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.