The Clampdown
The Clampdown
Public protest isn't always pretty, but it's a core and necessary right in the U.S. It's how citizens and others in this country express outrage over injustice or voice support for change. In Los Angeles this week, the subject roiling the streets was immigration and citizenship for the undocumented. And as with last year's massive, 650,000-strong protests on the same issue, the marches were energetic but overwhelmingly peaceful – right until their final hours on Tuesday, May 1, when a handful of protesters and riot police ignited an alarming confrontation.
The videotape is disturbing to watch: Protesters and media are seen shoved and beaten by police. While many officers are indeed shown calmly moving the crowd back, others caught on-camera were clearly agitated, taking cover behind palm trees, firing rubber bullets, and swinging batons at will. Incredibly, among the targets were diminutive Fox 11 reporter Christina Gonzalez and her female camera operator, who were shoved, threatened, knocked down, and even laughed at by police.
The police action was reportedly in response to a handful of protesters who threw plastic bottles and other small objects in the direction of police. But none of that explains what happened. Even LAPD Chief William J. Bratton, currently being considered for a second term as chief, was moved to call the response “inappropriate” and said “I was disturbed at what I saw.” Which would certainly be obvious to anyone watching the footage, but hearing it from the current chief of police is a comforting change in attitude from previous generations of LAPD leadership. Two investigations have already been launched into the incident.
The response from apologists whenever a scene like this one unfolds (i.e., Rodney King) is that police work is tough and dangerous and requires split-second decisions: What would you do in that situation? That is all true, except that police are also trained, paid, and fully expected to operate at a different level from an average citizen caught in chaotic situations. What reason could there be to beat unarmed protesters or media personnel carrying professional video equipment? What happened at the close of protests in Los Angeles this week was an unfortunate smear on a department that has shown great improvement in recent years, but it was also an insult to the constitutional rights these same police are sworn to protect.
Published: 05/03/2007
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