------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the July 8, 2004 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
AFTER RACIST BEATING, SPEAKOUT SAYS: "UNITE TO FIGHT POLICE BRUTALITY" By John Parker Los Angeles It was a room full of anger--righteous anger that reminded this writer of past police killings and beatings that inspired such emotion. But this time the emotion was being channeled by speakers and the parti cipants into action and a common determination to not go gently into the night--but to fight like warriors for justice against yet another racist beating of a Black man by Los Angeles police. On June 28 Faith United Methodist Church hosted a speak-out featuring the Rev. Al Sharpton to take up the latest case of police brutality. It had occurred in Compton on June 23. Police repeatedly kicked Stanley Miller, a 36-year-old Black man, and beat him with a metal flashlight. As in the Rodney King and Donovan Jackson beatings, the incident was captured on videotape, this time by cameras aboard news helicopters from KABC Channel 7 and KTTV Channel 11. The videotape was broadcast throughout the day on local TV stations. Sharpton, the first speaker, called for unity among Black leaders in Los Angeles. He urged that people push for more restric tive legislation directed at the police. A representative of the International Action Center, himself a victim of racist police abuse, warned at the speak-out of the city, state and federal government's typical attempts at discouraging militant action. He was well received when he announced an immediate action by the IAC with various community leaders and activists at police headquarters July 2. Mollie Bell, a layperson at the church, chaired the speak-out. This latest assault against the community started with a 30-minute car chase in Compton after Miller ran a stoplight and was found to be driving a stolen car, police claim. CAUGHT ON VIDEO--AGAIN The tape shows an unarmed Miller appearing to surrender after running a short distance, then raising his arms and starting to kneel down. Two cops then grab Miller and push him to the ground. A third cop comes up and kicks Miller in the head, then strikes him 11 times with a flashlight. On the tape it looks like he is striking Miller's head with the metal flash light. Police Chief William Bratton, in an attempt to keep the lid on the incident, took the unusual step of refusing to release the names of the officers involved. This advice came from the city attorney's office. Often, once the public finds out who the offending officers are, many stories come to light from victims whom those same officers abused in the past--which begs the question of why those cops were allowed to remain on the force. Bratton got away with this strategy for only one day, however. He received public criticism for hiding the cops' identities. On June 25 Bratton released the names. The eight police at the scene were placed on desk duty. Three are being investigated for "excessive use of force." John Hatfield, a seven-year veteran of the police department, delivered the blows to Miller. The cops who grabbed and pushed Miller to the ground were identified as Phillip Watson and David Hale. Sgt. Angela McGee and Officers Peter Bueno, Todd Behrens and Andrew Moody were also identified. They have all been cops for between six and 16 years. As top cop under former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Bratton orchestrated a new level of racist police brutality against innocent victims, including the fatal choking of young Latino Anthony Baez and the killing of African immigrant Amadou Diallo, who was shot 41 times. Instead of being fired for these atrocities on his watch, Bratton was later awarded the job of Los Angeles police chief. Many in the oppressed communities feel ever more threatened. The Los Angeles Times quoted Everett Brumfield, employed as a general laborer at the First AME Church, saying he is often harassed. "The police are always on the edge, you know? It's pistols at your head and get on the floor." At the June 28 meeting, speaker after speaker recounted personal experiences of police brutality against either themselves or loved ones, citing some incidents that ended near death. BRATTON'S FLASHLIGHT BLUFF Bratton has excused himself from this embarrassment to his leadership by claiming he's new to it all here in Los Angeles. He said he planned to review the depart ment's policy of allowing officers to strike suspects with flashlights. He said the authorized use of a flashlight on resistant suspects was new to him and needs to be re- evaluated. However, Bratton has been in charge of the Los Angeles Police Department since October 2002. Department policy states that officers are permitted to use "distraction blows" with flashlights to gain the compliance of aggressive or combative suspects. They can strike suspects on the arm and shoulder, but not the head. According to the Los Angeles Times, Officer Hatfield told police investigators he administered distraction blows to the arm and shoulder blades--not the head--and that he stopped hitting Miller once the handcuffs were on. Hatfield also claimed he kicked and then beat the suspect because another officer yelled that he had a gun. Metal flashlights, however, are a known hazard. The Times reported that Merrick Bobb, a special counsel for the county supervisors on issues concerning the sheriff's department, warned that flashlights cause greater injuries than batons. The use of metal flashlights as weapons has been going on for years. In 1996, another cop was videotaped hitting a man in the head with a flashlight outside a hospital. The city of Los Angeles was forced to pay $160,000 to settle his case. In 1999, another cop allegedly struck a man several times in the rib cage with a flashlight while he was seated in the back seat of a patrol car. NEITHER OFFICER WAS PROSECUTED. If Bratton is to be believed, it means he has not studied any Los Angeles history regarding lethal force. His statements suggest that this is the first time a "flashlight incident" ever happened on his watch. Many observers find it hard to believe that this type of police brutality only occurs under bright lights and on videotape. At the speak- out, the Rev. Charles Blake of West Angeles Church said that if one event was captured on videotape, then many more happen out of sight. Several participants at the speak-out reminded the audience that these incidents have occurred over and over with the same results, encouraging further police abuse. Inaction is not an option, they said, and the community's best defense against the LAPD is a renewed commitment to unity and militancy. The July 2 action at Chief Bratton's head quarters will be an important step toward that goal. [The writer is Workers World Party's candidate for president of the United States.] - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe wwnews- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Support the voice of resistance http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
