Some Protesters Claim Recent Arrests In L.A. Violated Their Rights
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — In addressing the Police Commission on Tuesday, some protesters arrested during recent demonstrations in Los Angeles claimed the LAPD violated their rights.
Less than a dozen demonstrators addressed the commission Tuesday, weeks after being jailed after police say protesters refused to disperse.
Over the course of three nights in L.A., more than 300 people were arrested during demonstrations against a grand jury's decision not to indict a white police officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Mo.
"What do you call a protester without police?" one woman asked. "A peaceful protest!" another yelled out.
Another woman said: "Many of my fellow arrestees already noted the baseless and illegal way that the LAPD detained us."
"The protesters were not being violent. LAPD purposefully corralled those folks on Sixth and Hope and then did not give them an option to leave," another protester said. "My arrest with over 100 others was illegal that night, and I plan to fight it in court."
Despite the harsh criticism, the meeting remained calm with the exception of a brief moment, when audience members began yelling.
However, Police Commission President Steve Soboroff put an immediate stop to it.
"That's the process. That's what's called mutual respect. And that's what we're going to have here," he said. "If you talk again, I'm going to ask that you leave."
Soboroff told CBS2's Dave Lopez that he wasn't surprised by the comments made.
"And that's why I say that this is about the bank of trust. And the bank of trust withdrawals are being made based on perceptions and based by activities from around the country," Soboroff said.
Soboroff reiterated the high marks he gives the LAPD for the way the department handled the protests.
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