March to commemorate Anchorage teenager killed in police-involved shooting

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Signs reading “Justice for Easter” and “Stop Killing Us” flooded the streets of downtown Anchorage as dozens marched Saturday in honor of Easter Leafa, who was killed in a shooting involving an Anchorage police officer earlier this week.

“What we are doing today as leaders is trying to bring peace to a very unstable situation,” said Samuel Fiu Unuteoa, CEO of the Alaska Samoan Tribe.

Fiu Unuteoa, one of the event's organizers, reminded those in attendance that Saturday's march was not a protest. Rather, he said, it was a moment to come together for love and peace as their community navigates the situation. Part of that process, Fiu Unuteoa said, is educating the Anchorage community about Samoan culture, especially as it relates to law enforcement.

“The Samoan way of life is based on honour and respect for elders and leaders, for authority,” said Fiu Unuteoa. “All Samoan children are brought up to respect authority, to respect their leaders, but the authority is the police. When we call the police, the children think, 'Oh, the police are coming and will save us,' but they are not like the Samoan police. The police here are different.”

At the beginning of the event, Mayor Suzanne LaFrance and APD Chief Sean Case spoke to the march participants. In her address to the public, LaFrance said she mourns with the community.

“You have a right to information and support and you have a right to feel safe in Anchorage,” LaFrance said. “I'm here to listen. I'm here to learn.”

Case also spoke about Saturday's march.

“Over the last week, I have learned a lot more about Samoan culture and I just want to say how much I appreciate everyone coming together here today to honor Easter Leaf and begin this healing process together as a community,” Case said.

Fiu Unuteoa said LaFrance and Case's participation in the march helped them achieve their goals of peace and healing.

“There is a dialogue between the chief and the mayor and our tribal leaders and that is where it all starts so that we can get our people to respect these authorities because now we are allied with the authority. If you want to reform the police to see how they should deal with us, then talk to us about how we think the reform should take place. After all, the police must deal with us now. That is the reform. That is how we reform this thing. So talk to us. What do we want,” said Fiu Unuteoa.

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