Greens condemn 'brazen brutality' by police at immigration rights
march
Green Party of California
www.cagreens.org
May 03, 2007
Contact: Susan King, spokesperson, 415.823-5524
funking@mindspring.com
Dr. Bob Vizzard, spokesperson, 916.206 8953, thevizz@aol.com
Sara Amir, spokesperson, 310.270-7106 saraamir@earthlink.net
Cres Vellucci, press secretary, 916.996-9170 civillib@cwnet.com
Greens condemn 'brazen brutality' by police
at Los Angeles immigration rights march, charge police targeting 'marginalized
and disenfranchised'
LOS ANGELES, CA -- The Green Party of California today
condemned the "brazen brutality" of the Los Angeles Police Department Tuesday at a peaceful immigration rights march here where dozens of
demonstrators - and members of the news media - were clubbed and shot by
so-called "non-lethal" projectiles.
At least three investigations - including one by the FBI - are now underway
to determine the extent of the unnecessary violence used by police to disperse a peaceful crowd at a park, although the organizers of the May Day
march had an approved permit. Police apparently fired at least 240 rounds
at demonstrators and reporters, sending many to the hospital.
"The brazen police brutality of the LAPD is yet another example of the
erosion of our civil liberties as we slide more and more into a police
state, with the poor, immigrants, people of color, the marginalized and
disenfranchised the targets of institutionalized violence and repression,"
said Los Angeles Green spokesperson Linda Piera-Avila.
"The LAPD's mission of 'to protect and serve' seems to only apply to those
who are part of the corporate interests, while immigrants are being used as
target practice. For justice to be served, NAFTA and similar disastrous
foreign policy agreements must be ended abroad while here at home immigrants must be recognized and accorded human rights," she
added.
Greens in Southern California are mobilizing to provide any assistance
needed by those attacked by the LAPD on May Day.
"The LAPD action was outrageous," said Peter Thottam, a Los Angeles
attorney and former Green Party candidate for Assembly in the 53rd District, who has offered his help to those involved in the attacks by police.
Green Party of California
www.cagreens.org