Today was my baby Michael's birthday, he would have been 33 today....(Mikey's Mom, Jean Thaxton)

Today was my baby Michael's birthday, he would have been 33 today....I remember the day when he was born.....He was a little Muay Thai boxer even at his time of birth....he kicked so hard (Muay Thai), while Maritza was in labor and delivery that the bag of waters burst, and splashed all over the doctor and nurse's face and front of their clothes.....at the time, Maritza was embarrassed and I thought it was funny. Now we can laugh about it! Wish you were still with us Michael...doing your Muay Thai dance!!! We love you and miss you so much, I cry every day because you are gone! I cry for the injustice of your death.....if only we can use your death to show and prove how changes must be made to make life more fair for the loved ones of people who's lives were stolen by unskilled, untrained, inept and criminal cops!!!

*Happy Birthday Mikey* We Love & Miss you! Gone, but Never forgotten & Forever in our hearts...

Michael's murderer "Officer" Steve Gilley in action...

Michael's murderer "Officer" Steve Gilley in action...arresting Miguel Macias using excessive force. This "Officer" clearly has some sick issues and needs to be removed from the police force and put in jail where he belongs, until he is tried for Michael's murder!

Downey Police Department's Lack of Training

I’d like to address the issue of Downey police department’s lack of training, or improper training. Having lived in Downey for decades, I’ve witnessed first hand officers respond to situations with utter disregard for its citizens rights. Unlawful detention, threats, and intimidation. These are not the tools of public servants. These are the methods of thugs using their position of authority to oppress this community.

I had the opportunity to view the video of officer gilley using excessive force against Miguel Macias. I encourage every one of you on the council to review this video, for it is undeniable evidence that your officers need better training. Mr. Macias was totally compliant to this officer’s orders, yet he is tackled from behind, thrown to the ground, and after he is handcuffed, he is aggressively choked. Is this how your officers are trained to respond to a traffic stop?

I would certainly like to think that there are just a few bad apples on the force that are ruining the rest of this department. And if that is the case, they need to be rounded up quickly and removed from our streets. You need to shed your protections and pretenses about how the police department operates.

Also, Downey police department’s unwritten policy of how officers make complaints of misconduct of their fellow officers or supervisors is totally inadequate. Reporting to your commanding officer and letting the complaint flow up the chain of command is pretty useless. What if the misconduct and corruption is coming from the top tiers? This ideology only promotes the protection of the offenders. Officers need to be able to make anonymous complaints of misconduct so they are not subject to reprisal.       

I hope you are all opening, your eyes, hearts, and minds. You have the opportunity to make some positive changes in Downey. Instead of looking at the situation through your egos, you need to create something new filtered through your own consciences. Using your available personnel and resources to establish some programs and policies that will actually benefit this community.

Your silence and inaction only demonstrates a virulence and contempt for those seeking reform. We are not seeking vengeance here, we are asking for you to recognize this problem, and work for a solution. Your citizens should not live in fear, your officers should not be afraid to speak their minds, and this council should not shirk their responsibility to ensure that Downey is a safe place for everyone to live.



 Lauren Bautistas of Nida’s Rydas

Coroner’s report: Nida was shot twice in the back

The city of Downey has been HIDING behind a LIE for FOUR MONTHS now!!! Regardless of the status of any pending litigation, the city has an OBLIGATION to the SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS of the INNOCENT MAN MURDERED in their city by THEIR INCOMPETENT COPS. That MURDERING, POOR EXCUSE for a REAL officer of the law,  STEVE GILLEY has the benefit of ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE, so he can still recieve all the PSYCHIATRIC ASSISTANCE his health care provides, meanwhile, MICHAEL'S WIFE AND CHILDREN have still not been extended any kind of assistance AT ALL from the CITY COUNCIL who has KNOWN ALL ALONG that Michael was SHOT IN THE BACK! WHAT THE HELL IS REALLY GOING ON!!?

You can view the full article at the following link: Coroner’s report: Nida was shot twice in the back Feb. 13, 2012 by Ben Baeder


They have shed INNOCENT blood...AGAIN!! They have stolen Mikey's precious life and ROBBED 2 mothers and fathers of their SON, a wife of her HUSBAND, 4 beautiful children of their FATHER and so many other friends and loved ones, now without Mikey in their lives FOREVER!!

JUSTICE MUST  BE SERVED AND "OFFICER" STEVEN GILLEY IS GUILTY! There is no reason in this world that he should not be tried for his CRIME against Michael! He CHOSE to shoot Michael in the back as he fled in fear for his life. Cowardly shooting an unarmed, Innocent man in the back, as a "TRAINED" police officer, when Michael was no threat to them, himself or anyone else around, was MURDER!! Therefore, THE MURDERER MUST BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE!!

A March and Rally for Michael Nida II

We had our very first march and rally for Michael on 01/28/2012.  We met at his memorial on Paramount Blvd. & Imperial Hwy at 12:00p.m. and the supporters just kept pouring in!


Douglas Kauffman of The Answer Coalition, did such an Awesome job of organizing everything and helping us spread the word far and wide. We were such a diverse group of people! So many different nationalities, from all walks of life, from babies and young children being pushed along in strollers and pulled in wagons, to older ones, who were determined to be there no matter what, being escorted along the way in wheelchairs. We even had supporters marching on their paws, wearing their signs!  We were all there to represent one love for Michael and to show Downey PD and the Downey City Council, that we will no longer tolerate their silence, ignorance or neglect on this pressing matter! We demand Justice for Michael!


Before our March began, we had a rally, where Douglas Kauffman, Jubilee Shine, Damion Ramirez and a few others spoke out and led us all in a few chants for Michael's and Steven Bours' stolen lives and our mission to achieve justice for them.  Then with motivated hearts, anxious feet, signs held high and firmly in hand, we began our march.


Our March began on the corner of Paramount Blvd. and Imperial Hwy  and as soon as we crossed over Imperial Hwy, we took over the streets and chants of: "Who's streets.... Our streets", began, loud and clear!  Even a great number of passersby in their vehicles showed such a great amount of support, by honking their horns and shouting in support of our mission to justice for Mikey.


There were two Downey Police vehicles following us with loud speakers, telling us to move out of the streets, onto the sidewalks. However, we continued to march on steadily, as we all chanted in unison: "Downey PD...you are guilty"!  At best the Downey PD kind of ended up serving as traffic control for us, which is the very least they could have done.

So, we continued our marching and chanting, along with tons of supporters still honking and shouting from their vehicles, all the way down Paramount Blvd., up to Firestone Blvd. and up to Brookshire Avenue, where we then made a left to reach our rally destination...The Downey Police Station.


As we approached our destination,  with our heads held high, pride and Mikey in our hearts, we continued to chant as loud as we could: "Lock up Gilley, (the officer who murdered Michael), and throw away the key"!  As well as, "What do we want?....JUSTICE!  When do we want it?...NOW"! 


Then we arrived and had an absolutely amazing rally, right there in front of the Downey Police Station! Douglas Kauffman, as well as other awesome supporters from The Answer Coalition, various other coalitions and organizations spoke there, along with Michael's Mom's, Jean Thaxton and Maritza Odell and Michael's sisters, Terri Thaxton-Teramura and Susan Thaxton, accompanied by Michael's Dad, Jerry Thaxton and Michael's two brothers, Jerry Thaxton II and Greg Thaxton, who thanked everyone from the bottom of their hearts for coming out and showing their support.


It was such a beautiful thing to see so many people unselfishly take the time out of their own busy lives, to come and show support for Michael and his family and further strengthen and solidify their and our hope and resolve that no matter how long the road to justice for Michael Nida may be, we will walk a steady, straight path on that road and continue on it, undeterred, to it's end and beyond.


We love you Michael!
More photos available here: More pics..

                    

JUSTICE FOR MICHAEL NIDA II!

STOP THE USE OF LETHAL FORCE!