Activist group plans protest against police shootings.

The original plan wasn't a protest. A group called Salinas Against Police Brutality had organized a forum concerning four fatal officer-involved shootings this year. 

"We still don’t have justice," an event flyer states. "The cops have not received any jail time or punishment…Join us for this event where activists and community members will address the recent events, and continue to organize a movement against police brutality."

But their application to use the community room at Cesar Chavez Library was denied, instead prompting the group to plan a protest at the same time, 2pm on Sunday, outside the library. 

Librarian Luis Alejandre says the group's application was denied because organizer Edgar Cruz didn't turn in all of the necessary paperwork.

But an event flyer says city officials cancelled the event as a reaction to the agenda. 

"Family and friends of the victims are calling for an independent forum, not one run and organized by police and politicians," the follow-up announcement states. 

"In response to the city silencing the families of the victims of police violence, they are arranging a protest outside of the Cesar Chavez Library, in lieu of the public forum."

That protest is scheduled for 2pm on Sunday, Aug. 17. It follows a tense week of violent policing in Ferguson, Missouri, which has gotten national attention after clashes between protesters and police erupted. 

Protestors there originally came out after a police officer shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown, a black man who was unarmed. A candlelight vigil turned violent. Police reacted to ongoing protests with tear gas, forcefully dispersing crowds and arresting lawful protestors and observers, including journalists. The events have been likened to Civil Rights-era clashes with the police. 

In Salinas, a peaceful protest after Carlos Mejia was shot and killed in May turned violent. Police called in aid from many neighboring law enforcement agencies, and police in riot gear patrolled the event.

Subsequent events focused on peace and healing in the community. 

Organizers of this Sunday's protest pledged to make it a peaceful gathering. Cruz was not immediately available for comment Friday afternoon.

Final reports on each of the four fatal shootings this year have not yet been released.

Angel Ruiz, 42, who was linked to multiple crimes, was shot and killed on March 20; 26-year-old Osman Hernandez was shot and killed on May 9 when he was allegedly reaching for a lettuce knife in his waistband; 44-year-old Carlos Mejia, who was carrying garden shears and allegedly threatened to assault a woman and tried to kill her dog, was shot and killed by police less than two weeks later; and Frank Alvarado, a 40-year-old parolee, was shot and killed after allegedly issuing threats and charging police officers while holding a cell phone as if it were a gun. 

Salinas Police Chief Kelly McMillin asked District Attorney Dean Flippo to investigate Alvarado's fatal encounter with police, because his department was overloaded on existing investigations.