Hundreds demand the shutdown of fraternity over Black student’s death
Marchers protest hanging of George Johnson Jr. in 2008 ruled a suicide
SAN JOSE >> Hundreds of protesters marched Saturday night through downtown San Jose, urging the shutdown of fraternity house Sigma Chi, where Gregory Johnson Jr., a Black university student, was found dead in 2008.
About 300 people marched from San Jose City Hall to the Sigma Chi frat house, raising pointed questions about the
circumstances and investigations surrounding Johnson’s death. The residence in the 200 block of S. 10th Street was boarded up before the march and rally.
The Santa Clara County coroner ruled that Johnson Jr. committed suicide after his body was found in 2008 hanging in the basement of the fraternity house, across the street from San Jose State University. However, the parents of Johnson Jr. have denounced the official findings and say they don’t believe the determination their son committed suicide.
“I know my child would not commit suicide,” Denise Johnson, the deceased student’s mother, told a rally in front of the Sigma Chi frat house. “He was happy.”
The parents said they believe their son was the victim of a hate crime.
They have claimed in court proceedings in connection with a lawsuit they filed following the death that their son was battered and attacked first. They also claim that the body was staged to make it appear that he committed suicide.
The official investigators have never suggested that Johnson Jr. was a victim of foul play. The authorities have never altered their original findings of suicide as the cause of death.
At the time of his death, Johnson Jr. was the only Black member of the Sigma Chi frat house at San Jose State University, his parents have stated.
T he Sat urday event was peaceful. Marchers blocked 10th Street while spea kers of fered their views in front of the frat house. At least three people from the event climbed up on the Sigma Chi structure.
“People have tried to cover this up,” said Gregory Johnson Sr., the father of the deceased student. “My son didn’t commit
suicide.”
Some protesters spraypainted “Justice 4 Gregory Johnson” on South 10th Street in front of the fraternity house during the event. Marchers chanted “Bye Bye Sigma Chi” and “Black Lives Matter” while they walked through the downtown and displayed signs with similar slogans.
Johnson Jr.’s body was found in a basement with a height of 5 feet, 10 inches, authorities said after his death. Johnson Jr. was 6 feet, 2 inches tall.
The deceased student’s parents said they discovered a crack in the back of his skull after they had reclaimed the body from the coroner’s office.
“The Sigma Chi house is rooted in systemic racism,” said Beatriz Raz, a San Jose resident and university student who participated in the march and rally. “We have to speak out against wrongdoing.”