Hundreds hold rally to protest Texas officer's actions against teens at pool party
DALLAS (AP) -- Hundreds of demonstrators have rallied outside a McKinney, Texas, elementary school in protest of a white police officer's actions against a mostly black group of teens at a pool party.
Some who gathered in the Dallas suburb held signs Monday that included the phrases, "My skin color is not a crime," and, "Don't tread on our kids."
A few dozen addressed the crowd through a bullhorn, including Derrick Golden, a pastor from McKinney who met earlier with the city's police Chief Greg Conley.
He said Conley "responded appropriately" after the officer was seen in a video pushing a 15-year-old girl to the ground and pointing his gun at other teens. The officer is on administrative leave while the incident is investigated.
But Golden said officer David Eric Casebolt should be terminated because of the profanities he used and the fact that he brandished his gun.
The demonstrators marched a mile from the school to the Craig Ranch North Community Pool, where Friday's incident occurred.
About a dozen counterprotesters held signs supporting police.