A.N.S.W.E.R. CONDEMNS THE LAPD KILLING OF SUZIE MARIE PEÑA
Stop Racist Police Violence! Take Action Today!

Download and distribute a flyer in your neighborhood:
http://answerla.org/pic/police/ANSWERpolicebrutality.pdf

July 15, 2005

The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism), Los
Angeles, condemns unconditionally the LAPD for the brutal murder of
Suzie Marie Peña, and all acts of racist brutality against the
people of Los Angeles. We mourn her tragic death and send our
condolences to her family. We demand that Mayor Villaraigosa and all
city officials take immediate action to bring the officers involved
in the murder of Suzie Marie Peña to justice.

The LAPD's trigger-happy conduct is an outrage. It seems that their
official policy is "shoot to kill."

RACIST POLICE VIOLENCE IS PART OF THE SYSTEM

The murder of Suzie Marie Peña comes on the heels of a long series
of violent police attacks on the African American and Latino
communities.

In May, 13 sheriff's deputies unleashed 120 bullets in a Compton
neighborhood as they pursued Winston Hayes, an innocent Black man
they claimed was involved in a crime. Last February, an LAPD officer
shot 10 bullets into the back of 13-year-old Devin Brown in South
Los Angeles, killing him instantly.

From these incidents, and countless others like them, it is clear
that police brutality in the Los Angeles oppressed communities is
the norm, and not the exception. This is the case not only in LA,
but in poor communities across the nation. Such a widespread and
consistent problem isn't caused by a handful of "bad cops."

Mayor Villaraigosa tries to excuse the officers who murdered Suzie
Marie Peña by saying, "not a one of them went into that situation
with the intent to hurt anyone." But cops are not in communities
to “serve and protect” or to solve problems like drugs or
crime.

They exist to enforce the exploitation of oppressed communities in a
deeply unequal system. They inflict violence and terrorize men,
women and children. Police brutality is institutionalized and deeply
entrenched in this society.

LAPD Chief William Bratton has promised an investigation into the
murder, indicating it will take months or longer to find out what
really happened. Meanwhile, he's busy blaming Suzie's murder on her
father--calling him a "cold-blooded killer"--instead of pointing the
finger at the cops who pulled the trigger. Neither Bratton nor any
investigation can solve the problem that lead to Suzie's death.
Bratton is a racist apologist for police violence. The LAPD has a
history of the most virulent racism among its ranks.

With the exoneration of the police in the long string of attacks and
murders targeting the African American and Latino communities, the
police have become emboldened. Whether it was the total acquittal of
those who almost killed Rodney King or the unpunished murder of
Devin Brown, there is every reason for oppressed communities to
believe that the police have a license to kill.

STAND WITH THE AFRICAN AMERICAN AND LATINO COMMUNITIES

Residents in the Watts community are justifiably angry. Many are
coming out to denounce police brutality and Suzie Marie Peña's
murder. After the shooting, Suzie's mother said, "I don't want an
apology. I want justice."

Each night this week, starting on Tuesday, an increasingly large
group of protestors has gathered at the corner of 104th St. and
Avalon Blvd. On Thursday night, more than 200 people, mostly African
American and Latino youth, demonstrated in a united, militant show
of force against the police. Many have pledged to come back.

It is so important that the people stay united to demand justice. We
in the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition-LA stand with you. We join with you to
demand justice and an end to racist police violence.

Fighting against racism and police brutality must be a top priority
for the anti-war movement and all progressive organizations. At the
upcoming September 24 march and rally in LA against the racist war
and occupation of Iraq, A.N.S.W.E.R. will march with tens of
thousands of people to also say “stop racist violence and police
terror!”

TAKE ACTION TODAY

Write an e-mail or contact Mayor Villaraigosa and LAPD Chief Bratton
to express your outrage at the murder of Suzie Marie Peña and to
demand justice.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
mayor@lacity.org
213-978-0600 (Phone)
213-978-0750 (Fax)

LAPD Chief William Bratton
lapdonline@earthlink.net

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A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition-LA
Act Now to Stop War and End Racism
323-464-1636
http://www.answerla.org
answerla@answerla.org
1800 Argyle Ave, #410
Los Angeles , CA 90028
Join us each Tues at 7 pm for A.N.S.W.E.R. Activists Meetings.

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