On the first anniversary of the assassination of journalist Chauncey Bailey, Reporters Without Borders is calling for the U.S. Justice Department to investigate the case, and launched an online petition drive.

The press freedom group says:

“Evidence, some recorded by the police and some uncovered by investigative reporters, points at someone other than the currently accused defendant as a potential perpetrator(s) and/or mastermind(s) of the crime, and suggests that local police officials may be protecting those responsible for Mr. Bailey’s death. Reporters Without Borders also disapproves of Oakland Police Chief Tucker and Deputy Chief Howard A. Jordan’s unwillingness to talk to the media. …

“This important case must be taken away from the local officials and brought to the federal level in order to avoid further bias, pressure and conflicts of interests, and, to allow a thorough and impartial investigation.”

Today, two gatherings took place on the first anniversary of the shooting death of Bailey, the former editor of the Oakland Post. According to Thomas Peele and Bob Butler of The Chauncey Bailey Project, about 25 people gathered at 14th and Alice streets in Oakland near where Bailey was shot down. One of the speakers, the Rev. Jay Matthews of St. Benedict’s Church, said: “We pray this day that the healing that is so needed will be a reality for us.”

In North Oakland, former members of Your Black Muslim Bakery — where the man accused of killing Bailey, Devaughndre Broussard, had worked — demanded more accountability from police and the media in a gathering that attracted 20 people, according to Peele and Butler.