Alleged Police Harrasmentof Activists

by rono ardunja Monday, Jul. 31, 2000 at 7:03 PM

Alledged harrassment by LAPD of activists around the DAN LA convergence space

Walking back from a community canvasing route, 2 DAN members crossed Bonnie Brae on their way back to the Convergence Center on 7th street.

Talking absent-midedly about the beautiful flags atop the Convergence center just down the street, they were not paying attention to the crossing signals. After successfully crossing the street, they proceeded down the block when from behind them they heard someone calling them, they turned around to find LA's finest asking for identification.

The officer explained that he had observed the two crossing the street on a red light, and though he admited that by the time the light had the two had finished crossing the street the light had turned green. The two were given traffic-ticket violations and were charged with walking on a red light.

When the officers were questioned when was the last time they had charged anyone with the said violation, they responded that they had not done so for an entire month. The officers further showed how unfirmiliar they are with writing up such tickets by the fact that they did not know the proper code violation to write on the ticket. The activists suspicion of was further bolstered by the officers appearent disinterest in warning or ticketing the 6 other people who crossed the street and commited the same violation.

The activists alledge that the ticket was meant as an act of harrassment by the officers and will contest the ticket on the grounds that it was given on preferential enforcement.

Upon leaving the convergence space once the affair was all over, one activist promised to "cross on the green, not inbetween."

Original: Alleged Police Harrasmentof Activists