Justice for police brutality survivor Jordan Miles

Amid mounting pressure from the community and activists, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl met the press on Feb. 1 and announced that three officers involved in the beating of Jordan Miles were now on paid administrative leave, as an investigation continued.

Ravenstahl stated: “I feel it is necessary to restore a sense of safety, trust and peace in our communities,” and added that the decision was “necessary for the safety of the officers involved.”

There was no concern for the safety of 18-year-old Miles on Jan. 12. Late that evening, the young Black honors student was walking to his grandmother’s home when three plainclothes police officers jumped out of a white car and viciously attacked him. The officers involved — Richard Ewing, David Sisak and Michael Saldutte — are now essentially on paid vacation.

Miles is due for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 18 on charges of aggravated assault and resisting arrest. Miles’ mother, Terez, is calling for all charges against her son to be dropped.

There is a pattern of police brutality against Black residents in Pittsburgh. On Oct. 12, 1995, Johnny Gammage, a 31-year-old Black man, was pulled over by police while driving a Jaguar through a mostly white Pittsburgh community. The vehicle had been loaned to him by his cousin, National Football League player Ray Seals. The unarmed Gammage died from asphyxiation due to pressure applied to his chest and neck by police officers John Vojtas, Michael Albert, Keith Henderson and Shawn Peterson. All charges against the officers involved in the Gammage killing were dropped.

The struggle against racist police brutality continues, as hopes remain for justice to be delivered to the police officers who beat Miles.