by The Lizard Queen
Monday, Jul. 30, 2012 at 5:31 PM
July 29th 2012 was a sunny Sunday in Anaheim that brought over 250 protesters from all over California to demand justice for the series of recent officer involved shootings in Anaheim, during the last week and a half alone, two of which were fatal
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At arrival people lined the sidewalk down Harbor from the police station to the corner of Broadway. Many were holding signs with such sentiments as “Am I next?” and “Stop Police Brutality.” The protesters were not the only ones present. Orange County Sheriffs Department were on horseback lining both sides of the street. There were barricades surrounding the station as the Anaheim Police officers lined up behind the barricades, in front of the station doors and an unidentified government agency was on the surrounding rooftops in camouflage with what appeared to be sniper rifles. These camouflaged agents were also in trucks, 10 or more around the city making their presence known.
As the afternoon progressed more people showed and began a picket in the parking lot of the police station. Officers began passing out fliers stating that outside agitators had come only to exacerbate and exploit the situation, looking to turn it into a violent event. The letter also contained the instructions on what would occur should this turned into an “unlawful assembly.” The brown berates then arrived showing support for the community, marching and joining the protesters. Cars drove by honking their support and many shouted at the sheriffs on horseback from their open windows. At the same time many were chalking messages of unrest onto the police station parking lot and surrounding sidewalk.
As 2pm neared it was decided that there would be a march from the current location to Disneyland which was about a mile up the road. As people gathered and began marching the Sheriffs on horseback followed pushing the people back onto the sidewalk. The people however would not stand for this and reclaimed the street. One of the two arrests was made during this time, an Occupy Riverside resident, as he simply walked under the horse's head back onto the street, then was tackled and detained by the sheriffs. After a short standoff, peaceful on the side of the protesters, the sheriffs backed down and the crowd continued on, only to be stopped by one of the many police departments that blocked off the street leading to Disney. People returned to the police station, to be met by a truck load of the camouflaged agents with guns in hand. The crowd, who had only their messages of justice and peace with them, dispersed.
This is the start of an ongoing protest every weekend in Anaheim until justice for the police brutality and the end of such police presence is had. After speaking to a few community members the overall feeling in regards to the police presence is uneasiness, they are tired of the racism and class discrimination that is the deciding factor when officers pull the trigger on unarmed citizens only to be later called “self defense,” never seeing justice for their harmed and lost loved ones.
