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Crowd Protests Transient's Death Following Police Fight

FULLERTON (CBS/AP) — A small but vocal crowd of protesters have gathered outside Fullerton police station to decry the death of a homeless man with schizophrenia after a violent confrontation with officers.

Waving placards and chanting slogans, the crowd Saturday in Fullerton called for the resignation of Police Chief Michael Sellers and demanded justice for Kelly Thomas, who died July 5.

A man on a bullhorn led the crowd of about 130 in chants including, "no justice no peace, no killer police." One protester held a sign that read "mental illness is not punishable by death."

No police were visible at the protest.

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On Friday, City Councilman Bruce Whitaker joined Councilwoman Sharon Quirk-Silva in calling for Fullerton Police Chief Michael Sellers to step down over his handling of the fallout following the death of Thomas. Whitaker said he's concerned the chief hasn't taken a more public role in his department's response to the incident.

"I think right in a time of crisis like this, with this magnitude, the leadership is in critical and I feel that we needed to be out there immediately letting our citizens know what occurred," Silva told Michele Gile, reporting for CBS2 and KCAL9, on Wednesday.

The FBI and the district attorney's office are investigating.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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