Violent LAPD handles peaceful demonstrators

LA Times via (KTLA 5, Feb. 4, 2021); Crystal Q., Ashley Wells, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly

Come on, Baby, let's get something straight between us. I'm not LAPD. They beat people.

LAPD paramilitary trooper aims less-lethal (still lethal) projectile-launcher as gang beats youth with batons to quell a peaceful demonstration, Fairfax district, summer 2020 (Wally Skalij).

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LAPD’s handling of racial justice protests criticized: independent review

Chris Rock's satirical look at police violence.

Independent law enforcement analysts wrapping up a review of the LAPD or Los Angeles Police Department’s handling of last summer’s mass protests got an earful during two public “listening sessions.”

Activists and protesters blasted the LAPD as abusive and residents questioned how the unrest was allowed to spiral into chaos.

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Echoing critiques that have been made across the city and in federal court for months, many who called into the National Police Foundation’s hourlong Zoom sessions described LAPD officers in riot gear surrounding and antagonizing crowds of protesters.

They stated that police lash out violently with their batons and shooting people with dangerous projectiles at close range, at times causing serious injuries.

Baba Akili, a prominent activist with Black Lives Matter Los Angeles who spoke at a May 30 protest in Pan Pacific Park before it devolved into one of the worst clashes of the summer, said the LAPD had only two tactics — [violently] “control” and “suppress” — and had shown up looking for a fight. 

“That’s what they’re taught, that’s how they operate, and that’s how they lined up that day,” Akili said.

• Read the full story on LATimes.com