Activists protest police brutality

By Andrew Edwards
DAILY BRUIN CONTRIBUTOR
aedwards@media.ucla.edu

  EDWARD LIN/Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Martin Luther King III (center) speaks at the Inglewood rally
against police brutality. “We are standing up … because our
conscience tells us to,” he said.

INGLEWOOD ““ Emotions and temperatures ran high July 12 and
July 14 as community activists, civic leaders, local residents, and
a handful of UCLA students protested an alleged case of police
brutality in Inglewood.

The events were in response to a July 6 incident at a gas
station on the corner of Century and Freeman Boulevards. Inglewood
police officer Jeremy Morse was caught on videotape punching
16-year-old Donovan Jackson in the face, after the teen was slammed
against a police car while handcuffed.

Morse’s attorney, John Barnett, said that Morse’s
actions demonstrated “restraint,” claiming Jackson had
grabbed Morse’s testicles before being hit. Morse is on paid
leave until local, state and federal misconduct investigations are
completed.

The event on July 12 at the Inglewood Civic Center featured
several speakers, including comedian and activist Dick Gregory and
Martin Luther King III. Their speeches were followed by a brief
unity march on City Hall.

On Sunday, July 14 state Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson Jr.,
D-Culver City, spoke during services at the First African Methodist
Episcopalian Church in south central Los Angeles. He was flanked by
L.A. City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo and Assemblyman James Horton,
D-Inglewood, among others.

  James Hicks, center, protests the beating of 16-year-old
Donovan Jackson.

The July 12 protest began shortly after 10 a.m. with both the
crowds and speakers braving an already hot sun. Speeches were
frequently punctuated by audience chants.

Protesters repeated “no justice, no peace!” several
times.

UCLA students were among those present.

“I just came to offer support,” said Andy Ramirez,
third-year Chicano/a studies and American literature and culture
student.

“Police brutality is an everyday thing in our neighborhood
and they’re finally catching it on tape again,” he
added.

Gregory asserted the beating of Jackson fit a pattern of police
misconduct.

“This is a racist institution, understand that,”
said Gregory. “Police brutality affects black people in this
country the same way the sun affects white people.”

King stated the protest was against abuses of police power, not
the police themselves.

“We are not against police officers; we are against police
brutality, misconduct and racial profiling,” he said.

Gregory encouraged those present to become involved in further
activism, regardless of risks.

“Maybe we have to go to jail. Maybe we have to put chains
around the police department. We have to change something,”
he said.

He concluded with a surprise announcement.

“I will fast until this thing is settled,” he
declared.

King insisted the issue was not about race, but morality.

“This is a “˜right and wrong’ matter,”
King said.

Civil rights attorney Leo Tyrell demanded civic leaders take
personal responsibility.

“(Inglewood’s) police chief should resign
today,” he said.

Inglewood police chief Ronald Banks said he will wait for the
results of current investigations before taking any action.

He also had a message for L.A. District Attorney Steve Cooley,
demanding safety for Mitchell Crooks, who caught the July 6
incident on video.

The District Attorney’s office maintains Crook’s
incarceration has nothing to do with the controversy.

“He’s in jail because he’s a fugitive,”
said Jane Robison, spokeswoman for the District Attorney.

Crooks did not serve a prison term in Placer County for driving
under the influence, hit and run, and petty theft convictions.

Some speakers expressed hardline comments.

“Right now there is 100 percent dissatisfaction. Right now
the city of Inglewood and Los Angeles could be on the brink of
another civil insurrection,” said Tony Mohammad, spokesman
for the Nation of Islam.

Several speakers equated police brutality with terrorist
acts.

The marchers were greeted with honks of approval from motorists
along La Brea Avenue.

On Sunday, during the 10 a.m. service at First AME Church,
Wesson condemned the beating and offered support for Inglewood
Mayor Roosevelt Dorn in an impassioned statement.

“Mayor Dorn, I’ve got your back homes, I’ve
got your back,” said Wesson.

Dorn, who has called for the firing of Morse and the
installation of video cameras in Inglewood police cars, is also a
minister at First AME Church.

Wesson described the beating of Jackson as a wake-up call and
announced he would create a new committee concerned with police
brutality.

“No more will we have to turn on our television and see
our children beaten,” he said.

In his sermon, Reverend Cecil Murray said 95 percent of police
officers’ reputations are damaged by the acts of the other 5
percent.

These 5 percent are among those who are “hellbent on doing
wrong,” he said.

The controversy has attracted attention outside of California.
Rev. Al Sharpton has met with the Jackson family and called for
national legislation to establish local police review boards and
higher penalties for police misconduct.

With reports from The Associated Press

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *