Waka Flocka may support Donald Trump, but he’s challenging the president-elect’s campaign promise to give police immunity from prosecution.
The Atlanta rapper took to his Instagram Stories on Thursday (Jan. 2) to highlight the case of a 37-year-old Black man who died in police custody in 2020.
Eric Lurry was handcuffed in the back of a police car after being arrested by Joliet police during a drug-related operation. He appeared to be chewing something and then lost consciousness.
Video footage shows an officer slapping Lurie and telling him to “wake up, b####.” The police also pinched his nose for nearly 90 seconds. Another officer thrust a baton into his mouth, blocking his airway.
Lurie was pronounced dead at the hospital about 11 hours after his arrest.
Waka Flocka was shocked by the case and shared a report, tagging Donald Trump on Instagram while calling for Eric Lurry ) to deliver justice.
“It is [no way] These police officers have immunity! ! he wrote, adding: “Justice.”
Donald Trump talks police immunity
During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump promised to give police “immunity from prosecution.” He also called for the return of “power and respect” to police officers at a Fraternal Order of Police event, before laying out the horrific “a tough hour” law enforcement response.
“It was a tough hour, and I mean really tough, as soon as the news got out, it was over,” he said.
Joliet police claimed they tried to remove drugs from Larry’s throat during the arrest. The medical examiner called Larry’s death an accidental overdose and determined that Larry had “fatal doses” of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine in his system.
County prosecutors have not charged any of the officers involved and said Larry’s death was not “a direct result” of their actions.
Larry’s widow, Nicole Larry, filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Joliet and the four officers involved in the arrest.
Video of Lurie’s arrest was released four months after his death. The information was leaked by a whistleblower, leading to his arrest and a felony charge of “official misconduct.”
The charges were dropped last month on the day of the whistleblower’s trial.
The Illinois Attorney General’s Office launched an extensive investigation into the Joliet Police Department and uncovered a pattern of excessive use of force.
