Mural created to honor farmworker shot and killed by Collier County deputies

After a neighbor was shot and killed by deputies responding to a call, a mural has been created in his honor and a community is spreading its message of social justice.

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers wants three things: a federal investigation, the community to have a say in a situation like this, and for deputies to have more mental health training.

Several people helped paint this mural and all hope the sheriff’s office will finally hear or see, their message.

Eerardo Reyes works with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. “They declare they didn’t do anything wrong, but we saw the video that showed us a K-9 mauling for a minute a person who was already shot. Three times laying on the ground,” Reyes said.

It has been nearly six months since the death of farmworker Nicolas Morales.

“That shouldn’t happen. That could have been prevented,” said Reyes.

His community continues to fight for justice, to fight for Morales even after that State Attorney’s Office found the shooting justified.

“They need to do better. That’s just unacceptable. They are taking the life of a person who was a father who has dreams who was an essential worker, and all for what,” Reyes said.

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers created a mural in protest. It translates to “to hurt one is to hurt everyone.”

“The community has been hurt because of this violence,” Eerardo said.

More than 200 people have signed the traveling piece of art to show that they, too, stand together.

Miguel Estrada is the Pastor of Mision Peniel. “Police-community engagements have never been easy around but now are more tense than before,” Estrada said.

The pastor says that many people in the community have not felt safe around law enforcement since this happened.

“People doesn’t really trust them. Unfortunately, I don’t want that… People is literally saying who is going to call them now because you can be afraid,” said Estrada.

Pastor Estrada hopes that the community can become the voice of change.

“Join us for the call of justice not just for nick and his family but because tomorrow it could be anyone else, and that’s something that should concern everybody,” Estrada said.

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers says they plan to bring the sign to different neighborhoods and farmworkers camps so more people can sign it and join the cause.

WINK News reached out to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office for comment on the mural. They once again pointed to the state attorney’s office calling the shooting justified.