Last week, Antioch, California, was rocked by a scandal involving racist and homophobic text messages exchanged by over two dozen police officers. The messages, which the FBI discovered, revealed a disturbing culture of bigotry within the department. In response, reporter and organizer Frank Sterling again appeared on Hard Knock Radio to shed more light on the situation.
Joining Sterling was Bella Quinto-Collins, the sister of Angelo Quinton, who Antioch Police killed in December 2020. Quinto-Collins expressed her disgust at the racist texts. They discussed the steps her family took to pass the Quinto Act, a new California law allowing families to seek mental health professionals to intervene in cases of mental health crises. The bill also bans all police restraint techniques that cause positional asphyxia, marking the culmination of months of community organizing and outrage sparked by Quinto’s death.
The release of the racist texts has led to widespread condemnation and demands for accountability. While Antioch Police has promised an internal investigation, many in the community are skeptical of the department’s ability to police itself and are calling for continued external oversight. Mayor Lamar Thorpe and scores of community members who spoke out wanted the police immediately fired. The father of Angelo Quinto wants the police officers involved in the text messaging to be charged with hate crimes and conspiracy to commit hate crimes.
Both Frank Sterling and Bella Quinto highlighted a big march and rally scheduled to take place in Antioch in front of the Police station on L street starting at 3 PM…
The scandal in Antioch highlights the ongoing problem of systemic racism within law enforcement agencies. The discovery of these texts underscores the urgent need for reform and accountability in police departments across the country. As the investigation continues, many are hoping for meaningful change and justice for those who have been victimized by police brutality and bigotry.
Leave a Reply