia Giles, an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), one of the groups that organized the event.
Over the last year, PSL has held several protests calling for Dial and the Philadelphia Police Department to be held accountable for Irizarry’s death. Giles said it’s important to show people what can happen when they come together.
“We have an obligation to protect each other and to keep each other safe because PPD is clearly not doing that,” Giles said.
Irizarry’s family, who recently honored him on the first anniversary of his death, has continued to express frustration with the legal system as the case has gone back and forth.
Community members and activists have criticized the police department’s handling of the case after initial reports of what led to the shooting were inaccurate once police body camera footage was released.
Giles said the only way Dial can be held accountable is through a first-degree murder charge.
“We want full transparency and full accountability,” Giles said.
Members of PSL, the ANSWER Coalition, and the Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression spoke and led chants in Spanish and English, like “Ni uno mas,” “Justicia,” and “Justice for Eddie Irizarry,” to the beat of drums.
Some neighbors watched from their porches and front steps or cracked their doors open to listen, with a few joining the rally and holding signs that organizers gave them.
Mary Figueroa stood on her front porch, which is just steps away from where the shooting took place. She said she continues to be affected by it.
“To this day it’s, like, unbelievable,” Figueroa said. “Why’d they kill him?”
Figueroa said she knows Irizzary’s family, and had spoken to him right before he died. A large Puerto Rican flag still hangs in front of her house, which she said was part of a community memorial for Irizarry that once included flowers, candles, and photos of him. Irizarry was originally from Puerto Rico.
Figueroa’s family has been affected, too, she said. Her daughter and two grandchildren used to live across the street, but decided to move after the shooting. She said her 9-year-old grandson didn’t want to walk on their street because he refused to pass the site where Irizarry was killed.
She believes Dial shot Irizarry because he was scared, and while she thinks he feels sorry, she still doesn’t feel that the charges against him should be dropped.
“If something’s wrong, it’s wrong. This was wrong,” Figueroa said.
Pablo, who requested to use his first name only, lives nearby and decided to participate in the rally after speaking with some of the organizers. He said that when it comes to any interactions with the police, it’s important to film them.
“You just gotta know how to defend yourself. Pull your camera out,” Pablo said. “I feel like when you record, they be on their best behavior. You just can’t give them no reason.”
As organizers were wrapping up, Pablo spoke to the group of rally-goers.
‘Y’all did that for real,” he said, “It’s going to pay off, you know what I mean. It might not seem like a lot, but it’s something.”
Dial’s trial date is scheduled for May 2025.
In the meantime, the groups said they will continue to demand accountability.
“We need to continue showing out and coming out,” said Laila Patterson, an organizer with PSL.
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