Orange County Protests Police Brutality

About fifty Orange County residents marched to the Anaheim police department in a demonstration against police brutality and the unaccountability of the Anaheim police department. The demonstration was sponsored by Progressive Students Alliance, Chapman University; League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) District 1; United Neighborhoods/LULAC 3016; Los Amigos of Orange County; Alliance Working for Asian Rights and Empowerment; and the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union.

A rally was held at Pearson Park, where people listened to speakers of sponsoring organizations. Activists spoke of their struggle to get a Civilian Police Review Board in Anaheim. The Anaheim police have mounted a slander campaign against them, telling city council members they are all criminals or have family members who are criminals, to try to discredit what they say at city council meetings.

After the rally, protesters marched a half mile to the Anaheim police department, where people chanted and drummed. Besides a park ranger asking to see a permit for the rally, the only police presence was a pair of bicycle officers who rode parallel to the march down a street a block away. At the police department, protesters gathered in front of the doors. Jessica Castro, Deputy State Director of California LULAC, read the police officer's oath of office over a bullhorn to the police inside while one activist held the door open. People observed a moment of silence in honor of all the victims of police brutality.

After about a half an hour in front of the police department, protesters marched back to Pearson park, where organizers brought out coolers of water and people discussed future plans.

Organizers are asking that people attend the next Anaheim City Council meeting to ask for a Civilian Police Review Board. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 24, at 200 S. Anaheim Blvd. For further information, call (714)774-0107.