by Pablo A. Unzueta
Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014 at 2:34 PM
parmandophotography@gmail.com 6265135471 453 south palo cedro drive
At 10am on Saturday, January 18, 2014, 150 protestors gathered around the Fullerton Police Department to influence further investigation on the death of Kelly Thomas.
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Saturday's demonstration drew about 200 people to demand justice for Kelly Thomas, a schizophrenic homeless man who was beaten to death by two police officers. Out of 200 protestors, there were 10 arrested. Two for vandalism, including a blonde woman who allegedly attacked a CBS camerawoman. The 7 remaining people were arrested for refusing to disperse the scene. Officials claimed they did everything possible to accommodate the protesters, but eventually, the manifestation turned violent heading into Saturday evening. Anarchy symbols were spray painted along the Fullerton Police Station, and also under the 72 freeway under South Harbor Street. Kelly Thomas's remembrance was claimed at a light post on Santa Fe Ave, along the Slide Bar Cafè parking lot, where police had accused him of vandalizing cars. People who marched to visit the light post, took a moment of silence, while others chanted, "justice!" and "power to the people!" At approximately 12:15pm, people who had marched several streets down, reunited with the demonstration at the Police Department. Shortly after, a CBS reporter, along with a camerawoman, arrived at the scene. Protestors who were affected by the death of Thomas, were offended because the CBS reporter had taken pictures of the Anarchy symbol spray painted along the walls of the Fullerton Police office. People felt that mainstream news was not contributing into reporting the facts. There had been a few protestors who yelled, "The media is lie! Tell the fucking truth!" One person said, "You motherfuckers are taking the cops side! You're just here to make us look uncivilized!" As the reporters made their way back to the media truck, a camerawoman was pushed by a blonde woman, who would later be arrested for suspicion of assault. About two dozen people gathered around the media truck, rocks were thrown, including verbal remarks against the media. Protestors were hurt because the justice system failed to bring equity. Many felt they had a chance to retaliate against CBS, and that is exactly what some people did.
My concern is, people were arrested for 'failing to disperse', along with a local journalist, but yet the system failed to put two guilty police officers behind bars. Something is definitely iniquitous within our system of Democracy.
