Demonstrators rallied at Metropolis Corridor Wednesday, calling on Manhattan District Lawyer Alvin Bragg to drop the homicide cost in opposition to a bodega employee who stabbed to demise a person who attacked him in his retailer.
Bodega staff and homeowners had been amongst these displaying help for Jose Alba, 61, who allegedly stabbed 35-year-old Austin Simon after he got here behind the counter and attacked Alba in a struggle that started over a bag of potato chips.
Footage reveals Alba tried to keep away from the July 1 confrontation within the Hamilton Heights grocery and was shoved by the much-younger man earlier than the 2 tangled and the bodega employee shoved a knife into Simon’s neck.
His supporters “imagine in him,” stated Francisco Marte, president and founding father of the Bodega and Small Enterprise Group.
“They do imagine it was self-defense. The movies say all of it,” Marte informed The Publish of the rally, which he organized. “They make it clear that it’s a case of self-defense.”
Simon’s girlfriend allegedly had gotten into an argument with Alba when she couldn’t pay for a bag of chips. She left and returned with Simon, who approached the employee in what shortly became a bodily confrontation.
Alba himself wasn’t in attendance on the rally as he tries to keep away from the highlight forward of his trial on the recommendation of his lawyer, Marte stated. Alba beforehand informed The Publish he didn’t know “how this occurred.”
“However I’m additionally unhappy. I do know what the ache is,” he stated in Spanish. “I ask that [Simon’s family] please forgive me as a result of I didn’t wish to do this.”
Alba is now out on $50,000 bail after spending time on Rikers Island. Marte stated Alba “doesn’t want that” ankle monitor.
“He's not going anyplace. Anybody who's monitored like that appears like a felony,” Marte stated. “He's going to remain and face this. He is aware of he's harmless (of homicide fees) so there is no such thing as a must run away.”
Former Metropolis Councilman Ruben Diaz, who attended the rally, stated in a e-newsletter that the movies confirmed Alba was defending himself as a result of “he feared for his personal life.”
“This proof and movies inform the story and are self-explanatory,” Diaz wrote.
“Sadly, the visible proof didn't suffice for Manhattan District Lawyer Alvin Bragg, whose insurance policies have proven that he's an advocate, and defender of the felony component, and never the victims.”
Among the rallygoers are calling for Bragg to resign, and a few right-leaning Metropolis Council members wrote a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul Tuesday asking her to take away the prosecutor over the incident and several other others they perceived as tender on crime.
However Marte stated he isn’t personally in favor of eradicating Bragg and plans to satisfy with the DA subsequent week for the second time within the aftermath of the case.
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