It has been 1 year since Banko Brown was fatally shot by a SF Walgreens security guard

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — His death sparked protests and vigils but no criminal charges.

Saturday marked one year since a security guard shot and killed Banko Brown at a Walgreens in San Francisco.

“Banko was the type of person to give you the shirt off his own back. That’s how much he thought about others. Even when he was struggling himself,” said Julia Arroyo, executive director of the Young Women’s Freedom Center, where Brown was coming into his own — fighting for transgender rights.

“He tried on positions at the center. He organized a talk about trans housing, particularly about trans-masculine folks. He taught us a lot,” Arroyo said.

The anger is still felt over what played out in that Walgreens — a guard suspected the 24-year-old of shoplifting. In the scuffle, he shot Brown, later saying he felt his life was threatened.

“One year out, that anger is just coming from that. There really isn’t justice for Banko right now in this moment,” Arroyo said.

The San Francisco District Attorney’s office didn’t charge the guard with Brown’s killing, saying there was clear evidence it was self-defense.

“A year after Banko Brown, sadly things have not changed. They’ve only gotten harder and harder,” said Gael Lala-Chávez, executive director of LYRIC, a center in San Francisco serving LGBTQ+ Youth.

They say the attacks on transgender rights across the nation are taking a toll.

“I’ve seen the steady increase in youths coming from other conservative areas in California. Even other conservative areas here in the Bay Area, fleeing, obviously — all over the country,” Lala-Chávez said.

San Francisco is still serving as a beacon of hope.

“In the last year alone, Tara, we’ve seen about — I would say — about 45% of our youth experiencing homelessness are coming from out of the state, out of the country,” Lala-Chávez said.

But the increasing demand for services are strapping nonprofits desperate for more resources.

“It’s really difficult times right now. We honestly don’t know what to do. The only thing I do know is our doors will remain open. They have to for young people similar to Banko Brown,” Lala-Chávez said.

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About the Author

Yosi Yahoudai is a founder and the managing partner of J&Y. His practice is comprised primarily of cases involving automobile and motorcycle accidents, but he also represents people in premises liability lawsuits, including suits alleging dangerous conditions of public property, third-party criminal conduct, and intentional torts. He also has expertise in cases involving product defects, dog bites, elder abuse, and sexual assault. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California and is admitted to practice in all California State Courts, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. If you have any questions about this article, you can contact Yosi by clicking here.

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