latimes--2020-06-04--Photo of Long Beach officer standing over blood with his baton spurs internal investigation

The Long Beach Police Department has launched an internal investigation after an officer shared photos on his social media , including one showing him standing over blood with his baton , this week amid days of protests held in the city against the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
According to an email sent Thursday by City Manager Tom Modica , the department became aware of a “ social media post an officer had on his Facebook page ” that included “ a baton and blood on the ground.
” The officer , who was not identified in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patrol duties pending an internal investigation , according to the letter .
The officer has been identified by BuzzFeed News and in a public social media post by Councilwoman Jeannine Pearce as Jacob Delgado .
Pearce posted an image from Delgado ’ s LinkedIn page that shows he has been a member of the Long Beach Police Department for about two years and previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps .
Another photo , obtained by BuzzFeed News , that Delgado shared on his Instagram account shows him sitting in what appears to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers flashing the shaka sign .
“ Back up , on the way , ” he wrote on the image .
Delgado ’ s sibling , according to BuzzFeed News , also shared the photo of his brother standing over blood on his personal Instagram account , writing “ Bro getting his.
” Delgado and his sibling have since deleted their social media accounts .
“ And just like that , they show us who they are .
I am pissed .
I am heartbroken and I will not settle for this .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Pearce wrote on Facebook .
Pearce said in a statement that the incident was a clear example why the city needs to overhaul its policing model and encouraged people to share photos and videos of actions taken by any of their city employees .
Ivan Garcia , a Police Department public information officer , said disciplinary action will be taken , if necessary , after the investigation is completed .
The department ’ s social media policy requires officers to use appropriate discretion when posting photographs or speech that may jeopardize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
“ The images depicted here are very disturbing and are not in line with the high standards we hold our officers accountable for , ” Police Chief Robert Luna said in a statement .
“ We will continue to work on rebuilding our public trust and we ask that the actions of one don ’ t deter you from the great things we do every day to keep our community safe.
” Long Beach police arrested about 75 people Sunday after what started as a peaceful protest staged by thousands outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ devolved into looting and destruction outside the Pike Outlets .
Mayor Robert Garcia said most of those arrests were for curfew violations , rather than looting , but police have promised to use social media posts , news footage and other recordings to identify and capture looters in the days ahead .
Mayor Garcia and Luna also faced questions about the way officers used force to break up unruly protests Sunday , and why police seemed more focused on arresting peaceful protesters than looters .
The mayor found himself apologizing after police hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rubber bullet Sunday .

Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna, shown in 2014, said in a statement that the images shared by a police officer this week are “not in line with the high standards we hold our officers accountable for.”
The Long Beach Police Department has launched an internal investigation after an officer shared photos on his social media, including one showing him standing over blood with his baton, this week amid days of protests held in the city against the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
According to an email sent Thursday by City Manager Tom Modica, the department became aware of a “social media post an officer had on his Facebook page” that included “a baton and blood on the ground.”
The officer, who was not identified in the document, has been removed from patrol duties pending an internal investigation, according to the letter.
Advertisement
The officer has been identified by BuzzFeed News and in a public social media post by Councilwoman Jeannine Pearce as Jacob Delgado. Pearce posted an image from Delgado’s LinkedIn page that shows he has been a member of the Long Beach Police Department for about two years and previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Another photo, obtained by BuzzFeed News, that Delgado shared on his Instagram account shows him sitting in what appears to be a police car with two other officers flashing the shaka sign. “Back up, on the way,” he wrote on the image.
Delgado’s sibling, according to BuzzFeed News, also shared the photo of his brother standing over blood on his personal Instagram account, writing “Bro getting his.”
Delgado and his sibling have since deleted their social media accounts.
“And just like that, they show us who they are. I am pissed. I am heartbroken and I will not settle for this. Clearly, our city has failed you,” Pearce wrote on Facebook.
Pearce said in a statement that the incident was a clear example why the city needs to overhaul its policing model and encouraged people to share photos and videos of actions taken by any of their city employees.
Ivan Garcia, a Police Department public information officer, said disciplinary action will be taken, if necessary, after the investigation is completed. The department’s social media policy requires officers to use appropriate discretion when posting photographs or speech that may jeopardize investigations or discredit the department, he added.
Advertisement
“The images depicted here are very disturbing and are not in line with the high standards we hold our officers accountable for,” Police Chief Robert Luna said in a statement. “We will continue to work on rebuilding our public trust and we ask that the actions of one don’t deter you from the great things we do every day to keep our community safe.”
Long Beach police arrested about 75 people Sunday after what started as a peaceful protest staged by thousands outside the Police Department’s downtown headquarters devolved into looting and destruction outside the Pike Outlets. Mayor Robert Garcia said most of those arrests were for curfew violations, rather than looting, but police have promised to use social media posts, news footage and other recordings to identify and capture looters in the days ahead.
Mayor Garcia and Luna also faced questions about the way officers used force to break up unruly protests Sunday, and why police seemed more focused on arresting peaceful protesters than looters. The mayor found himself apologizing after police hit a journalist in the throat with a rubber bullet Sunday.


latimes--2020-06-04--Bernie Sanders endorses former San Francisco prosecutor George Gascón for Los Angeles D.A.

Former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders threw his support Thursday behind former San Francisco Dist .
Atty .
George Gascón in his bid to unseat Jackie Lacey as Los Angeles County ’ s top prosecutor .
The Vermont senator said on Twitter he was endorsing a slate of 10 progressive prosecutors in elections across the country following the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police , which has sparked nationwide protests and calls for criminal justice reform .
“ Los Angeles is home to the largest criminal justice jurisdiction and jail in the nation .
George is facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incumbent who has been criticized by Black Lives Matter and the ACLU for failing to hold officers accountable for excessive use of force , ” Sanders said in a statement .
The November runoff between Gascón and Lacey had already been framed as a battle between progressive and traditional approaches to criminal justice reform , a split now crystallized by Floyd ’ s killing and the nationwide unrest that has followed .
Lacey , a career prosecutor who has been in office since 2012 , has long been a target of Southern California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to charge police officers in controversial use-of-force cases .
While Gascón did not charge any police officers in fatal uses of force during his two terms in office in San Francisco , the former Los Angeles police officer is seen as the reform candidate .
A co-author of Proposition 47 , which reduced violations for some low-level felonies to misdemeanors , Gascón has also championed ending cash bail and expunged thousands of marijuana convictions in the Bay Area during his time in office .
Property crime increases in San Francisco under Gascón ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some to wonder if his election would damage public safety in Southern California .
Lacey has instituted a number of diversionary programs meant to aid mentally ill and homeless defendants and is supported by law enforcement officials and police unions in Southern California , though violent crime has also increased significantly here during her time in office .
She is also backed by many prominent public figures , including Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Sen. Dianne Feinstein .
Lacey was forced into a runoff with Gascón after a primary that also featured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political consultants believe Rossi gained a bump in the polls from energized Sanders voters in March , so his endorsement could carry added significance for Gascón , who needs to capture Rossi ’ s substantial voter base if he is to unseat Lacey in November .

Former San Francisco Dist. Atty. George Gascón received an endorsement from Sen. Bernie Sanders as he tries to unseat Jackie Lacey as Los Angeles’ top prosecutor.
Former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders threw his support Thursday behind former San Francisco Dist. Atty. George Gascón in his bid to unseat Jackie Lacey as Los Angeles County’s top prosecutor.
The Vermont senator said on Twitter he was endorsing a slate of 10 progressive prosecutors in elections across the country following the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, which has sparked nationwide protests and calls for criminal justice reform.
“Los Angeles is home to the largest criminal justice jurisdiction and jail in the nation. George is facing a two-term ‘tough on crime’ incumbent who has been criticized by Black Lives Matter and the ACLU for failing to hold officers accountable for excessive use of force,” Sanders said in a statement.
Advertisement
The November runoff between Gascón and Lacey had already been framed as a battle between progressive and traditional approaches to criminal justice reform, a split now crystallized by Floyd’s killing and the nationwide unrest that has followed.
Lacey, a career prosecutor who has been in office since 2012, has long been a target of Southern California criminal justice activists for her perceived reluctance to charge police officers in controversial use-of-force cases.
While Gascón did not charge any police officers in fatal uses of force during his two terms in office in San Francisco, the former Los Angeles police officer is seen as the reform candidate. A co-author of Proposition 47, which reduced violations for some low-level felonies to misdemeanors, Gascón has also championed ending cash bail and expunged thousands of marijuana convictions in the Bay Area during his time in office.
Property crime increases in San Francisco under Gascón’s tenure, however, have caused some to wonder if his election would damage public safety in Southern California.
Lacey has instituted a number of diversionary programs meant to aid mentally ill and homeless defendants and is supported by law enforcement officials and police unions in Southern California, though violent crime has also increased significantly here during her time in office. She is also backed by many prominent public figures, including Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
Lacey was forced into a runoff with Gascón after a primary that also featured former public defender Rachel Rossi. Some political consultants believe Rossi gained a bump in the polls from energized Sanders voters in March, so his endorsement could carry added significance for Gascón, who needs to capture Rossi’s substantial voter base if he is to unseat Lacey in November.


latimes--2020-06-03--Man shot dead by Vallejo officer had a hammer but no gun

When a Vallejo police officer shot a looting suspect to death shortly after midnight Tuesday , the city was engulfed in chaos .
Sean Monterrosa , 22 , who lived in South San Francisco , was killed outside a Walgreens store where officers were responding to reports of looting in Vallejo , a racially diverse city of 121,000 northeast of San Francisco in Solano County Brittany Jackson , a spokeswoman for Vallejo police , described the turmoil on Monday night and Tuesday morning as “ horrible.
” Calls were coming in about looting around the city , she said Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the looters were coordinating the “ attack ” on social media .
John Burris , a civil rights lawyer representing Monterrosa ’ s family , agreed that Vallejo was being “ ravaged ” that night .
On Thursday , Vallejo police continued to refuse to reveal the name of the officer who shot Monterrosa after allegedly mistaking a hammer in the man ’ s pocket for a gun .
The department did not report that Monterrosa had died until more than 24 hours after the shooting , and a state assemblyman has called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the officer was on paid administrative leave and would be identified eventually .
She said she did not know why the name had not yet been released .
The officer has been identified only as an 18-year veteran of the department .
The city was calm on Thursday .
Some people in the parking lot of the Walgreens where the shooting occurred said they had been unaware of it .
Police said they first responded to a call about the Walgreens store at 10:17 p.m. Monday .
It was after a second call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monterrosa died .
The first officers on the scene were in a police cruiser .
They said they saw about a dozen suspected looters jump into a silver pickup and a black sedan in the parking lot .
The truck sped away .
Before fleeing , the driver of the sedan rammed into the cruiser , causing the airbag to deploy and injuring an officer , police said .
Two other uniformed officers in an unmarked car pulled in and saw Monterrosa , dressed in a black hooded sweatshirt , first run toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knee .
Police said the officer who shot Monterrosa saw his hands moving toward his waist near what appeared to be the butt of a handgun .
The officer fired five shots through the windshield of the unmarked car at Monterrosa , who died later at a hospital .
He had no gun ; tucked into the pocket of his sweatshirt was a 15-inch hammer , police said .
Suspects in the silver truck that fled the scene were later apprehended .
The black sedan was not found .
He had been left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Burris said , adding , “ He immediately dropped to his knees , and it looks like he was in the process of putting up his hands.
” Police may have perceived a threat , but Monterrosa “ didn ’ t do anything with the hammer , ” Burris said .
“ He didn ’ t reach for it .
He didn ’ t pull it out .
... Our view is they never gave the boy a chance .
He was trying to surrender.
” “ It ’ s a pretty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The officer ’ s life was not in danger.
” Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams said at a news conference Wednesday that some elite officers are trained to shoot through windshields , a practice permitted under department policy .
Burris , who plans to file a civil rights lawsuit against the Vallejo police , said Monterrosa ’ s family was distraught and “ horrified.
” When Burris called them to discuss the case , “ the mother cried and cried and cried , ” he said .
The family has set up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ middle child of three children born to immigrants from Argentina .
His father worked as a physician in Argentina and now works in a factory , Burris said .
His mother , who was a dancer in Argentina , is now a child-care worker .
His older sister , 24 , graduated from college , and his younger sister , 20 , is still in college , Burris said .
Monterrosa had been working as a cement mason , Burris said .
“ He was very good with his hands , a fix-it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ When he was 13 or 14 , he had a hot dog stand , helping the family make money.
” Burris said he could not find any evidence that Monterrosa was convicted of any crime , though one of his sisters said he was once arrested for a marijuana offense .
Vallejo police said Monterrosa had a police record that included shoplifting , petty theft , illegal weapons violations , assault with a deadly weapon , shooting into an inhabited dwelling , carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle , possession @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Burris has sued Vallejo and other cities several times over police shootings .
“ That department is out of control , ” he said .
Williams said the Police Department did not purposefully delay reporting the man ’ s killing out of fear of violent protests .
Monday had just been a “ horrific night ” for the department , he said , calling it an “ orchestrated , organized assault on our city.
” Asked several times at the news conference whether the officer had used excessive force , Williams declined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ will make the ultimate finding if the force was legal.
” The shooting is being investigated by both the Vallejo Police Department and the Solano County district attorney .
The National Guard was deployed Tuesday in Vallejo .
A protest on Wednesday was peaceful .
Assemblyman Tim Grayson ( D-Concord ) was upset that Vallejo waited so long to report that Monterrosa had died .
“ Regardless of circumstances , it is absolutely unacceptable that the public was forced to wait for over 24 hours to learn of the conditions of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
He called for an independent investigation in the shooting by the California attorney general or a federal agency .
“ The family of Sean Monterrosa and our community in Vallejo deserve to have clear information about the events that occurred and the response from the Vallejo Police Department , ” Grayson said .

A sign alerting customers to a closed Walgreens store is seen Wednesday in Vallejo, Calif. A person was shot by police when people began breaking into stores late Monday.
When a Vallejo police officer shot a looting suspect to death shortly after midnight Tuesday, the city was engulfed in chaos.
Sean Monterrosa, 22, who lived in South San Francisco, was killed outside a Walgreens store where officers were responding to reports of looting in Vallejo, a racially diverse city of 121,000 northeast of San Francisco in Solano County
Brittany Jackson, a spokeswoman for Vallejo police, described the turmoil on Monday night and Tuesday morning as “horrible.” Calls were coming in about looting around the city, she said Thursday, and the department had intelligence that the looters were coordinating the “attack” on social media.
John Burris, a civil rights lawyer representing Monterrosa’s family, agreed that Vallejo was being “ravaged” that night.
On Thursday, Vallejo police continued to refuse to reveal the name of the officer who shot Monterrosa after allegedly mistaking a hammer in the man’s pocket for a gun. The department did not report that Monterrosa had died until more than 24 hours after the shooting, and a state assemblyman has called for an independent investigation.
Advertisement
Jackson said the officer was on paid administrative leave and would be identified eventually. She said she did not know why the name had not yet been released. The officer has been identified only as an 18-year veteran of the department.
The city was calm on Thursday. Some people in the parking lot of the Walgreens where the shooting occurred said they had been unaware of it.
Police said they first responded to a call about the Walgreens store at 10:17 p.m. Monday. It was after a second call about the store at 12:15 a.m. that Monterrosa died.
The first officers on the scene were in a police cruiser. They said they saw about a dozen suspected looters jump into a silver pickup and a black sedan in the parking lot. The truck sped away. Before fleeing, the driver of the sedan rammed into the cruiser, causing the airbag to deploy and injuring an officer, police said.
Two other uniformed officers in an unmarked car pulled in and saw Monterrosa, dressed in a black hooded sweatshirt, first run toward the sedan and then drop to his knee. Police said the officer who shot Monterrosa saw his hands moving toward his waist near what appeared to be the butt of a handgun.
The officer fired five shots through the windshield of the unmarked car at Monterrosa, who died later at a hospital. He had no gun; tucked into the pocket of his sweatshirt was a 15-inch hammer, police said.
Suspects in the silver truck that fled the scene were later apprehended. The black sedan was not found.
Advertisement
Burris disputed that Monterrosa posed a threat.
He had been left behind when the two vehicles sped away, Burris said, adding, “He immediately dropped to his knees, and it looks like he was in the process of putting up his hands.”
Police may have perceived a threat, but Monterrosa “didn’t do anything with the hammer,” Burris said. “He didn’t reach for it. He didn’t pull it out. ... Our view is they never gave the boy a chance. He was trying to surrender.”
“It’s a pretty outrageous shooting,” Burris said. “The officer’s life was not in danger.”
Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams said at a news conference Wednesday that some elite officers are trained to shoot through windshields, a practice permitted under department policy.
Burris, who plans to file a civil rights lawsuit against the Vallejo police, said Monterrosa’s family was distraught and “horrified.” When Burris called them to discuss the case, “the mother cried and cried and cried,” he said. The family has set up a GoFundMe page.
Monterrosa was the middle child of three children born to immigrants from Argentina. His father worked as a physician in Argentina and now works in a factory, Burris said. His mother, who was a dancer in Argentina, is now a child-care worker. His older sister, 24, graduated from college, and his younger sister, 20, is still in college, Burris said.
Monterrosa had been working as a cement mason, Burris said.
“He was very good with his hands, a fix-it kind of guy,” he said. “When he was 13 or 14, he had a hot dog stand, helping the family make money.”
Burris said he could not find any evidence that Monterrosa was convicted of any crime, though one of his sisters said he was once arrested for a marijuana offense.
Vallejo police said Monterrosa had a police record that included shoplifting, petty theft, illegal weapons violations, assault with a deadly weapon, shooting into an inhabited dwelling, carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle, possession of narcotics for sale and attempted murder.
Burris has sued Vallejo and other cities several times over police shootings. “That department is out of control,” he said.
Williams said the Police Department did not purposefully delay reporting the man’s killing out of fear of violent protests. Monday had just been a “horrific night” for the department, he said, calling it an “orchestrated, organized assault on our city.”
Asked several times at the news conference whether the officer had used excessive force, Williams declined to answer, saying the district attorney “will make the ultimate finding if the force was legal.”
The shooting is being investigated by both the Vallejo Police Department and the Solano County district attorney.
The National Guard was deployed Tuesday in Vallejo. A protest on Wednesday was peaceful.
Assemblyman Tim Grayson (D-Concord) was upset that Vallejo waited so long to report that Monterrosa had died.
“Regardless of circumstances, it is absolutely unacceptable that the public was forced to wait for over 24 hours to learn of the conditions of those involved in the shooting,” Grayson said.
He called for an independent investigation in the shooting by the California attorney general or a federal agency.
“The family of Sean Monterrosa and our community in Vallejo deserve to have clear information about the events that occurred and the response from the Vallejo Police Department,” Grayson said.


latimes--2020-06-05--LAPD chief expresses concern over videos of police violence during protests as calls mount for inves

LAPD chief expresses concern over videos of police violence during protests as calls mount for investigation

Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore expressed concern Friday about a rash of videos that appear to show officers using batons and other force against unarmed protesters in the last week , as a congressman called for an investigation into how the LAPD handled a demonstration that erupted into violence and looting in the Fairfax district .
Though he contended that violent individuals have “ intermixed ” with peaceful protesters at some scenes , Moore conceded that footage of officers swinging at people with batons and firing foam rounds has given him pause .
“ We ’ re investigating each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video reports as an independent investigation , ” the chief said during a Friday appearance on KPCC .
“ I don ’ t have all the facts and circumstances behind each of those depictions , and watching those videos does give me concern in instances of understanding why baton strikes or violence , in the sense of the use of … less-lethal munition was used.
” Moore ’ s comments came as criticism of the LAPD ’ s response to a week of citywide unrest continued to mount .
While the department has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Fairfax and Van Nuys , troubling videos of officers using force against seemingly unarmed , peaceful protesters at other times have drawn strong rebukes from a growing chorus of voices .
Two members of the City Council and Police Commission President Eileen Decker have called for the Los Angeles Police Department to conduct a review of the way officers used force during the protests .
Moore said he will commission an “ extensive after-action report ” to evaluate the agency ’ s performance over the last week .
Mayor Eric Garcetti also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cut as much as $ 150 million from the department ’ s budget in response to long-standing criticisms from activists that the city spends entirely too much on law enforcement .
That figure represents only a fraction of the department ’ s full $ 1.8-billion operating budget .
On Friday , U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu ( D-Torrance ) wrote a letter to Decker calling for the civilian commission to investigate how the department responded to demonstrations in the Fairfax district Saturday .
While the area saw significant looting and police cars being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emerged showing officers striking unarmed protesters with batons .
A reporter for L.A. Taco also said he was attacked with a baton without provocation , despite declaring himself a member of the press .
“ Folks who loot or commit arson or assault police officers are committing crimes and that can not be condoned or tolerated .
At the same time , you can ’ t attribute what some folks did on one day , and then deal with peaceful protesters on a different day and hit them with batons , ” Lieu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different set of people , so it ’ s not a justification to say just because some people did some looting , therefore we ’ re going to treat all protesters the same.
” Asked about the use of batons or foam rounds to break up demonstrations , Moore said officers could be justified in using such force if an unlawful assembly is declared because of violence , attacks on officers or destruction of property .
But he said the key was the “ proportionality ” of force used and acknowledged at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involvement to stop officers from being violent .
“ Officers were taking rocks , bottles , other projectiles [ and ] sustaining injuries from members within a very large crowd .
And that crowd , it was the determination of on-scene commanders that it was an unlawful assembly , and that that crowd needed to disperse , ” he said .
“ And what I witnessed was officers resorting to force , including baton strikes to achieve that , and I went personally to the scene and took actions to stop that action.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s actions last weekend continued to surface .
Brooke Fortson , a 29-year-old woman who said she was peacefully protesting when an LAPD cruiser slammed into her in Pershing Square on Sunday , has filed notice that she plans to sue the city over the incident .
Television footage showed an LAPD vehicle driving toward a crowd of protesters near 5th and Hill streets Sunday afternoon .
After briefly stopping as protesters tried to get around the car , the car speeds forward , striking at least one person .
Fortson told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body after the car struck her in the side .
The LAPD has said protesters were attacking the vehicle , which was responding to a report of a robbery , but television footage does not appear to show that .
Fortson also denied that claim .
“ My experience of what happened was , after I was hit , I jumped away and I remember hands pulling me toward the curb and asking me if I was OK .
I remember hearing someone yell this is a peaceful protest , everybody kneel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
“ Largely , the vast majority of people stayed and remained peaceful and de-escalated the situation that the cop caused .
”

LAPD Chief Michel Moore has said he is concerned by footage of officers using force against protesters during a week of demonstrations following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore expressed concern Friday about a rash of videos that appear to show officers using batons and other force against unarmed protesters in the last week, as a congressman called for an investigation into how the LAPD handled a demonstration that erupted into violence and looting in the Fairfax district.
Though he contended that violent individuals have “intermixed” with peaceful protesters at some scenes, Moore conceded that footage of officers swinging at people with batons and firing foam rounds has given him pause.
“We’re investigating each of those instances … each of those video reports as an independent investigation,” the chief said during a Friday appearance on KPCC. “I don’t have all the facts and circumstances behind each of those depictions, and watching those videos does give me concern in instances of understanding why baton strikes or violence, in the sense of the use of … less-lethal munition was used.”
Moore’s comments came as criticism of the LAPD’s response to a week of citywide unrest continued to mount. While the department has had to contend with looting in downtown, Fairfax and Van Nuys, troubling videos of officers using force against seemingly unarmed, peaceful protesters at other times have drawn strong rebukes from a growing chorus of voices.
Two members of the City Council and Police Commission President Eileen Decker have called for the Los Angeles Police Department to conduct a review of the way officers used force during the protests. Moore said he will commission an “extensive after-action report” to evaluate the agency’s performance over the last week.
Mayor Eric Garcetti also said this week that he would look to cut as much as $150 million from the department’s budget in response to long-standing criticisms from activists that the city spends entirely too much on law enforcement. That figure represents only a fraction of the department’s full $1.8-billion operating budget.
On Friday, U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) wrote a letter to Decker calling for the civilian commission to investigate how the department responded to demonstrations in the Fairfax district Saturday.
While the area saw significant looting and police cars being set on fire, footage has also emerged showing officers striking unarmed protesters with batons. A reporter for L.A. Taco also said he was attacked with a baton without provocation, despite declaring himself a member of the press.
“Folks who loot or commit arson or assault police officers are committing crimes and that cannot be condoned or tolerated. At the same time, you can’t attribute what some folks did on one day, and then deal with peaceful protesters on a different day and hit them with batons,” Lieu said Friday. “They are a different set of people, so it’s not a justification to say just because some people did some looting, therefore we’re going to treat all protesters the same.”
Advertisement
Asked about the use of batons or foam rounds to break up demonstrations, Moore said officers could be justified in using such force if an unlawful assembly is declared because of violence, attacks on officers or destruction of property. But he said the key was the “proportionality” of force used and acknowledged at least one incident from last weekend required his involvement to stop officers from being violent.
“Officers were taking rocks, bottles, other projectiles [and] sustaining injuries from members within a very large crowd. And that crowd, it was the determination of on-scene commanders that it was an unlawful assembly, and that that crowd needed to disperse,” he said. “And what I witnessed was officers resorting to force, including baton strikes to achieve that, and I went personally to the scene and took actions to stop that action.”
Still, consequences from the department’s actions last weekend continued to surface. Brooke Fortson, a 29-year-old woman who said she was peacefully protesting when an LAPD cruiser slammed into her in Pershing Square on Sunday, has filed notice that she plans to sue the city over the incident.
Television footage showed an LAPD vehicle driving toward a crowd of protesters near 5th and Hill streets Sunday afternoon. After briefly stopping as protesters tried to get around the car, the car speeds forward, striking at least one person.
Fortson told The Times she suffered bruises across her body after the car struck her in the side. The LAPD has said protesters were attacking the vehicle, which was responding to a report of a robbery, but television footage does not appear to show that. Fortson also denied that claim.
Advertisement
“My experience of what happened was, after I was hit, I jumped away and I remember hands pulling me toward the curb and asking me if I was OK. I remember hearing someone yell this is a peaceful protest, everybody kneel, and everybody on the steps kneeled down,” she said. “Largely, the vast majority of people stayed and remained peaceful and de-escalated the situation that the cop caused.”


latimes--2020-06-05--Fearing protests could spread virus, San Francisco has set up a pop-up testing site

San Francisco city officials on Friday established a free , pop-up coronavirus testing clinic for people protesting for racial equality in aftermath of George Floyd ’ s death .
Across the country , massive protests have sparked fears of a with thousands of demonstrators crowding close together , yelling and holding hands , potentially spreading the virus .
“ I think there is a concern around the possibility that the virus would increase as a result of the protests , ” said Grant Colfax , the city ’ s public health officer , at a virtual news conference .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worried they may have contracted the virus at the mass demonstrations this last week — even if they have no symptoms .
“ I certainly understand and support the right of people to protest , ” said Colfax , adding that most of the people he saw demonstrating seemed to be wearing masks and keeping their distance from one another .
“ So , hopefully we will not see a surge in cases as a result of what ’ s happened , ” he said .
Nevertheless , the pop-up site will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is at St. Mary ’ s Cathedral , 1111 Gough St. , northwest of City Hall , where several of the protests have taken place .
The new pop-up clinic comes as local governments across California decided to close testing sites amid protests that sometimes turned violent in the wake of Floyd ’ s death at the hands of Minneapolis police .
Los Angles was one county that closed testing sites , limiting the county ’ s ability to track the spread of COVID-19 .
Since Saturday , half of the approximately 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been shut down at some point , The Times reported Friday .
As of Thursday , eight were still closed , but Friday the county reported that all had reopened .
There were no immediate reports of new pop-up clinics in Southern California aimed at encouraging protesters to get tested .
In San Francisco , Colfax also provided guidelines for those people who are beginning to venture out of their homes to see friends and family , although , he warned , the safest thing still is to stay home .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to meet with one another outdoors , wear masks , keep six feet apart , wash their hands frequently and — most importantly — stay home if they are not feeling well .
“ That ’ s really a great risk to the people you ’ d be engaging with , ” Colfax said .
To date , San Francisco had recorded 2,698 coronavirus cases , including 54 new ones Friday .
A reported 43 people in the city have died of COVID-19 .

A healthcare worker collects a nasal swab from a man attending an event in Montclair in San Bernardino County. San Francisco on Friday announced it has created a pop-up testing site for protesters to be screened.
San Francisco city officials on Friday established a free, pop-up coronavirus testing clinic for people protesting for racial equality in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death.
Across the country, massive protests have sparked fears of a second wave of coronavirus cases with thousands of demonstrators crowding close together, yelling and holding hands, potentially spreading the virus.
“I think there is a concern around the possibility that the virus would increase as a result of the protests,” said Grant Colfax, the city’s public health officer, at a virtual news conference.
The clinic is free for people who are worried they may have contracted the virus at the mass demonstrations this last week — even if they have no symptoms.
“I certainly understand and support the right of people to protest,” said Colfax, adding that most of the people he saw demonstrating seemed to be wearing masks and keeping their distance from one another.
Advertisement
California L.A. coronavirus test sites were closed during the protests. That has experts worried L.A. County closed several testing sites or limited their hours amid protests, prompting concern that the move could could abet a second wave of coronavirus cases. Garcetti says all sites in the city will reopen Friday.
“So, hopefully we will not see a surge in cases as a result of what’s happened,” he said.
Nevertheless, the pop-up site will be open every day until Tuesday. It is at St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1111 Gough St., northwest of City Hall, where several of the protests have taken place.
The new pop-up clinic comes as local governments across California decided to close testing sites amid protests that sometimes turned violent in the wake of Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police. Los Angles was one county that closed testing sites, limiting the county’s ability to track the spread of COVID-19.
Since Saturday, half of the approximately 40 government-run testing sites throughout the county had been shut down at some point, The Times reported Friday. As of Thursday, eight were still closed, but Friday the county reported that all had reopened.
There were no immediate reports of new pop-up clinics in Southern California aimed at encouraging protesters to get tested.
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
In San Francisco, Colfax also provided guidelines for those people who are beginning to venture out of their homes to see friends and family, although, he warned, the safest thing still is to stay home.
However, if socialization is desired, people should try to meet with one another outdoors, wear masks, keep six feet apart, wash their hands frequently and — most importantly — stay home if they are not feeling well.
“That’s really a great risk to the people you’d be engaging with,” Colfax said.
To date, San Francisco had recorded 2,698 coronavirus cases, including 54 new ones Friday. A reported 43 people in the city have died of COVID-19.
Times staff writer Hailey Branson Potts contributed to this story.


latimes--2020-06-05--Santa Monica mayor and police chief face anger from protesters: 'You called in the National Guard!'

A Friday afternoon protest at Santa Monica City Hall turned into a raucous Q & A between peaceful protesters and the city police chief , interim city manager and mayor .
Mayor Kevin McKeown and interim City Manager Lane Dilg attempted to address protesters and were met with questions about the use of tear gas on demonstrators last Sunday in Santa Monica and calls to cut the city ’ s police budget .
“ We will look at the actions of Sunday ; we will determine what we can do to keep our community safe and facilitate peaceful protest , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the National Guard !
” one protester shouted .
Another asked why the streets were shut down .
“ Hey people , do you want to hear the answers ?
” McKeown asked .
Police Chief Cynthia Renaud said the list of names of people who died at the hands of police doesn ’ t seem to end , but they stop in Santa Monica .
“ I believe in the peace ; I believe in the community I serve , ” she said .
Then she , the mayor and others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters .
Some in the crowd decried the moment as a photo op .
One protester said if Renaud couldn ’ t admit that violence was used against nonviolent protesters then she should resign .
Dilg encouraged people to send comments to a Tuesday council meeting and to vote .
“ We are with you ; we welcome you to Santa Monica , ” she said , to boos .
A young passerby , Chanel Nicole Miller , 19 , assumed the role of emcee during the heated exchange between demonstrators and officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to work as a line cook when she stopped by the demonstration .
She said she stepped forward when she heard officials talking .
“ When the mayor got up there and started cursing , getting red , yelling , showing his ignorance and pain that he didn ’ t know how to express , I felt like I had to say something , ” she said .
Miller stood up and described her experience as a resident of the city and the discrimination she has faced as a black woman .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted her to speak up .
“ I had to do my duty to help facilitate for our people , ” she said .
Miller criticized officials for failing to answer questions or acknowledging that the city used excessive force against protesters last Sunday .
“ They don ’ t want to answer the tough questions ; they don ’ t want to battle the hardships that we go through every single day , ” she said .
Miller said she believes the best way for people to be heard is through policies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the protest was a significant moment for her .
“ We can yell , we can express our anger , we can loot , we can vandalize ... but that would leave us without a city , police that don ’ t like us and our voices going unheard , ” she said .
“ Being that voice for the people , it definitely was a wake-up call .
This is what I need to do.
” Madison Garrett , 21 , a college student , arrived early for her third protest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media said the event was organized by alumni of Santa Monica High School , from which she graduated in 2017 .
Garrett said the recent protests have shown people doing what they need to do to be heard .
“ Basically , we ’ ve been going through this for hundreds of years , systematic oppression , and once it gets to a boiling point of being unheard , silence doesn ’ t work anymore , ” she said .
She criticized media coverage that she said has focused on rioting and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showing the police gassing innocent people , ” she said .
“ They ’ re not showing you the singing and dancing on the street.
” Garrett said there has been a sense of camaraderie among protesters .
She has offered to give people rides home and seen people handing out water and snacks .
Garrett said it ’ s hard to maintain social distance at a protest , and that is “ definitely at the back of my mind.
” But she ’ s trying to be safe — she was wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t breathe ” written in black marker — and protesting is worth breaking quarantine .
“ I saw someone else say that you ’ re either going to get killed by a police officer or you ’ re going to get killed by COVID , and it ’ s your decision to make which one you choose , ” she said .

A Friday afternoon protest at Santa Monica City Hall turned into a raucous Q&A between peaceful protesters and the city police chief, interim city manager and mayor.
Mayor Kevin McKeown and interim City Manager Lane Dilg attempted to address protesters and were met with questions about the use of tear gas on demonstrators last Sunday in Santa Monica and calls to cut the city’s police budget.
“We will look at the actions of Sunday; we will determine what we can do to keep our community safe and facilitate peaceful protest,” Dilg said.
Advertisement
“You called in the National Guard!” one protester shouted.
Another asked why the streets were shut down.
“Hey people, do you want to hear the answers?” McKeown asked.
Police Chief Cynthia Renaud said the list of names of people who died at the hands of police doesn’t seem to end, but they stop in Santa Monica.
“I believe in the peace; I believe in the community I serve,” she said.
Then she, the mayor and others took a knee in solidarity with the protesters. Some in the crowd decried the moment as a photo op. One protester said if Renaud couldn’t admit that violence was used against nonviolent protesters then she should resign.
Dilg encouraged people to send comments to a Tuesday council meeting and to vote.
“We are with you; we welcome you to Santa Monica,” she said, to boos.
A young passerby, Chanel Nicole Miller, 19, assumed the role of emcee during the heated exchange between demonstrators and officials. Miller said she was on her way to work as a line cook when she stopped by the demonstration. She said she stepped forward when she heard officials talking.
Advertisement
“When the mayor got up there and started cursing, getting red, yelling, showing his ignorance and pain that he didn’t know how to express, I felt like I had to say something,” she said.
Miller stood up and described her experience as a resident of the city and the discrimination she has faced as a black woman. She said she felt like the crowd wanted her to speak up.
“I had to do my duty to help facilitate for our people,” she said.
Miller criticized officials for failing to answer questions or acknowledging that the city used excessive force against protesters last Sunday.
“They don’t want to answer the tough questions; they don’t want to battle the hardships that we go through every single day,” she said.
Miller said she believes the best way for people to be heard is through policies and voting. Miller said her experience at the protest was a significant moment for her.
“We can yell, we can express our anger, we can loot, we can vandalize ... but that would leave us without a city, police that don’t like us and our voices going unheard,” she said. “Being that voice for the people, it definitely was a wake-up call. This is what I need to do.”
Other demonstrators voiced similar thoughts.
Madison Garrett, 21, a college student, arrived early for her third protest this week. A post circulating on social media said the event was organized by alumni of Santa Monica High School, from which she graduated in 2017.
Garrett said the recent protests have shown people doing what they need to do to be heard.
“Basically, we’ve been going through this for hundreds of years, systematic oppression, and once it gets to a boiling point of being unheard, silence doesn’t work anymore,” she said.
She criticized media coverage that she said has focused on rioting and looting. “They’re not showing the police gassing innocent people,” she said. “They’re not showing you the singing and dancing on the street.”
Garrett said there has been a sense of camaraderie among protesters. She has offered to give people rides home and seen people handing out water and snacks. Garrett said it’s hard to maintain social distance at a protest, and that is “definitely at the back of my mind.” But she’s trying to be safe — she was wearing a surgical mask with “I can’t breathe” written in black marker — and protesting is worth breaking quarantine.
“I saw someone else say that you’re either going to get killed by a police officer or you’re going to get killed by COVID, and it’s your decision to make which one you choose,” she said.


latimes--2020-06-05--There's a black jobs crisis. Coronavirus is making it worse

After weeks of catastrophic job loss across the country , May ’ s labor report held out a glimmer of hope : The nation ’ s overall unemployment rate ticked down to 13.3 % , from 14.2 % in April .
But for black Americans it was more bad news : A staggering 16.8 % of the African American labor force was out of work , up a notch from 16.7 % in April .
In California and nationwide , the coronavirus shutdown is widening the racial divide between haves and have-nots .
And the pandemic-driven economic meltdown has helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deep sense of injustice as uprisings over police brutality spread across the country this week .
Minneapolis is some 1,500 miles from Los Angeles , but protests across California over the killing of yet another unarmed black man erupted with equal ferocity .
Beneath the fury over George Floyd ’ s death lie longstanding economic inequities that have plagued the 2.6 million African Americans who account for 6.5 % of California ’ s population .
“ Nearly half the black community has had either no job or a poverty , dead-end job that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing and food , ” said Lola Smallwood Cuevas , the founder of the Black Worker Center in South Los Angeles .
“ The financial instability has been tearing at the social fabric of black communities , ” she said .
“ It is fueling a lot of what we are seeing in this recent uprising .
Many black residents have to stitch together two or three jobs to survive.
” Three years ago , Cuevas helped research a UCLA Labor Center study on conditions in Los Angeles ’ black neighborhoods .
Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less were twice as likely to be unemployed as whites with the same education , the report found .
It highlighted the decline of stable , well-paid blue-collar jobs in Los Angeles ’ black neighborhoods as industries moved to the suburbs , to Southern states with lower wages and fewer unions or to other nations .
Between 1980 and 2014 , the percentage of L.A. County ’ s black workers in manufacturing jobs shrank from 19 % to 5 % .
“ As a result of widening inequality , rising housing costs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Los Angeles is in the throes of a black jobs crisis , ” the researchers wrote .
The remaining jobs “ declined in quality , and as black employment cratered , these communities — especially their men — were increasingly criminalized and ensnared in California ’ s historic expansion of incarceration.
” In 2017 , the California Poverty Measure , which accounts for cost of living , found 17.6 % of black Californians living in poverty , compared with 12.5 % of white residents , 16.4 % of Asians and Pacific Islanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now the coronavirus is disproportionately affecting California ’ s African Americans .
Since COVID-19 began claiming lives , black Americans have died at twice the rate of white ones .
In Los Angeles County , African Americans have suffered 26 deaths per 100,000 residents , compared with 22 for Latinos , 16 for Asian Americans and 13 for whites .
“ At no time in recent history have deep racial disparities in well-being appeared as obvious as they do today , ” the Public Policy Institute of California wrote in a post this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to medical care and insurance , and more exposure to the virus due to employment and housing conditions contributed to the higher toll of the pandemic on African Americans , researchers found .
State-level job data by race won ’ t be compiled for months , but an analysis of Californians ’ unemployment benefit claims by the state Employment Development Department and the nonprofit California Policy Lab shows the virus ’ s unequal impact .
From mid-March to mid-May , more than a quarter of California ’ s black workers , along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Asian workers , filed jobless insurance claims .
For whites and Latinos , the proportion was also dire but somewhat less so : 21 % .
On March 23 , Trusion Daniels was laid off from his $ 15-an-hour job as a cook for a KFC outlet at Los Angeles International Airport .
It couldn ’ t have happened at a worse time .
Before the pandemic , the 29-year-old had lined up a job in Las Vegas , where he planned to attend culinary school .
The coronavirus outbreak “ threw a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
He used his last paycheck to help his mother rent a U-Haul and pay for storage when her landlord sold the Hawthorne building where he lived with her and 13 other family members .
After a short hotel stay , the family moved to South Los Angeles , but Daniels “ didn ’ t want to crowd up space , ” he said , so he couch surfs at a friend ’ s .
Unemployment benefits are cushioning the blow , although how long they will last has yet to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Daniels is no stranger to violence .
He recalls watching a video of a friend ’ s nephew who was shot by police as he lay on his stomach .
“ A lot of people are angry and scared , ” he said .
“ I ’ m six-two .
I ’ m a dark-skinned man .
When I walk down the street , I ’ m on guard.
” When he told his family he planned to attend the protests with his younger brother , his mother “ was blowing my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ My grandma was blowing my phone up .
They was , like , ‘ Come back home.
’ ” Nationwide , median income for white households was $ 65,902 in 2018 , compared with $ 41,511 for black households .
In California , the gap was similar : $ 77,904 versus $ 53,565 .
But unemployment and low wages are not the only measures of racial inequity .
From 17th century slavery to 20th century redlining and housing discrimination , black residents have long been thwarted in accumulating wealth , so they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a disaster such as the pandemic hits .
State-level data on assets by race are limited , but nationwide the cumulative effect of inequality and discrimination “ can be traced back to this nation ’ s inception , ” according to a February study by the Brookings Institution , which detailed how inherited wealth has buoyed white families over generations .
At $ 171,000 , the net worth of a typical white family in 2016 was nearly 10 times that of a black family , at $ 17,150 , the study reported .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ net worth declined more for black families ( 44.3 % ) than for white families ( 26.1 % ) .
“ The ratio of white family wealth to black family wealth is higher today than at the start of the century , ” Brookings researchers wrote .
With COVID-19 killing African Americans at a higher rate than other races , attention is increasingly focused on the kinds of jobs they hold .
A UC Berkeley Labor Center study last month analyzed the racial makeup of jobs that California officials designated as essential , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nursing homes , grocery stores , warehouses , meat processing plants , trucking and public transit agencies .
“ Overall , Latinx workers have the highest rate of employment in these jobs ( 55 % ) , followed by black workers ( 48 % ) , ” the report says .
“ As a result , both groups likely face greater risk of exposure to the coronavirus in the workplace than other race/ethnic groups.
” Among white workers , just 35 % held jobs in industries labeled as essential , along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jones , 43 , a full-time medical claims examiner , works a second job on nights and weekends at a South Los Angeles supermarket cleaning carts and bagging groceries for $ 14.45 an hour .
Her store fails to enforce certain safety measures such as requiring six feet of social distancing , she said , and at least one of her co-workers has tested positive for COVID-19 .
“ We ’ re just coming to work trying to do what we have to do to take care of our families , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scared.
” The need to work during the pandemic makes her feel “ as if I ’ m a robot and not a human , ” Jones added .
And the recent curfew worsened her anxiety .
“ You ’ re told if you don ’ t come to work and work your full shift , you won ’ t get paid , ” she said .
Jones ’ s monthly rent is $ 2,240 .
She helps care for an elderly aunt and she has a 19-year-old son in college , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part time .
When her $ 1,200 one-time federal stimulus check arrived , she spent $ 1,186 of it on her water and power bill .
With two jobs , Jones has been unable to attend the protests , “ but I ’ m there in spirit , ” she said .
“ I ’ m the mother of a black child , so it definitely hits home for me.
” In contrast to their 6.5 % proportion of the California population , African Americans account for 12 % of personal care aides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 8 % of food preparation workers , according to the UCLA study — jobs where social distancing is difficult .
Doug Moore , one of California ’ s most prominent black labor leaders , heads the United Domestic Workers , representing 118,000 workers who care for homebound low-income elderly and disabled clients .
“ Our members are disproportionately women of color , ” he said .
“ They are on the front line of this pandemic just like they ’ ve been on the front lines of structural racism , ” Moore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up and wash their hands frequently .
They run errands for their clients and it potentially exposes them to someone carrying the virus.
” The union has scrambled to obtain masks , gloves and sanitizer , but they have often been in short supply , he said .
To Moore , this week ’ s protests are not just about police brutality .
“ We ’ ve had a lot of George Floyds over decades and decades , ” he said .
“ Everyone tells us to forget about slavery , about Jim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the courage to stand up and say enough is enough .
”

Trusion Daniels was laid off in March from his $15-an-hour job as a KFC cook at LAX.
After weeks of catastrophic job loss across the country, May’s labor report held out a glimmer of hope: The nation’s overall unemployment rate ticked down to 13.3%, from 14.2% in April.
But for black Americans it was more bad news: A staggering 16.8% of the African American labor force was out of work, up a notch from 16.7% in April.
In California and nationwide, the coronavirus shutdown is widening the racial divide between haves and have-nots. And the pandemic-driven economic meltdown has helped to inflame the black community’s deep sense of injustice as uprisings over police brutality spread across the country this week.
Advertisement
Minneapolis is some 1,500 miles from Los Angeles, but protests across California over the killing of yet another unarmed black man erupted with equal ferocity. Beneath the fury over George Floyd’s death lie longstanding economic inequities that have plagued the 2.6 million African Americans who account for 6.5% of California’s population.
“Nearly half the black community has had either no job or a poverty, dead-end job that doesn’t pay basic needs of housing and food,” said Lola Smallwood Cuevas, the founder of the Black Worker Center in South Los Angeles.
“The financial instability has been tearing at the social fabric of black communities,” she said. “It is fueling a lot of what we are seeing in this recent uprising. Many black residents have to stitch together two or three jobs to survive.”
Three years ago, Cuevas helped research a UCLA Labor Center study on conditions in Los Angeles’ black neighborhoods. African American workers with a high school degree or less were twice as likely to be unemployed as whites with the same education, the report found.
It highlighted the decline of stable, well-paid blue-collar jobs in Los Angeles’ black neighborhoods as industries moved to the suburbs, to Southern states with lower wages and fewer unions or to other nations. Between 1980 and 2014, the percentage of L.A. County’s black workers in manufacturing jobs shrank from 19% to 5%.
“As a result of widening inequality, rising housing costs, and a glaring lack of economic opportunities, Los Angeles is in the throes of a black jobs crisis,” the researchers wrote. The remaining jobs “declined in quality, and as black employment cratered, these communities — especially their men — were increasingly criminalized and ensnared in California’s historic expansion of incarceration.”
Advertisement
In 2017, the California Poverty Measure, which accounts for cost of living, found 17.6% of black Californians living in poverty, compared with 12.5% of white residents, 16.4% of Asians and Pacific Islanders and 23.6% of Latinos.
Tina Jones, a full-time medical claims examiner, also works nights and weekends at a South Los Angeles supermarket cleaning carts and bagging groceries for $14.45 an hour. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
And now the coronavirus is disproportionately affecting California’s African Americans.
Since COVID-19 began claiming lives, black Americans have died at twice the rate of white ones. In Los Angeles County, African Americans have suffered 26 deaths per 100,000 residents, compared with 22 for Latinos, 16 for Asian Americans and 13 for whites.
“At no time in recent history have deep racial disparities in well-being appeared as obvious as they do today,” the Public Policy Institute of California wrote in a post this week. Underlying health conditions, less access to medical care and insurance, and more exposure to the virus due to employment and housing conditions contributed to the higher toll of the pandemic on African Americans, researchers found.
State-level job data by race won’t be compiled for months, but an analysis of Californians’ unemployment benefit claims by the state Employment Development Department and the nonprofit California Policy Lab shows the virus’s unequal impact.
From mid-March to mid-May, more than a quarter of California’s black workers, along with more than a quarter of its Asian workers, filed jobless insurance claims. For whites and Latinos, the proportion was also dire but somewhat less so: 21%.
On March 23, Trusion Daniels was laid off from his $15-an-hour job as a cook for a KFC outlet at Los Angeles International Airport. It couldn’t have happened at a worse time. Before the pandemic, the 29-year-old had lined up a job in Las Vegas, where he planned to attend culinary school.
The coronavirus outbreak “threw a wrench in our whole plan,” he said.
He used his last paycheck to help his mother rent a U-Haul and pay for storage when her landlord sold the Hawthorne building where he lived with her and 13 other family members.
After a short hotel stay, the family moved to South Los Angeles, but Daniels “didn’t want to crowd up space,” he said, so he couch surfs at a friend’s. Unemployment benefits are cushioning the blow, although how long they will last has yet to be determined as Congress debates future relief.
Daniels is no stranger to violence. He recalls watching a video of a friend’s nephew who was shot by police as he lay on his stomach. “A lot of people are angry and scared,” he said. “I’m six-two. I’m a dark-skinned man. When I walk down the street, I’m on guard.”
When he told his family he planned to attend the protests with his younger brother, his mother “was blowing my phone up,” Daniels said. “My grandma was blowing my phone up. They was, like, ‘Come back home.’”
Nationwide, median income for white households was $65,902 in 2018, compared with $41,511 for black households. In California, the gap was similar: $77,904 versus $53,565.
But unemployment and low wages are not the only measures of racial inequity. From 17th century slavery to 20th century redlining and housing discrimination, black residents have long been thwarted in accumulating wealth, so they have less to fall back on when a disaster such as the pandemic hits.
State-level data on assets by race are limited, but nationwide the cumulative effect of inequality and discrimination “can be traced back to this nation’s inception,” according to a February study by the Brookings Institution, which detailed how inherited wealth has buoyed white families over generations.
At $171,000, the net worth of a typical white family in 2016 was nearly 10 times that of a black family, at $17,150, the study reported. And during the Great Recession, median net worth declined more for black families (44.3%) than for white families (26.1%).
“The ratio of white family wealth to black family wealth is higher today than at the start of the century,” Brookings researchers wrote.
With COVID-19 killing African Americans at a higher rate than other races, attention is increasingly focused on the kinds of jobs they hold.
A UC Berkeley Labor Center study last month analyzed the racial makeup of jobs that California officials designated as essential, including those in hospitals, home care, nursing homes, grocery stores, warehouses, meat processing plants, trucking and public transit agencies.
“Overall, Latinx workers have the highest rate of employment in these jobs (55%), followed by black workers (48%),” the report says. “As a result, both groups likely face greater risk of exposure to the coronavirus in the workplace than other race/ethnic groups.”
Among white workers, just 35% held jobs in industries labeled as essential, along with 37% of Asian workers.
Tina Jones, 43, a full-time medical claims examiner, works a second job on nights and weekends at a South Los Angeles supermarket cleaning carts and bagging groceries for $14.45 an hour.
Her store fails to enforce certain safety measures such as requiring six feet of social distancing, she said, and at least one of her co-workers has tested positive for COVID-19. “We’re just coming to work trying to do what we have to do to take care of our families,” she said. “But we’re scared.”
The need to work during the pandemic makes her feel “as if I’m a robot and not a human,” Jones added. And the recent curfew worsened her anxiety. “You’re told if you don’t come to work and work your full shift, you won’t get paid,” she said.
Jones’s monthly rent is $2,240. She helps care for an elderly aunt and she has a 19-year-old son in college, at Langston University in Oklahoma, who works part time. When her $1,200 one-time federal stimulus check arrived, she spent $1,186 of it on her water and power bill.
With two jobs, Jones has been unable to attend the protests, “but I’m there in spirit,” she said. “I’m the mother of a black child, so it definitely hits home for me.”
In contrast to their 6.5% proportion of the California population, African Americans account for 12% of personal care aides, 9% of laborers and movers and 8% of food preparation workers, according to the UCLA study — jobs where social distancing is difficult.
Doug Moore, one of California’s most prominent black labor leaders, heads the United Domestic Workers, representing 118,000 workers who care for homebound low-income elderly and disabled clients. “Our members are disproportionately women of color,” he said.
“They are on the front line of this pandemic just like they’ve been on the front lines of structural racism,” Moore said. “They have to mask up and wash their hands frequently. They run errands for their clients and it potentially exposes them to someone carrying the virus.”
The union has scrambled to obtain masks, gloves and sanitizer, but they have often been in short supply, he said.
To Moore, this week’s protests are not just about police brutality. “We’ve had a lot of George Floyds over decades and decades,” he said. “Everyone tells us to forget about slavery, about Jim Crow. But we have to have the courage to stand up and say enough is enough.”


latimes--2020-06-05--L.A. police union, angry over Garcetti's 'killers' comment, calls mayor 'unstable'

Officials with the Los Angeles police union assailed Mayor Eric Garcetti on Friday for comments he made describing police officers as “ killers , ” saying LAPD officers have lost confidence in the mayor ’ s ability to lead the city after days of demonstrations over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
At a news briefing , Los Angeles Police Protective League director Jamie McBride accused Garcetti of “ political pandering ” and called him “ unstable.
” “ He smeared every single police officer in Los Angeles and across the nation by calling us killers , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comments came after Garcetti announced this week that he would seek to cut up to $ 150 million from the Los Angeles Police Department and put the money toward funding new youth jobs , health initiatives and “ peace centers ” to heal trauma .
Garcetti ’ s announcement followed days of pressure from activists , labor unions and community groups and nationwide protests against police violence , including a large demonstration outside his home .
Speaking at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Los Angeles on Thursday , Garcetti said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ budget was getting attention from mayors across the country .
“ That ’ s exactly the point , ” Garcetti said .
“ It starts someplace , and we say we are going to be who we want to be , or we ’ re going to continue being the killers that we are.
” Garcetti ’ s office later said his “ killers ” remark referred to police agencies across the country .
Asked about the union leader ’ s remarks on Friday , Garcetti spokesman Alex Comisar forwarded a quote from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email he sent Thursday to all city employees .
“ Our officers put themselves on the line each day to answer calls for help whenever and wherever they ’ re needed , ” Garcetti wrote .
“ I ’ ve met officers everywhere in our city , and I ’ ve seen them do the job selflessly and honorably .
I ’ ve witnessed how they know the neighborhoods , speak the languages , and understand the experiences of the people they serve.
” At the union media briefing , McBride said Garcetti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership.
” “ It ’ s obvious that he now will do anything and say anything to get people to like him , ” McBride said .
He also pointed out that LAPD officers guard the mayor ’ s home .
“ Eric , do you really believe that Los Angeles police officers are killers ?
” McBride said .
“ The same officers that provide you 24-hour security at your residence 365 days a year ?
” “ The same officers that came ... to your political rescue when crime was out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
The same officers you sent to address your failure to get homelessness under control ?
I don ’ t think so , Eric , ” McBride said .
When Garcetti ran for mayor in 2013 , the union pumped about $ 1.5 million into the candidacy of his opponent , then-City Controller Wendy Greuel .
Garcetti and the union patched things up , and by 2016 the mayor was working with the league on a union-backed measure to change the LAPD ’ s disciplinary process .
Last year , Garcetti and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ package of raises and bonuses for officers that is expected to add $ 123 million to the LAPD ’ s budget .

Officials with the Los Angeles police union assailed Mayor Eric Garcetti on Friday for comments he made about cutting the LAPD budget, saying police officers have lost confidence in the mayor’s ability to lead the city after days of demonstrations.
Speaking at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Los Angeles on Thursday, Garcetti said that his proposal to reduce LAPD spending and shift the savings to minority communities was getting attention from mayors across the country.
“That’s exactly the point,” he said. “It starts someplace, and we say we are going to be who we want to be, or we’re going to continue being the killers that we are.”
Advertisement
A Garcetti aide later told The Times that the “killers” remark referred to police agencies across the country.
The following morning, an official with the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents rank-and-file officers, accused the mayor of “political pandering” and called him “unstable.”
“He smeared every single police officer in Los Angeles and across the nation by calling us killers,” said Jamie McBride, a board member with the union.
Hours later, Garcetti said his “killers” remark wasn’t about police officers at all — but was instead a reference to society’s “collective burden” to address high mortality rates among black Angelenos.
“I absolutely did not say that about the league, about police officers,” he said. “And I won’t have those words distorted.”
The back-and-forth between the union and the mayor played out in the wake of Garcetti’s announcement that he would seek to cut up to $150 million from the Los Angeles Police Department and put the money toward funding new youth jobs, health initiatives and “peace centers” to heal trauma.
Advertisement
The move to scale back police spending followed days of pressure from activists, labor unions and community groups and nationwide protests against police violence, including a large demonstration outside his home, over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Union leaders said they were caught off guard by the announcements from Garcetti and council members about new cuts to the LAPD. As recently as last weekend, Garcetti gave no hint that he would consider decreasing funding when asked about the size of the police force.
McBride said his union is “honestly concerned” about the mayor’s mental health in light of the coronavirus pandemic and the protests.
“I think he should seek some help and maybe have somebody to talk to — a counselor or something — and reflect on some of his decisions,” McBride said.
Union officials also said they have no intention of reopening negotiations on their contract, which provides them with 4.8% in raises and nearly $41 million in education bonuses in the fiscal year that starts July 1.
When Garcetti ran for mayor in 2013, the union pumped about $1.5 million into the candidacy of his opponent, then-City Controller Wendy Greuel.
Garcetti and the union patched things up, and by 2016 the mayor was working with the league on a union-backed measure to change the LAPD’s disciplinary process. Last year, Garcetti and the City Council signed off on a lucrative package of raises and bonuses for officers that is expected to add $123 million to the LAPD’s budget.
Times staff writer James Rainey contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-06-05--California grants another extension to BYD in delivering $1-billion order of N95 masks

Two months after Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced a nearly $ 1-billion deal with Chinese automaker BYD to purchase respirators , California has yet to receive any of the much-needed N95 masks .
And on Friday , state officials announced that they would give the company a second extension to deliver on its promise .
It ’ s the latest complication in the deal with BYD , which has a U.S. subsidiary headquartered in Los Angeles County , to supply 300 million highly protective respirators during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The electric car maker has struggled to have its N95 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Occupational Safety and Health .
BYD first failed to meet a contractual deadline on April 30 for its N95 masks to be certified , forcing the company to refund half of California ’ s $ 495-million down payment .
State officials amended the agreement to give BYD until May 31 for the N95 masks to be approved by federal regulators .
The amendment allowed for the state to either extend that deadline or for BYD to return the remaining $ 247.5 million of California ’ s down payment by Friday .
State officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BYD until June 12 to have the masks certified .
The new amendment notes that if the respirators are certified by the new timeline , the state plans to purchase 150 million masks , which would be delivered this month and next .
“ Should the vendor fail to obtain NIOSH certification in the new timeline , any outstanding payments to the vendor will be refunded to the state , ” Brian Ferguson , a spokesman for the Governor ’ s Office of Emergency Services , said in a statement .
On Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter .
In April , California agreed to pay $ 990 million to BYD for 300 million N95 protective masks at a cost of $ 3.30 apiece .
Although that price is higher than the masks would cost in non-pandemic times , the state entered into the contract during a worldwide shortage of the masks .
The respirators filter 95 % of particles , providing crucial protection to nurses and other essential workers .
While state lawmakers said they understood the state ’ s desire to buy the critical supplies , the governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handled the deal .
Lawmakers said they learned about the $ 1-billion contract at the same time as the public , when Newsom went on MSNBC ’ s “ The Rachel Maddow Show ” to announce the deal .
Then , the contract itself was kept under wraps for a month .
The governor ’ s office at first the document to lawmakers and journalists — even though government contracts are public under state law — citing concerns that the masks might be seized if the information was released .
In recent weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said California taxpayers will not be out any money if BYD ultimately does not come through .
“ We pay for what we get , ” Newsom said Friday .
“ We don ’ t pay for things we don ’ t get.
” Newsom added that the state is working with other suppliers and will “ have a backup.
” In a statement last month to The Times , NIOSH said it notified BYD on May 4 that on-site visits to the company ’ s manufacturing and production facilities in China had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acceptable.
” The agency also said its “ review of documentation provided to NIOSH for the design , manufacturing and quality inspection of the device was concerning.
” NIOSH declined to elaborate on the specific reasons for its denial , saying such information is confidential under federal rules , but added in a statement that the decision was “ based on a number of factors.
” BYD submitted a total of four applications for N95 respirators , according to a letter from the regulatory agency .
Three of the applications were denied and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official told The Times .
Federal regulators did not respond to a request for comment Friday on the status of BYD ’ s mask certification .
While the state hasn ’ t received N95 masks from BYD , the company has provided millions of surgical masks to California .
The state agreed to pay BYD $ 54.9 million to purchase 100 million surgical masks .
So far , more than 90 million have been delivered to California , Newsom said .
Over the next two months , BYD ’ s contract with California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buying an additional 250 million N95 respirators for $ 825 million and 112.5 million surgical masks for $ 61.8 million .

Two months after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a nearly $1-billion deal with Chinese automaker BYD to purchase respirators, California has yet to receive any of the much-needed N95 masks. And on Friday, state officials announced that they would give the company a second extension to deliver on its promise.
It’s the latest complication in the deal with BYD, which has a U.S. subsidiary headquartered in Los Angeles County, to supply 300 million highly protective respirators during the COVID-19 pandemic. The electric car maker has struggled to have its N95 masks certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. BYD first failed to meet a contractual deadline on April 30 for its N95 masks to be certified, forcing the company to refund half of California’s $495-million down payment.
State officials amended the agreement to give BYD until May 31 for the N95 masks to be approved by federal regulators. The amendment allowed for the state to either extend that deadline or for BYD to return the remaining $247.5 million of California’s down payment by Friday. State officials announced Friday that they will now give BYD until June 12 to have the masks certified. The new amendment notes that if the respirators are certified by the new timeline, the state plans to purchase 150 million masks, which would be delivered this month and next.
Advertisement
“Should the vendor fail to obtain NIOSH certification in the new timeline, any outstanding payments to the vendor will be refunded to the state,” Brian Ferguson, a spokesman for the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, said in a statement.
On Friday, BYD declined to comment on the matter.
In April, California agreed to pay $990 million to BYD for 300 million N95 protective masks at a cost of $3.30 apiece. Although that price is higher than the masks would cost in non-pandemic times, the state entered into the contract during a worldwide shortage of the masks. The respirators filter 95% of particles, providing crucial protection to nurses and other essential workers.
While state lawmakers said they understood the state’s desire to buy the critical supplies, the governor received bipartisan blowback for how his administration handled the deal.
Lawmakers said they learned about the $1-billion contract at the same time as the public, when Newsom went on MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” to announce the deal . Then, the contract itself was kept under wraps for a month. The governor’s office at first refused to disclose the document to lawmakers and journalists — even though government contracts are public under state law — citing concerns that the masks might be seized if the information was released.
In recent weeks, Newsom has downplayed the delays and said California taxpayers will not be out any money if BYD ultimately does not come through.
“We pay for what we get,” Newsom said Friday. “We don’t pay for things we don’t get.”
Newsom added that the state is working with other suppliers and will “have a backup.”
In a statement last month to The Times, NIOSH said it notified BYD on May 4 that on-site visits to the company’s manufacturing and production facilities in China had resulted in a rating of “not acceptable.” The agency also said its “review of documentation provided to NIOSH for the design, manufacturing and quality inspection of the device was concerning.”
NIOSH declined to elaborate on the specific reasons for its denial, saying such information is confidential under federal rules, but added in a statement that the decision was “based on a number of factors.”
BYD submitted a total of four applications for N95 respirators, according to a letter from the regulatory agency. Three of the applications were denied and a fourth was withdrawn, a NIOSH official told The Times.
Federal regulators did not respond to a request for comment Friday on the status of BYD’s mask certification.
Advertisement
While the state hasn’t received N95 masks from BYD, the company has provided millions of surgical masks to California.
The state agreed to pay BYD $54.9 million to purchase 100 million surgical masks. So far, more than 90 million have been delivered to California, Newsom said. Over the next two months, BYD’s contract with California also gives the state the option of buying an additional 250 million N95 respirators for $825 million and 112.5 million surgical masks for $61.8 million.


latimes--2020-06-05--South L.A.'s Leimert Park plans a peaceful bicycle demonstration

Hundreds of people on bicycles are expected to roll through Leimert Park on Saturday at noon for a justice ride honoring George Floyd — but don ’ t think about calling it a protest .
“ I ’ ve been avoiding the word ‘ protest , ’ just because the stigma around the city has been definitely a bad look , with the looting and things like that , ” said G ’ Angelo Edmondson , 42 , one of the ride ’ s organizers .
“ It definitely is not that vibe .
It definitely is about peace and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be heard in our community.
” A few dozen people marched from the Leimert Park Plaza down the street Thursday afternoon , chanting , “ Black lives matter.
” Earlier in the week , Gov .
Gavin Newsom stopped by neighborhood favorite Hot and Cool Cafe as part of his listening tour of cities across the state .
But the plaza — which saw 2013 protests honoring Trayvon Martin and 2014 gatherings remembering Michael Brown — has stayed mostly quiet in recent days , all fluttering purple jacaranda blossoms and music drifting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is by design — Black Lives Matter organizers want to put protests directly in affluent white neighborhoods .
They also don ’ t want a repeat of the 1992 riots that harmed black-owned businesses in South L.A. “ It ’ s time now for us to show the unity within our community , ” said Kortel “ Korta-T ” Autrey , 36 , another co-organizer of Saturday ’ s ride .
Autrey has organized rides throughout Los Angeles on dirt bikes , motocross bikes and regular road pedal bikes for years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ N to bring “ together communities that would otherwise have gangs in their neighborhoods ” and mentor youth .
He hopes his group ’ s slogan , “ bikes bring bonds , ” will translate to Saturday ’ s demonstration .
“ We ’ re focused on having a big crowd , but the biggest thing is that it ’ s positive and nonviolent , ” Autrey said .
“ I think that was a major reason for us going with bikes .
It cuts down a lot of the walking and ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not being affiliated , but then taking the energy from our ride and doing something negative.
” Protests erupted across the country last week after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pinned Floyd to the ground for nearly nine minutes , killing him .
Demonstrators have called for many institutional changes , but the focal point is police reform and justice for Floyd — and for the many other black Americans whom police officers have killed .
Although runners and walkers are expected to attend too , Edmondson said the bikes will help differentiate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practically speaking , it ’ s hard to cause trouble with a bicycle in tow .
His decision to organize a demonstration faced some negative responses from business owners and older residents who grimaced at the idea , remembering the 1992 riots .
But most of them came around , Edmondson said , once he explained to them , “ We have to feel like we can ride bikes in our own community without a backlash.
” “ We just want this to be a spark , ” Edmondson said , “ where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race and inequality and about police brutality .
We want it to be the spark to move forward and show people that we can have things in our community and we can be peaceful in our community and we can come together in solidarity.
” An essential part of maintaining a peaceful demonstration will be the role of police .
Protesters across the country have argued that their otherwise nonviolent rallies devolve into chaos once police show up decked out in riot gear .
Forty-three-year-old Leimert Park resident Tschombe Davidson described seeing protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rubber bullets , pepper sprayed them and , in one case , took a protester ’ s phone and threw it .
“ Everybody ’ s being peaceful from all different creeds and cultures .
Everyone ’ s in one accord , ” Davidson said .
“ Everything usually is fine out there until the police get there and exert their authority.
” Davidson formed the Men of Leimert neighborhood watch group in November to liaise between his neighbors and the police .
He described a distinct lack of trust in his neighborhood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police officers step out of their patrol cars .
“ Police get out and they have their hands on their guns , because they ’ re not from the neighborhood .
They ’ re scared already !
” Davidson said .
“ They don ’ t know how to interact with the young people here.
” Davidson ’ s group — which includes two women — patrols the streets and alleyways of Leimert Park two nights a week plus Saturday mornings .
One day , he watched a woman ’ s young child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Last week , he tracked down the license plate from a stolen vehicle and reported it to the local police .
“ For the most part , it ’ s pretty dead , but you get your little events , ” he said .
“ We go through a lot of stuff that the cops don ’ t do .
They only come when something ’ s happened.
” The purpose of his Saturday morning strolls is to start conversations , develop relationships and become a familiar face in the community .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ streets , Davidson often sees people he knows or meets from the Nextdoor app .
Gina Fields , chairperson of the Empowerment Congress West Area Neighborhood Development Council , wants Men of Leimert to monitor Saturday ’ s demonstration and provide security .
We ’ re “ policing our own area , because oftentimes there ’ s a fear that if you call the police , you ’ re going to be seen as the criminal or the situation is going to accidentally escalate and somebody ’ s going to get shot , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to local police officers and invited them to attend Saturday ’ s ride — on bikes .
“ We didn ’ t want you to show up with military equipment and riot gear .
Of course that creates an agitation for people and rubs people the wrong way , ” Edmondson said .
“ We want the police to be as much part of the community as the people.
” Some officers are .
Fields invites the area ’ s senior lead police officer , whom she ’ s known for years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interact with him directly .
“ I think that that kind of connection helps , to some extent , to build trust , ” Fields said .
“ But it ’ s so hard , ” she said , “ because one thing can happen ” to disrupt the balance of the neighborhood .
She recounted an anecdote from last week , when someone reported a stolen bike they saw in the back of a blacked-out van .
The police officers responding to the call approached the vehicle with their guns drawn , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the neighborhood out , ” she said .
“ Why would they approach the [ van ] with guns out — over a bicycle ?
” The situation did not escalate further , Fields said , partly because the police officers realized that they recognized the van .
Still , it dismantled some of the trust painstakingly built over decades between community members and police officers .
And it ’ s part of the reason that , a week later , hundreds of residents will be mounting bikes for Saturday ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a total miscommunication that escalated into something crazy … and now the whole community doesn ’ t have faith in these officers we ’ ve known for years , ” Fields said .
“ It ’ s so many compounding issues and compounding variables.
” With a laugh , she added , “ It ’ s never black and white .
”

Hundreds of people on bicycles are expected to roll through Leimert Park on Saturday at noon for a justice ride honoring George Floyd — but don’t think about calling it a protest.
“I’ve been avoiding the word ‘protest,’ just because the stigma around the city has been definitely a bad look, with the looting and things like that,” said G’Angelo Edmondson, 42, one of the ride’s organizers. “It definitely is not that vibe. It definitely is about peace and solidarity, and just wanting all voices to be heard in our community.”
A few dozen people marched from the Leimert Park Plaza down the street Thursday afternoon, chanting, “Black lives matter.” Earlier in the week, Gov. Gavin Newsom stopped by neighborhood favorite Hot and Cool Cafe as part of his listening tour of cities across the state. But the plaza — which saw 2013 protests honoring Trayvon Martin and 2014 gatherings remembering Michael Brown — has stayed mostly quiet in recent days, all fluttering purple jacaranda blossoms and music drifting from newly reopened shops.
Advertisement
Part of that is by design — Black Lives Matter organizers want to put protests directly in affluent white neighborhoods. They also don’t want a repeat of the 1992 riots that harmed black-owned businesses in South L.A.
“It’s time now for us to show the unity within our community,” said Kortel “Korta-T” Autrey, 36, another co-organizer of Saturday’s ride.
Autrey has organized rides throughout Los Angeles on dirt bikes, motocross bikes and regular road pedal bikes for years. He founded his nonprofit organization BikesOverBang’N to bring “together communities that would otherwise have gangs in their neighborhoods” and mentor youth. He hopes his group’s slogan, “bikes bring bonds,” will translate to Saturday’s demonstration.
“We’re focused on having a big crowd, but the biggest thing is that it’s positive and nonviolent,” Autrey said. “I think that was a major reason for us going with bikes. It cuts down a lot of the walking and ... just people coming into our ride and not being affiliated, but then taking the energy from our ride and doing something negative.”
Protests erupted across the country last week after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pinned Floyd to the ground for nearly nine minutes, killing him. Demonstrators have called for many institutional changes, but the focal point is police reform and justice for Floyd — and for the many other black Americans whom police officers have killed.
Although runners and walkers are expected to attend too, Edmondson said the bikes will help differentiate community members from outside agitators. And practically speaking, it’s hard to cause trouble with a bicycle in tow.
Advertisement
His decision to organize a demonstration faced some negative responses from business owners and older residents who grimaced at the idea, remembering the 1992 riots. But most of them came around, Edmondson said, once he explained to them, “We have to feel like we can ride bikes in our own community without a backlash.”
“We just want this to be a spark,” Edmondson said, “where you can have this uncomfortable conversation about race and inequality and about police brutality. We want it to be the spark to move forward and show people that we can have things in our community and we can be peaceful in our community and we can come together in solidarity.”
Police in heavy protective equipment carry a man away after handcuffing him in the Fairfax District during protests on Sunday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
An essential part of maintaining a peaceful demonstration will be the role of police. Protesters across the country have argued that their otherwise nonviolent rallies devolve into chaos once police show up decked out in riot gear. Forty-three-year-old Leimert Park resident Tschombe Davidson described seeing protests where police hit people with batons or rubber bullets, pepper sprayed them and, in one case, took a protester’s phone and threw it.
“Everybody’s being peaceful from all different creeds and cultures. Everyone’s in one accord,” Davidson said. “Everything usually is fine out there until the police get there and exert their authority.”
Davidson formed the Men of Leimert neighborhood watch group in November to liaise between his neighbors and the police. He described a distinct lack of trust in his neighborhood, which shows itself the moment many police officers step out of their patrol cars.
“Police get out and they have their hands on their guns, because they’re not from the neighborhood. They’re scared already!” Davidson said. “They don’t know how to interact with the young people here.”
Davidson’s group — which includes two women — patrols the streets and alleyways of Leimert Park two nights a week plus Saturday mornings. One day, he watched a woman’s young child while she retrieved something inside her home. Last week, he tracked down the license plate from a stolen vehicle and reported it to the local police.
“For the most part, it’s pretty dead, but you get your little events,” he said. “We go through a lot of stuff that the cops don’t do. They only come when something’s happened.”
The purpose of his Saturday morning strolls is to start conversations, develop relationships and become a familiar face in the community. After months of routine walks through the streets, Davidson often sees people he knows or meets from the Nextdoor app.
Gina Fields, chairperson of the Empowerment Congress West Area Neighborhood Development Council, wants Men of Leimert to monitor Saturday’s demonstration and provide security.
We’re “policing our own area, because oftentimes there’s a fear that if you call the police, you’re going to be seen as the criminal or the situation is going to accidentally escalate and somebody’s going to get shot,” Fields said.
Edmondson reached out to local police officers and invited them to attend Saturday’s ride — on bikes.
“We didn’t want you to show up with military equipment and riot gear. Of course that creates an agitation for people and rubs people the wrong way,” Edmondson said. “We want the police to be as much part of the community as the people.”
Some officers are. Fields invites the area’s senior lead police officer, whom she’s known for years, to every council meeting so residents can interact with him directly.
“I think that that kind of connection helps, to some extent, to build trust,” Fields said.
“But it’s so hard,” she said, “because one thing can happen” to disrupt the balance of the neighborhood. She recounted an anecdote from last week, when someone reported a stolen bike they saw in the back of a blacked-out van. The police officers responding to the call approached the vehicle with their guns drawn, Fields said.
“It freaked everyone in the neighborhood out,” she said. “Why would they approach the [van] with guns out — over a bicycle?”
The situation did not escalate further, Fields said, partly because the police officers realized that they recognized the van. Still, it dismantled some of the trust painstakingly built over decades between community members and police officers. And it’s part of the reason that, a week later, hundreds of residents will be mounting bikes for Saturday’s ride.
“That just turned into a total miscommunication that escalated into something crazy … and now the whole community doesn’t have faith in these officers we’ve known for years,” Fields said. “It’s so many compounding issues and compounding variables.”
With a laugh, she added, “It’s never black and white.”