My observations on May 1st

The inappropriate actions from the cops on May 1st, to me were planned ahead of time. There were no agitators or instigators. This is the version that the cops have been using to divert the attention from themselves and blame it on our youth. The youth should not be blamed for some actions that has affected our community. Reality is the community cannot trust the police anymore. This is not a separate incident. We have been seeing this type of behavior in our communities for a long time. Look at what the cops are doing in central city east (skid row)with the safer cities initiative. They are militarizing our streets and communities and making us believe that they are bringing us safety, when in reality they are gentrifying us to accommodate the wealthy.

Chief Bratton is known for attacking marginalized communities and people of color. He has a good record in new york and in los angeles for

this. He talks about crime going down but he doesn't include police brutality being a crime. Also, people are not aware that the cops were in macarthur park at 8:30am "preparing" for the afternoon march. People are not aware that the city gave the LAPD money for their terrorism training and the officers decided to do their training on May 1st.

Where was bratton during that afternoon? Most likely, he was in Irvine with Guilianni, where he was having a fundraiser for his campaign. Isn't it interesting that the May 1st melee happen days before the Republicans were going to have their 1st debate in Simi Valley.

What the community has been asking is that we want an independent elected civilian board investigation. We cannot leave the investigation in the hands of the city council special task force, where some of the members have neglected our communities as is the case with Jan Perry. We cannot leave the investigation in the hands of any law enforcement agency since it will

only serve to cover up some mistakes. And, in the best interest of the community, the police commission should not be pressure into granting Chief Bratton a 5 year extension until the investigation is fully complete and after the community has expressed their voice.

We cannot continue with the politics of making decisions behind closed doors, the public has to be aware of decisions that are being made and they should play a vital role in making those decisions. City council members do not represent the community, they may say that they represent a district but reality is the people represent themselves.

The LAPD do not protect and serve our communities, they protect business people and the wealthy. We don't need the LAPD to come and protect our communities, the people can look out for their own neighborhoods. Having said this, to bring justice to our communities, all those officers involved in the May 1st melee must be fired along with chief bratton and start changing the police system upside down.