A group of around 150 people crowded the steps of City Hall today in the fifth and largest demonstration by the friends and family of Banko Brown, the 24-year-old shot and killed by a Walgreens security guard on April 27.
The speakers reiterated a week-long demand: The district attorney must release video evidence of the shooting, which she has withheld even as multiple city supervisors and media outlets have called for the footage. On Sunday, Sen. Scott Wiener joined those calls, releasing a statement urging District Attorney Brooke Jenkins to make the video public.
“In recent days, a steady stream of information has become public regarding the shooting death of Banko Brown, resulting in significant public doubt about the security guard’s claim of self-defense,” the statement reads. “I am calling for evidence concerning Banko Brown’s death — including video and witness statements — to be released to the public.”
The group marched from Walgreens at 825 Market St., where Brown was shot, down Market Street to Civic Center, chanting the demand as they went along.
“If there’s nothing to hide, then release the tapes,” yelled Honey Mahogany, a 2022 District 6 supervisorial candidate who emphasized that San Francisco’s trans community continues to be disproportionately beleaguered by violence, poverty and homelessness. The crowd cheered in agreement, booing when Jenkins was named.
Brown, a Black trans man, was shot on April 27, after what police said was a shoplifting incident within the Walgreens store. The security guard who shot Brown, 33-year-old Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony, was initially arrested by San Francisco police on suspicion of murder, but was released after spending a weekend in jail.
Jenkins said that Anthony “believed he was in mortal danger and acted in self-defense” according to the evidence, and declined to press charges. Yet she has refused to release video of the shooting, saying the investigation is still open.
On Thursday, a man who said he witnessed the shooting and filmed its aftermath told Mission Local that the security guard had already ejected Brown from the Walgreens before returning outside and shooting him.
On May 9, Board President Aaron Peskin will introduce a resolution requesting the District Attorney’s Office make all video and witness evidence available to the public.
That demand was scrawled in chalk at the entrance to City Hall and the sidewalk along Polk Street on Sunday. At the foot of City Hall’s steps, Brown’s 4-year-old nephews and nieces, who spent many days cared for by their lost uncle, danced and did backflips as the family greeted everyone. At the top of the stairs, scores of protesters held signs, forming a human wall in front of the building.
“What makes this case deadly serious,” said Black Alliance for Peace member Jeremy Miller over the mic, “is if we do not respond appropriately to this lynching, we stand the risk of normalizing murder over loss prevention — murder over alleged theft from a retail establishment.”
Julia Arroyo, left, and Banko Brown’s 4-year-old nieces and nephews dance to music at the end of the rally. 
Jeremy Miller, center, demanding the district attorney release evidence of Banko Brown’s killing. 
Banko Brown’s immediate family at City Hall’s entrance. Brown’s father and brother, both named Terry, stand in the back center. Brown and Terry Jr. are only one year apart. They grew up with their father in Valencia Gardens in the Mission.
“The problem is also of housing,” said Julia Arroyo after the rally. Arroyo was a close confidante of Brown’s and co-executive director of the Young Women’s Freedom Center.
If Brown had a home, she said, he wouldn’t have been at Walgreens looking for food. Arroyo stated that she was searching for housing for Brown every day in the weeks leading up to his killing, but nothing was coming through.
On the mic, Arroyo marveled at the crowd. She said it was “full circle” that so many supporters had marched for Brown, when he himself had marched for numerous causes.
Banko “always tried to think about all the other social justice movements that were happening. He organized over extended foster care services, lobbying Nancy Skinner. Free Palestine — he was there at that march. During the pandemic, he surveyed people on the street to collect data on the street to see what kinds of services young people needed.”
“He was just selfless,” said Arroyo.
“Looking at one piece of evidence alone in a vacuum, without consideration of all of the evidence available, is irresponsible, unethical, and antithetical to how we must carry out our legal responsibilities as prosecutors,” Jenkins said.
Translation: the video doesn’t depict a reasonable use of force.
Keep up the pressure. The facts don’t add up. Brooke Jenkins has a credibility problem – a fact supported by her record – as an ADA – of withholding evidence and doing what is politically expedient rather than correct. She is wholly unqualified for this position and SF is suffering as a result.
These “family & friends”, should soul search & ask themselves: “where were family & friends when he was homeless????”
Reality not “family blame”, but if the wide hat fits, wear it.
I am sure a Civil Suit is coming & someone will be there to collect.
A video is not going to reveal EVERYTHING – only what happened after the camera starts rolling.
At this point, I’m leaning toward releasing the tape. So what if it affects the ability of the Prosecution to gain a conviction of Anthony for any charges in this matter.
And its not just “murder over alleged theft” – its murder over “alleged” robbery, assault and threats.
He was murdered and these people are acting like it’s a celebration. And where was his family when he was in need of housing???
please do not victim blame the family and friends of a murdered person. how would you feel if your family member was killed and they refused to let you see for yourself the evidence they have of the killing?
I would take my share of responsibility, if any was do to my inactions as either family or friend.
This case is a tragedy, the 150 people should had stepped out & intervened when Banko was alive. Too little too late. But hey, Civil Suits come with $$$.
Once the case is investigated, assuming what its been said about the Guard’s actions is true, I hope he does time. But that will not bring Banko back nor will prevent future killings of homeless people. As we see constantly on the national news.