Thousands March in Los Angeles Against Police Violence

December 29, 2014 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us

 

From a reader:

“This is long overdue. We have a problem in this country with people not recognizing inequality. Not just this criminal injustice system, but in America in its entirety. There’s not enough jobs for people to go around; and the police prey on the poor, they prey on the unfortunate, they prey on those who are disadvantaged... And if they don’t kill you, they will jail you. It’s just modern-day lynching.”

Middle-aged Black woman at December 27 LA march

Los Angeles, December 27

Photo: Special to revcom.us

Over 5,000 people marched in Hollywood on Saturday, December 27 in the “Millions March for First Amendment Rights” protest. The mood of the mostly young Black crowd was against the police violence and brutality in Los Angeles, Ferguson, and New York. The marchers chanted “Hands up don’t shoot!” and “No justice, no peace!” as they marched from Pan Pacific Park down Beverly Boulevard. The marchers demanded justice for Michael Brown and Eric Garner, and they included the recent police murders of Ezell Ford and Omar Abrego in Los Angeles. Many people wore a T-shirt that had on it “Are we next?” Steve Nash of the Los Angeles Lakers, and rappers Tyga and The Game posted pictures of themselves at the march on Instagram.

A six-year-old girl who was marching said: “We’re protesting for the nation and the boys and the men, and my brothers, and my daddy. I’m happy, and my family is safe, because we’re in the protest.”

A single mother of two said: “I have a ten-year-old son. I’m surrounded by boys all the time, because they play sports, and my home is one that they all come to. I’m out here for them. I’m out here for my son’s future. I’m out here for our future. I don’t want my son, or his friends, or anyone else to grow up and be afraid; I want them to live when they go outside just to do anything social. And the time has finally come. It’s time to take a stand—for ourselves, as well as them.”

Los Angeles, December 27

Photo: Special to revcom.us

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