On Thursday, September 5th, protesters rallied in front of the Fort Lee Municipal Building to demand justice for Victoria Lee, a 25-year-old Korean American woman who was fatally shot by police after her family called 911 seeking medical assistance during her mental health crisis on July 28, 2024. The rally was organized by the Korean American Association of NJ, Korean Community Center (KCC), AAPI New Jersey, MinKwon Center for Community Action NJ, and other partners. Advocates aimed to hold Fort Lee leadership accountable for the actions of the police officers involved and to demand clarity on mental health crisis protocols and emergency response procedures.
The protest drew a significant and diverse crowd, ranging from long-time advocates for racial justice, such as Black Lives Matter Paterson, to local Fort Lee community groups of elders and church members. Many protesters carried signs calling for transparency and justice, as chants of “The people united will never be defeated!” filled the air. The rally demonstrated that this fight goes beyond Fort Lee and transcends individual communities, with multiple groups standing in solidarity.
During the rally, it was noted that Fort Lee leadership and officials have yet to provide a clear response to the demands addressed in the August 29th joint letter from AAPI New Jersey and other Asian American community groups. The letter urged local authorities to clarify their emergency medical response procedures, adopt measures to prevent further tragedies, and hold those responsible for the escalation that led to Victoria Lee’s death accountable. The father of Victoria Lee made his first public appearance since the incident, addressing the crowd by joining in the demand for accountability from Fort Lee officials.
Zayid Muhammad with New Jersey Communities for Accountable Policing (NJCAP) called on the Governor of New Jersey to “Put in place a bill to help us implement community-led emergency response teams to people in mental health crises. Had we had that in place, Victoria would be alive!”
Following the rally, protesters went inside to the Fort Lee Council Meeting, where, during an open comment period, local residents directly addressed the council, sharing their frustrations and concerns over the incident. In a significant update, Mayor Mark Sokolich shared publicly that Officer Tony Pickens Jr., the officer who shot Lee, is currently out on voluntary medical leave, but made no mention of the other officers on the scene. However, for many attendees, this was not enough, as they continued to call for greater transparency and meaningful reform. Though the road to justice may be long, the turnout reaffirmed the collective commitment to fight for change. The community will continue to raise its voice for Victoria Lee, her family, and all those affected by police violence and unjust systems.
