LAPD EJECTS MLK COALITION FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE AND BLACK LIVES MATTER FROM MLK PARADE
January 17, 2015. Los Angeles, CA. Utilizing an armed presence and threats, the LAPD ejected the Martin Luther King Peace and Justice Coalition and Black Lives Matter from the parade held in honor of King on his birthday. Grassroots Bernie Sanders activists, who had been invited to march with the MLK Coalition in the parade, joined the Black Lives Matter marchers in protesting the ejection. While Obama is trying to limit the public's use of guns, the LAPD was the most armed group in the parade.
Parade observers were angry but not surprised. In recent years, the LAPD has come under increasing attention for the frequent killings of African-Americans and Latinos, without any charges being filed. Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck, often called the most hated man in Los Angeles, and City Attorney Mike Feuer witnessed the ejection but smiled and offered no assistance to those who actually marched for the values held by Martin Luther King, Jr.
Before the ejection, The Martin Luther King coalition, Black Lives Matter and Sanders activists were loudly cheered by the observers as they marched and changed about the need for more homes, instead of more police and about about the perceived misconduct of LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, whose policies they felt was responsible for the killing of numerous African-Americans in Los Angeles. The chants about Beck did not appear to sit well with the Police Chief, given what happened following those chants.
Several blocks into the parade, the police came out in force on horses, on foot, and on motorcycles, frightening and threatening the marchers and forcing them onto the sidewalk.
Several blocks into the parade, the police came out in force on horses, on foot, and on motorcycles, frightening and threatening the marchers and forcing them onto the sidewalk.
From the sidewalk and later after rushing into the street, MLK Coalition members, Black Lives Matter, and Sanders Activists continued to protest the ejection and continued to fight for King's Dream. The parade watchers vocally expressed support for their cause and anger over the LAPD's actions.
Police Chief Charlie Beck
Hundreds of Angelinos have called for federal intervention to stop the police shootings of African- Americans and Latinos in Los Angeles. Bernie Sanders has called for federal investigations whenever someone in police custody dies. The LAPD killings of Ezell Ford, Blendon Glenn and Charlie Keunang have fueled calls for Beck's removal. The ouster of the Martin Luther King Coalition and Black Lives Matter did not boost Beck's image among minorities in Los Angeles. Neither did information revealed last summer by the L.A. Controller to the effect that Beck was the second highest paid official in Los Angeles with a salary of $307,291. A salary of that nature while L.A.'s homeless population is increasing in size does not sit will with people involved in the economic just movement either. Charly Keunang, known to many as "Africa," was one of those homeless. A law suit has been filed against the city and against Beck's Department for $20 million in connection with his death.
City Attorney Mike Feuer
Also under fire for indifference to the killings of Blacks and other minorities in Los Angeles is City Attorney Mike Feuer. Concerns mounted as observers noted that, had Feurer or any of the other officials who witnessed the eviction of Black Lives Matter and the Martin Luther King Coalition interceded with the police, racial justice and equality would could been restored to the parade held in King's honor. Some in the crowd asked what Feurer's qualifications were to ride when he was doing nothing to honor the legacy itself.
Risking arrest, Black Lives Matter protesters rushed back into the parade amidst cheers and support from the observers, many of whom made way for the protesters to get through the crowd back onto the street. To the left, an activist holds a poster with a picture of Trayvon Martin, shot by a white guy (George Zimmerman) who said he did not feel the young Black boy (who was only carrying a candy bar) fit into his neighborhood.
Many in the crowd spoke of contacting the L.A. City Council to demand that the future MLK parades conform to King's legacy, instead of the legacy of those who stood against and continue to stand against his Dream. Some of the officers standing along the side of the parade apologized for their fellow officers showing that there are still some good officers on the LAPD.
Many in the crowd spoke of contacting the L.A. City Council to demand that the future MLK parades conform to King's legacy, instead of the legacy of those who stood against and continue to stand against his Dream. Some of the officers standing along the side of the parade apologized for their fellow officers showing that there are still some good officers on the LAPD.
Ezell Ford, an unarmed Black killed by LAPD; no charges.