Police Killing Of 1-Year-Old Kohen Wiley, And Other Police Brutality Victims, Condemned At Peoples’ Organization For Progress Press Conference

Photos: Peoples’ Organization For Progress The fatal police shooting of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley and other victims of police brutality was condemned at a press conference held by the People’s Organization For Progress (POP). The event took place last week in the sweltering heat of near 100 degree temperatures on Wednesday, July 1st, outside of the Peter Rodino Federal Building, in Newark, New Jersey. Representatives of POP, the Martin Luther King People’s Convention for Justice and Resistance (MLKPCJR), and other activists lined up in front of the building holding signs that read “Justice For Baby Kohen.” One by one each of them came to the microphone and denounced in no uncertain terms the killing of the baby, called for justice for the victim’s family, and demanded that the police involved in the incident be held accountable for the child’s death. Kohen was killed on June 14, 2026. A Senatobia police officer shot and killed the 1-year-old in his mother’s arms while they were in a car outside a Walmart Department store. “The People’s Organization For Progress called this press conference today to add our voices to those around the country who condemn the police shooting and killing of Kohen Wiley in Senatobia, Mississippi. This was an abominable and despicable act,” Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization for Progress stated. “They shot and killed a baby. Kohen was only 1-years-old. Nothing is worse, nothing is more horrendous than the killing of an innocent child. All of us here today are outraged and we demand justice for baby Kohen,” Hamm said. “Police brutality is at epidemic levels in this country. They are killing our sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, and even our grandmothers. Now they are killing our babies. This must stop,” he said. Hamm said the officers involved in the incident must be prosecuted. “Their guns and badges should be taken and they should be fired immediately,” he said. He said that POP supports the demands of the family, their attorney, and the Black community of Senatobia and surrounding vicinity. He joined the call for the immediate release of body-camera footage and surveillance videos of the incident. “While we demand justice for baby Kohen in Mississippi we also demand justice for all the victims of police brutality in this state and throughout the country” he said. “In New Jersey we want justice for Wali Bey, Carl Dorsey, Deborah Terrell, Maj Gulia Dale III, Bernard Placide, Andrew Wahington, Najee Seabrooks, and many others,” he said. Regarding the issue of police brutality Hamm also said that the group will continue to demand that the state legislature pass the police review boards with subpoena power bill, and that Congress pass the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act and other legislation. Speakers at the press conference included POP members Vice Chairman Larry Adams, Alfreda Coachman Daniels, Lela Charney, Nello Ramsey and Keilan Scott. MLKPCJR representatives Virginia Kay and Amanda Birnbaum spoke. Activists Rev Herb Glenn, Elissa Ocke, and Howard Gordon also made remarks. Although it is was a press conference with only representatives of several groups a decision was made to turn the event into a protest. In the searing heat those present picketed in front of the federal building to demonstrate their outrage over the killing of baby Kohen and the scourge of police brutality in the United States. While picketing they chanted “Justice for Baby Kohen!,” and “Stop Police Brutality in the Black Community!,” and “Say His Name, Kohen Wiley!” For more information call the People’s Organization For Progress (POP) at (973)801-0001.