In the summer of 1997, a wave of outrage and protest swept through the streets of Newark, New Jersey, following the death of Dannette 'Strawberry' Daniels. On June 7th, the 31-year-old Black woman, who was pregnant at the time, was fatally shot in the head by a Newark police officer, Robert Leaks. The incident ignited immediate and forceful community reactions, with hundreds of protestors marching on City Hall demanding 'No Justice, No Peace!'
and the arrest of the officer involved.
The circumstances leading to Daniels' death began with an arrest during a street drug deal. After being placed in the patrol car, a struggle ensued when she reportedly tried to escape. It was during this altercation that Officer Leaks shot her at point-blank range in the neck. The shooting of the unarmed woman amplified existing tensions between the community and the police department, leading to sustained protests that were organized for three consecutive weeks.
In the immediate aftermath, Officer Robert Leaks was suspended without pay pending an investigation into the fatal shooting. Despite the public outcry and persistent calls for his prosecution, a grand jury ultimately cleared the officer of any criminal charges. Following the grand jury's decision, he was returned to active duty. The case, which drew significant media attention and community activism, remains a stark reminder of the contentious relationship between law enforcement and the community in Newark during that period.
