LAPD Shooting on Skid Row: The number of bullet holes and their locations lead to more questions.

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Eyewitness accounts describe harrowing moments of contagious fire and lack of concern for residents. Additionally, eyewitnesses are outraged because LAPD Officers continued to shoot Kenny while he was down and clearly unable to move; and, putting an entire community at risk while doing so. Thus far local media reports have been incomplete and driven largely by LAPD statements. However, eyewitness accounts and physical evidence at the scene of the shooting suggests that there is more here than meets the eye. Stay tuned, we will report the facts as we get them.

One Billion are Rising Today – February 14, 2013 Marks V-Day’s Worldwide Rise Up

Today is V-Day’s 15th Anniversary,  and they “are inviting ONE BILLION women and those who love them to WALK OUT, DANCE, RISE UP, and DEMAND an end to this violence. ONE BILLION RISING will move the earth, activating women and men across every country. V-Day wants the world to see our collective strength, our numbers, our solidarity across borders.”

LA CAN members joined One Billion Rising in Downtown LA today – a rising against street harassment.  In Pershing Square, dozens gathered to sing, dance, rise up and demand an end to violence against women.

LA CAN has been a part of V-Day since 2006 and is proud to be an ongoing part of the Vagina Monologues and now One Billion Rising.  We thank the organizers of the Pershing Square event for ensuring Downtown LA was included in this worldwide action!

“One billion women violated is an atrocity.  One billion women dancing is a revolution.“

Images, Footage and Coverage of May 10 Action to Stop Police Murders

 

 

STOP POLICE MURDERS! THIS Thursday in Memory of the One Year Anniversary of the LAPD Killing of Dale Garrett

We the community residents of Downtown Los Angeles will be hosting a vigil to stop the rising numbers of police killings and murders of primarily young black men across the country. We will gather on this specific date to remember the one year anniversary of the fatal police shooting of community member Dale Garrett.  From the killing of Garrett last year to the shooting and death of 19 year-old Kendrec McDade in Pasadena last month, officer involved killings are on the rise across the country. We are calling for an immediate stop to this epidemic. We hold this vigil to remember that no matter the police are here to protect us and not kill us. We all have the right to due process under the law and not by the tip of a gun. Join your community to raise our loved ones and lift our voices.

Join us THIS Thursday, May 10 at 12:00pm at the Southwest Corner of 5th and Spring St.

Police Commission Finds that Dale Garrett Shooting Last Year was Not Within Policy – But True Justice for Police Murders is Hard to Find

Dale Garrett was shot and killed by LAPD in the Skid Row community last year at this time – the anniversary of the police murder is this coming Thursday.  LA CAN members and other community members will be holding a vigil in his honor calling for the end of police murders and abuse, and accountability for officers.  The vigil will take place on 5th and Spring Streets at noon – PLEASE JOIN US!

Two weeks ago, the Police Commission finally heard the results of the use of force investigation.  Dale was actually shot twice in the back.  Just as witnesses – many of whom were LA CAN members who came forward to provide testimony – had earlier claimed, the shooting was found to be out of protocol by the Commission – though Chief Beck and the Inspector General found it to be within protocol. The Commissioners found:

“In conclusion, Detective A and B’s failure to follow proper protocols or to operate in a manner consistent with Department tactical training, by having and communicating an operational/tactical plan, to include support personnel, unjustifiably and substantially deviated from approved Department training.”

“In conclusion, the BOPC found Detective A’s lethal use of force to be out of policy.”

Although the Commission took this unusual action to overrule the internal report (they find the large majority of shootings to be justified, though communities know this isn’t true), Chief Beck gets to decide the discipline for these officers.  And the LA Times reported recently that Beck has not been strongly disciplining officers for unjustified shootings – otherwise known as police murders.

While LAPD continues to enforce the most minor violations against poor residents in downtown LA -  sending people to jail for sitting on the sidewalk – their officers are allowed to commit major violations, even kill people, without any consequence.  LA CAN believes criminal charges should be pursued in this case and we will continue to demand police accountability throughout our community – to the policy makers and on the streets.  Stay tuned.

Joel Rubin of the LA Times reported on this today:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lapd-shooting-20120507,0,5626899.story

The public version of the use of force report is here:

http://www.lapdonline.org/assets/pdf/042-11_%20Central%20_OIS.pdf

First Circuit Upholds Right To Videotape Arresting Officers

On Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled that the Constitution protects the right of individuals to videotape police officers making an arrest.

The opinion is related to a suit that was filed on behalf of Simon Glik, who was arrested in Boston in October 2007 for using his cellphone to record police officers making an arrest.

Mr. Glik’s suit claims that police violated his First Amendment rights by stopping him from recording and his Fourth Amendment rights by arresting him without probable cause. The arresting officers appealed a district court ruling denying them qualified immunity from the suit. But a three-judge panel upheld the lower court’s decision.

The ruling is an important one – especially given the unfortunately growing number of videos capturing officers using excessive and at times deadly force.

On January 1, 2009, former BART Officer Johannes Mehserle shot and killed Oscar Grant, who was lying face down and handcuffed. Despite multiple video accounts of the incident, Mehserle was only convicted of involuntary manslaughter and served less than one year. However, the footage of the killing helped bring international attention to the incident and sparked protests across the country.

In July 2011, multiple video cameras captured six Fullerton Police Officers beat Kelly Thomas and use a stun gun on him as he screamed out for his father. Mr. Thomas – who suffered from untreated schizophrenia – later died as a result of the severe beating.

Video continues to serve as an important tool that LA CAN uses in the fight for human and civil rights in Skid Row. For example, the video below of LAPD officers beating a Skid Row resident brought early attention to the brutality of the  Safer Cities Initiative.

In recent years, the LAPD itself has begun to recognize the power of video. Video and phone cameras are used regularly to monitor police activity as part of LA CAN’s Community Watch Program. What we have learned is that often times the mere presence of a camera deters LAPD officers from harassing and otherwise violating the rights of Skid Row residents.

These incidents represent just a few examples of how critical a role cell phone video cameras can play in making sure police officers are held accountable for their actions.

Click HERE to read a Wall Street Journal piece on the ruling. Click HERE to read the First Circuit Court Ruling in its entirety.

LA CAN Back in Full Force!

General Dogon was released from jail last night and is back with renewed energy to promote civil and human rights in Los Angeles!  The City Attorney had attempted to create a new charge and a probation violation, but the judge dismissed those unjust efforts yesterday morning.  Later in the day, he was released from County jail in full completion of his 120-day sentence for the convictions in early July related to the May 21^st 2010 police abuse in City Hall.

Also, last Wednesday (July 27, 2011) the City of Los Angeles declined to file any charges against LA CAN’s Pete White following an at-best questionable arrest that occurred during a regular, legal protest of the Central City East Association’s (CCEA) supposed Skid Row Neighborhood Watch Walk.  Mr. White, after being distinctly targeted throughout the protest, was arrested for disrupting a public meeting. Following the arrest, an order to disperse was given and all others were threatened with arrest.  Members of LA CAN and numerous other organizations were simply exercising our first amendment right on a public sidewalk that was not closed to the public at the time.

The overzealous nature of this arrest was confirmed when the city decided to not file charges at this time (although they have the ability to file charges at a later date).

These recent criminalization and retaliation efforts are simply more examples of LAPD and the City Attorney’s ongoing targeting of community leaders who oppose the Safer Cities Initiative and its efforts to criminalize the residents of Skid Row.  LA CAN will not allow these attempts at intimidation deter our resistance and our work for justice and equality!

We will continue our protest of the so-called “Neighborhood Watch Walk” this upcoming Wednesday – August 3^rd. If you would like to join, meet at LA CAN at 5:00 pm or at the Ballington Plaza (622 S. Wall Street) at 5:30 pm.

General Dogon Unfairly Convicted and City Attorney Releases Lies

On Wednesday, July 6th, a jury found LA CAN Organizer General Dogon guilty of 9 of 11 trumped up misdemeanor charges that supposedly took place during approximately 6 seconds of a 20 minute, non-violent protest in City Council Chambers last May.  Although video evidence countered all charges, the jury decided against us – shocking but not surprising since the criminal justice system often has disastrous and unfair results for Black men.

The fight is not over.  The sentencing hearing is next up and we are organizing and preparing now.

However, we also want to point out that the City Attorney is continuing to perpetrate the officers’ lies in their press release (one might question why they would do a press release on a misdemeanor trial to begin with – only supporting our theory that this case is a political and personal attack on Dogon, LA CAN and the Right to Housing Collective).  The City’s entire description of events (bolded by LA CAN in release printed below) is exactly the two assault charges that the jury DID NOT CONVICT on.  Dogon was found NOT GUILTY on two charges of assault on an officer – those charges were directly tied to these lies about digging nails into an officer and pinning an officer against a wall.  In fact, it was Dogon who was the victim of use of force.  The City’s lies and continued degradation of General Dogon, an amazing human rights organizer and human being, should not be tolerated by anyone.

Dogon’s personal statement reflecting on the trial is included at the bottom of this post. Stay tuned for updated information.

Press Release from the Los Angeles City Attorney:

THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2011 LOS ANGELES MAN CONVICTED OF CLASHING WITH OFFICERS IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOS ANGELES – Following a five day jury trial, a Los Angeles Superior Court jury yesterday found a Los Angeles man guilty on multiple criminal counts for his role in a disturbance in City Council Chambers last May. Deputy City Attorney Brad Rothenberg successfully prosecuted the case. Following less than an hour of deliberation, the jury found Steve Richardson guilty of eight counts of resisting arrest and one count of battery on a peace officer. Richardson was remanded into custody and sentencing has been scheduled for July 14 in Department 52 of the Los Angeles Superior Court. Richardson could face up to 9 years in county jail. On May 21, 2010, the City Council was meeting to take up the issue of a rent increase freeze. About 40 protesters refused to leave after Councilman Zine asked the sergeant-at-arms to clear the chamber.As officers were escorting the protesters out, Richardson started pushing civilians into police officers and charging against the officers.Officers then attempted to arrest the defendant when he started to resist, grabbing an officer’s hand and burying his nails into the officer’s hand. Richardson also swung his arms and body at officers, pinning one officer against a wall, ripping another officer’s uniform, and kicking an additional officer.Richardson continued fighting even after being cuffed and taken into custody.  Note: Red print added by LA CAN – all of these made-up events and lies were linked to the two charges that Dogon for which he was found NOT GUILTY.

A message from General Dogon, upon his release from jail on July 7th:

In regards to the May 21,2010 incident in city hall, I’d like to take this time to personally thank the LA CAN members, L A Right to Housing Collective members (especially Union de Vecinos), Hippie Kitchen, and all other comrades and supporters for their continued and outstanding support throughout this trial. Thank you for turning out to fight for a just and needed cause.  We know that anybody that stands up and speaks out against state oppression is a target of state oppression.  Me and the other two other LA CAN members that were arrested that day understood this fact.  Although the city dropped all charges against us in the beginning, they later re-filed 11 criminal charges against me only after I had torn up and threw back a violence prevention certificate that was given to me by the city.  It wasn’t worth the paper it was written on after the violence they used against us.

During the trial, the city presented their case which only consisted of only cops for witnesses.  Because every officer that took the stand in support of the city was caught up in lies and perjured themselves on the stand during questioning, we felt that all of the video that was supplied by the media and Right to Housing Collective members totally contradicted their statements so badly that we (my lawyer John Raphling and I) decided not to present a defense due to this fact. The city had the burden to prove their case in which we felt they did not do.  The video clearly showed that “IT IS WHAT IT IS.”  And that reality contradicted the statements of police over and over again. We know that there is a risk of putting on witnesses, as much as it is a risk to not put on witnesses.  John and I have made many legal decisions together – including the ones that got me free from a 25-to-life sentence a couple of years ago when LAPD targeted me because of my organizing.  We decided on this strategy and believe it was the best decision.

Obviously, the jury didn’t see anything the way we saw it and lived it.  Yesterday, July  6, the jury found me guilty of 9 of the 11 counts. Although we don’t agree with this verdict, there is still a lot of work to be done.  The next court date is July 14 (although it will likely be postponed a couple of weeks) and we plan to pump up the heat.  We‘ll be calling on folks to continue this fight together.  Once again I’d  like to thank everyone for their continued support during this time……………all power to the people.

general dogon

United States District Judge Grants Temporary Restraining Order Against LAPD to Prevent Illegal Confiscation of Skid Row Residents’ Personal Property

Press Release
April 25, 2011           
For Immediate Release           

Contacts:
Pete White, LA CAN (213) 434-1594
Jeff Dietrich, Catholic Worker (323) 267-8789

Download PDF of Press Release HERE.

United States District Judge Grants Temporary Restraining Order Against LAPD to Prevent Illegal Confiscation of Skid Row Residents’ Personal Property

Last Friday, the Law Offices of Carol Sobel, supported by the Los Angeles Community Action Network (LA CAN) and the LA Catholic Worker, successfully obtained a Temporary Restraining Order against the LAPD’s Central Division in the United States District Court. Pending a hearing on a preliminary injunction, the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) prohibits the LAPD, Public Works, and other City agents from conducting the following activities:

1. Seizing property in Skid Row absent an objectively reasonable belief that it is abandoned, presents an immediate threat to public health or safety, or is evidence of a crime, or contraband; and
2. Absent an immediate threat to public health or safety, destruction of said seized property without maintaining it in a secure location for a period of less than 90 days.

Community residents, organizers and advocates have long decried LAPD’s policy of confiscation and destruction of personal property in Los Angeles’ skid row community. While not a new phenomenon, the efforts to seize and destroy property belonging to homeless persons recently reached another feverish pitch.  As a result residents have been summarily denied the right to possess personal belongings and have had medicines, EDARs (portable tents), clothes, electronics, family portraits and other irreplaceable items seized and destroyed. These efforts are part of the discriminatory policing in Skid Row that is directly linked to downtown gentrification efforts.

The LAPD has long and sordid history of simply taking and destroying property from people unfortunate enough to be rendered homeless. The courts, however, over the past few decades have declared these practices illegal and validated the rights of homeless Los Angeles residents. Dating back to February 25, 1987 [Bennion v. City of Los Angeles] the courts issued a TRO for this same behavior. Additionally, on November 5, 2001 [Justin v. City of Los Angeles] the Honorable Lourdes Baird entered a permanent injunction against the City of Los Angeles for, once again, this illegal behavior. Lastly, in November 2006 [Richard Noe v. City of Los Angeles] the Honorable Andrew Guilford approved a settlement for a class of individuals whose property was taken and destroyed at Venice Beach.

Residents and community-based organizations will continue to fight to protect all human and civil rights and will work to educate the community about this recent court victory.

Continued Over-Saturation of LAPD and Lack of Mental Health Teams in Skid Row

As reported many times on this blog, LA CAN members are adamantly opposed to the Safer Cities Initiative (SCI) and the ongoing actions of between 40 and 100 additional officers SCI brought to the Skid Row community in 2006. We have witnessed several “maximum enforcement days” over the past few weeks – escalating the police state once again.

As a form of harm reduction, our CommunityWatch teams monitor police activity daily to attempt to prevent civil rights violations. This video shows the extreme over-saturation of police officers, as well as raises serious questions about why this man needed to have a hood placed over his head, held like that on the public sidewalk, and why he was taken away in an ambulance – we can only assume it was because of physical injury or mental health condition.

If it was related to mental health, where were the specially-trained SMART team LAPD officers? Why were there dozens of uniformed police officers there? And why was at least one LAPD officer taking photos of this man, in the hood, with what appears to be his personal camera? An inquiry has been made to Central Bureau command staff, but to date they have given no response to the community.

This and dozens of other incidents has led to a community recommendation to LAPD and the Police Commission that SMART team officers be increased in the Skid Row community.  On March 8th, LAPD reported to the Commission that additional SMART teams weren’t needed and there weren’t enough resources to add officers.  However, the Commission did not accept that report and a sub-committee is meeting on this urgent issue.   We ask, couldn’t a few of the dozens of officers that respond to these incidents be shifted to the SMART team?