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Marchers mark Jamar Clark shooting anniversary

Tuesday marks one year since Jamar Clark was shot on Plymouth Avenue in Minneapolis by an MPD officer. While the officers have been cleared of any wrongdoing by state, federal and internal affairs investigations, protesters believe justice was not done.

MINNEAPOLIS - Tuesday marks one year since Jamar Clark was shot on Plymouth Avenue in Minneapolis by an MPD officer. While the officers have been cleared of any wrongdoing by state, federal and internal affairs investigations, protesters believe justice was not done.

With a somber tone, dozens of people gathered Sunday for Jamar Clark and others killed in officer-involved shootings.

“This has been a rough year. Has it been a rough year? Oh yeah,” one speaker said before the march.

Protesters marched through North Minneapolis to the Fourth Precinct police station, which protesters blocked for 18 days last year. Then they marched down Plymouth Avenue to the spot where Jamar Clark died after a struggle with officers.

Protests erupted after Clark was shot, November 15th last year. At the time, police claimed Clark had assaulted his girlfriend, interfered with paramedics, then tried wrestling a gun away from the officer trying to arrest him.

But several witnesses thought Clark was handcuffed when shot in the head. And many more felt he simply didn't deserve to die.

“Jamar didn't have no weapon. He didn't have anything but himself, you know? To me, the only person who was in danger was Jamar,” said his adoptive father, James Clark.

State, federal and internal affairs investigations eventually all came to a different conclusion.

“The Hennepin County Attorney's Office has concluded that criminal charges are not warranted,” County Attorney Mike Freeman said in March.

“There is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights charges,” U.S. Attorney Andy Luger said in June.

“I have concluded that these officers did not dictate the outcome of this incident,” Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau said earlier this month.

According to investigators, Clark was never handcuffed and DNA shows he grabbed the officers gun.

But a year later, they're still protesting, asking everyone to remember and hope for change.

“The only thing we can do is keep fighting. And sooner or later, you know, something will come,” James Clark said.

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