latimes--2020-06-03--UCLA faces continued criticism over LAPD use of stadium for field jail

UCLA faced continued faculty outrage Wednesday as it tried to defend its role in the LAPD ’ s use of the university ’ s Jackie Robinson Stadium to process protesters and others arrested for curfew violations during the uprising sparked by the police killing of George Floyd .
Dozens of faculty members signed a letter Tuesday complaining about the use of the university property as a detention facility .
It was especially galling , they said , to have used a stadium named after Robinson , a UCLA alumnus who is “ an icon of the long and unfinished struggle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s response — that it had been unaware of the use of the school property as a “ field jail ” — did little to satisfy its critics .
“ This was a massive operation involving hundreds of arrested protesters , many , many LAPD officers , that went on for 10-12 hours at our university , and our leadership is telling us that they didn ’ t know ?
” said Ananya Roy , professor of urban planning and social welfare and director of the UCLA Luskin Institute on Inequality and Democracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incredulous ” at the university response .
The issue arose after the Los Angeles Police Department crowded protesters arrested in downtown Los Angeles and Westwood into sheriff ’ s buses and brought them to the stadium , where the university ’ s baseball team plays under a lease with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs .
The LAPD said in a statement late Wednesday that it created a command post in the stadium parking lot on Sunday in preparation for planned demonstrations in Westwood the following day .
It said the facility had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and was obtained with the approval of the staff ” of UCLA .
Although the Westwood demonstrations “ occurred with relatively few issues , ” by Monday evening the surge in curfew violation arrests required “ the provisioning of additional space in which to process and release curfew violators , ” the LAPD said .
`` The Department identified the stadium as a location for a field jail , to process arrestees for immediate release .
We regret that we did not inform UCLA of this intended purpose.
” The statement added : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision to establish this site [ for ] processing arrestees ... given the stadium ’ s namesake of Jackie Robinson , who broke Major League Baseball ’ s color barrier as the first African American baseball player .
The location was a poor choice given his legacy and the spirit of the protests.
” Tammy Sanchez , who protested peacefully downtown on Monday and was picked up by police just after 6 p.m. that evening for a curfew violation , said others rounded up by the police included homeless individuals and residents of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests .
Sanchez , 38 , said she was handcuffed , put on a sheriff ’ s bus with about 35 women and taken to the stadium parking lot , where they remained on the bus for more than seven hours without water , food , access to bathrooms , or answers from officers about what would happen to them .
Many suffered injuries from handcuffs that were too tight .
She said she could see 10 other buses in the lot .
Another detainee , who identified himself as Huzaifah , 29 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well-organized , with an “ assembly line ” of about 90 detained people at any given time .
He said officers laughed as he was let go .
He asked not to be identified by his full name out of fear of legal ramifications .
The faculty letter says officers did not wear masks and disregarded other CDC , city and county measures to curb COVID-19 contagion .
“ The cruel irony that this took place at a location used as a COVID-19 testing site is not lost on those arrested or on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who demanded the university end use of the stadium by police .
The professors who signed the letter include Roy ; Kelly Lytle Hernández , director of UCLA ’ s Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies and a MacArthur Fellowship recipient ; and Cheryl Harris , professor of civil rights and civil liberties at the UCLA law school .
Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael Beck wrote in a letter to the concerned faculty Tuesday night that UCLA was “ troubled ” by the accounts they had laid out .
“ Please know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stadium parking lot as a ‘ field jail ’ was not done with the administration ’ s permission , collaboration or knowledge , ” he said .
Beck said that city agencies like the L.A. Fire Department occasionally request UCLA ’ s permission to use the parking lot as a staging area during fires or other emergencies , and the university typically grants those requests .
Several weeks ago LAFD asked to use the site for COVID-19 testing , Beck said , which the university allowed .
However , it did not receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city agency to use the space for processing arrestees .
“ Our understanding is that LAPD worked directly with the VA , not consulting UCLA , ” Beck said .
He added that LAPD had vacated the property and would not receive future permission to use the site for processing arrests .
Roy and other faculty asked university leadership in response to issue a public letter to LAPD Chief Michael Moore demanding an explanation and compensation for use of the property without permission , make public all information the university has about use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and issue a public statement that LAPD will not be able to use UCLA facilities .
The letter further asks the university to sever ties with LAPD .
UCLA did not respond to requests for comment .
Times staff writers Kevin Rector and Gale Holland contributed to this report .

UCLA faced continued faculty outrage Wednesday as it tried to defend its role in the LAPD’s use of the university’s Jackie Robinson Stadium to process protesters and others arrested for curfew violations during the uprising sparked by the police killing of George Floyd.
Dozens of faculty members signed a letter Tuesday complaining about the use of the university property as a detention facility. It was especially galling, they said, to have used a stadium named after Robinson, a UCLA alumnus who is “an icon of the long and unfinished struggle for Black freedom.” The university’s response — that it had been unaware of the use of the school property as a “field jail” — did little to satisfy its critics.
“This was a massive operation involving hundreds of arrested protesters, many, many LAPD officers, that went on for 10-12 hours at our university, and our leadership is telling us that they didn’t know?” said Ananya Roy, professor of urban planning and social welfare and director of the UCLA Luskin Institute on Inequality and Democracy. She said the faculty was “incredulous” at the university response.
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The issue arose after the Los Angeles Police Department crowded protesters arrested in downtown Los Angeles and Westwood into sheriff’s buses and brought them to the stadium, where the university’s baseball team plays under a lease with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The LAPD said in a statement late Wednesday that it created a command post in the stadium parking lot on Sunday in preparation for planned demonstrations in Westwood the following day. It said the facility had been used “for previous city emergencies and was obtained with the approval of the staff” of UCLA.
Although the Westwood demonstrations “occurred with relatively few issues,” by Monday evening the surge in curfew violation arrests required “the provisioning of additional space in which to process and release curfew violators,” the LAPD said.”The Department identified the stadium as a location for a field jail, to process arrestees for immediate release. We regret that we did not inform UCLA of this intended purpose.”
The statement added: “In retrospect it was an unfortunate decision to establish this site [for] processing arrestees ... given the stadium’s namesake of Jackie Robinson, who broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier as the first African American baseball player. The location was a poor choice given his legacy and the spirit of the protests.”
Tammy Sanchez, who protested peacefully downtown on Monday and was picked up by police just after 6 p.m. that evening for a curfew violation, said others rounded up by the police included homeless individuals and residents of the neighborhood who were unaffiliated with the protests.
Sanchez, 38, said she was handcuffed, put on a sheriff’s bus with about 35 women and taken to the stadium parking lot, where they remained on the bus for more than seven hours without water, food, access to bathrooms, or answers from officers about what would happen to them. Many suffered injuries from handcuffs that were too tight.
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She said she could see 10 other buses in the lot.
Another detainee, who identified himself as Huzaifah, 29, described the operation as large and well-organized, with an “assembly line” of about 90 detained people at any given time. He said officers laughed as he was let go. He asked not to be identified by his full name out of fear of legal ramifications.
The faculty letter says officers did not wear masks and disregarded other CDC, city and county measures to curb COVID-19 contagion.
“The cruel irony that this took place at a location used as a COVID-19 testing site is not lost on those arrested or on us,” said the professors, who demanded the university end use of the stadium by police. The professors who signed the letter include Roy; Kelly Lytle Hernández, director of UCLA’s Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies and a MacArthur Fellowship recipient; and Cheryl Harris, professor of civil rights and civil liberties at the UCLA law school.
Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael Beck wrote in a letter to the concerned faculty Tuesday night that UCLA was “troubled” by the accounts they had laid out.
“Please know that the use of the Jackie Robinson Stadium parking lot as a ‘field jail’ was not done with the administration’s permission, collaboration or knowledge,” he said.
Beck said that city agencies like the L.A. Fire Department occasionally request UCLA’s permission to use the parking lot as a staging area during fires or other emergencies, and the university typically grants those requests. Several weeks ago LAFD asked to use the site for COVID-19 testing, Beck said, which the university allowed. However, it did not receive a request from LAPD or any other city agency to use the space for processing arrestees.
“Our understanding is that LAPD worked directly with the VA, not consulting UCLA,” Beck said.
He added that LAPD had vacated the property and would not receive future permission to use the site for processing arrests.
Roy and other faculty asked university leadership in response to issue a public letter to LAPD Chief Michael Moore demanding an explanation and compensation for use of the property without permission, make public all information the university has about use of the stadium on June 1, and issue a public statement that LAPD will not be able to use UCLA facilities. The letter further asks the university to sever ties with LAPD.
UCLA did not respond to requests for comment.
Times staff writers Kevin Rector and Gale Holland contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-06-03--ACLU sues to end L.A. curfew, calling it a suppression of political protest

The nighttime curfews imposed in Los Angeles County due to protests over police brutality and the death of George Floyd are coming under growing scrutiny .
The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit Wednesday against the cities of Los Angeles and San Bernardino and L.A. county to end the curfews .
“ The curfews ’ extraordinary suppression of all political protest in the evening hours plainly violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution , and their blanket restrictions on movement outside working hours violate the Constitution ’ s protection of freedom of movement , ” the ACLU said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on behalf on Black Lives Matter and others .
After several nights of scattered looting , there were very few problems Tuesday and Wednesday night even as thousands protested peacefully across the region .
The arrests were mainly of protesters who refused to obey the curfew .
Los Angeles County extended its sweeping curfew for a fourth day — this time with reduced hours .
But Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said that while the curfews may have been warranted on Sunday and Monday nights , “ now it seems like they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ I don ’ t think they are needed anymore , ” she wrote on Twitter .
On Wednesday , county officials opted to begin the curfew at 9 p.m. instead of the usual 6 p.m .
The curfew , which does not apply to law enforcement , first responders , people traveling to and from work and unsheltered individuals , will last until 5 a.m. Thursday .
Sheriff Alex Villanueva said early Wednesday that officials had been assessing whether to continue the curfew for another day , noting “ big improvements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests .
Police said the curfew has helped clear the streets at night so they can focus on looters who hit some communities Saturday , Sunday and Monday .
Some protesters also questioned the need for curfews if demonstrations are peaceful .
“ It ’ s ridiculous that 1,000 protesters have been arrested , ” Heaven Bouldin , 25 , said Tuesday during the Hollywood protest .
She held a sign that read , “ Stop killing black people , ” and was punctuated by an expletive .
She said that on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signs up past curfew , protesting peacefully .
“ I ’ m all for doing what ’ s safe for yourself .
In order to make a change we have to stay above six feet , we have to stay alive .
They ’ re setting these curfews so that they can arrest us , so that they can kill us.
” “ I encourage everyone else to try and do this as safely as possible.
” At 8th Street and Crenshaw Bouelvard on Tuesday night , police detained dozens of protesters who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residence .
The crowd chanted “ peaceful protest ” intermittently and , for the most part , calmly complied with police as they were cuffed with plastic bands .
Police arrested the crowd methodically and had protesters stand with legs spread against a gate — collecting names and information before escorting each protester to a Los Angeles County sheriff bus .
After each person was arrested , some in the crowd yelled , “ We love you , ” and clapped .

Hannah Fry, Matt Hamilton, Brittny Mejia

People are arrested for violating curfew in Los Angeles after peaceful protests on June 2, 2020, over police brutality and the death of George Floyd.
The nighttime curfews imposed in Los Angeles County due to protests over police brutality and the death of George Floyd are coming under growing scrutiny.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit Wednesday against the cities of Los Angeles and San Bernardino and L.A. county to end the curfews.
“The curfews’ extraordinary suppression of all political protest in the evening hours plainly violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and their blanket restrictions on movement outside working hours violate the Constitution’s protection of freedom of movement,” the ACLU said in a statement.
The suit was filed on behalf on Black Lives Matter and others.
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After several nights of scattered looting, there were very few problems Tuesday and Wednesday night even as thousands protested peacefully across the region. The arrests were mainly of protesters who refused to obey the curfew.
Los Angeles County extended its sweeping curfew for a fourth day — this time with reduced hours.
But Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said that while the curfews may have been warranted on Sunday and Monday nights, “now it seems like they are being used to arrest peaceful protesters.”
“I don’t think they are needed anymore,” she wrote on Twitter.
On Wednesday, county officials opted to begin the curfew at 9 p.m. instead of the usual 6 p.m. The curfew, which does not apply to law enforcement, first responders, people traveling to and from work and unsheltered individuals, will last until 5 a.m. Thursday.
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Sheriff Alex Villanueva said early Wednesday that officials had been assessing whether to continue the curfew for another day, noting “big improvements from previous days” related to the protests. Police said the curfew has helped clear the streets at night so they can focus on looters who hit some communities Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Some protesters also questioned the need for curfews if demonstrations are peaceful.
“It’s ridiculous that 1,000 protesters have been arrested,” Heaven Bouldin, 25, said Tuesday during the Hollywood protest.
She held a sign that read, “Stop killing black people,” and was punctuated by an expletive.
She said that on Monday night, she and her boyfriend held signs up past curfew, protesting peacefully.
“I’m all for doing what’s safe for yourself. In order to make a change we have to stay above six feet, we have to stay alive. They’re setting these curfews so that they can arrest us, so that they can kill us.”
“I encourage everyone else to try and do this as safely as possible.”
At 8th Street and Crenshaw Bouelvard on Tuesday night, police detained dozens of protesters who had converged at the mayor’s residence.
The crowd chanted “peaceful protest” intermittently and, for the most part, calmly complied with police as they were cuffed with plastic bands.
Police arrested the crowd methodically and had protesters stand with legs spread against a gate — collecting names and information before escorting each protester to a Los Angeles County sheriff bus.
After each person was arrested, some in the crowd yelled, “We love you,” and clapped.


latimes--2020-06-03--As 'defund LAPD' becomes a rallying cry, Garcetti will seek cuts up to $150 million

When Los Angeles was plunged into a budget crisis earlier this year , progressive activists demanded that the City Council slash spending at the Police Department , saying it ’ s wrong to boost funding for officers while cutting other urgently needed services .
The debate over police spending at City Hall has only intensified after several days of protests against police brutality , the LAPD ’ s response to those demonstrations and the looting that sometimes followed .
Activists with Black Lives Matter , Ground Game LA and other grassroots groups say incidents in recent days where officers have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only reinforce the need to defund the LAPD .
“ This crisis that we are facing now , with police violence , has got people thinking , ‘ Is this what we want ?
’ ” said Akili , an organizer with Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles , who goes by only his last name .
Akili touted an alternative spending plan for City Hall , dubbed the People ’ s Budget , that would cut the vast majority of the LAPD ’ s funding .
But other community leaders , and at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak in looting , vandalism and arson shows precisely why the city needs the number of officers it has .
“ Ten thousand officers were barely able to keep the peace , ” said Councilman Paul Koretz , whose Westside district includes Beverly Boulevard , Melrose Avenue and other business districts where looting occurred .
“ Imagine if we didn ’ t have the response that we did.
” Mayor Eric Garcetti had originally proposed a 7 % spending increase for the LAPD , including a lucrative package of raises and bonuses for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day after thousands of protesters chanted “ defund the police ” outside his Windsor Square home , Garcetti said he had changed course , deciding now is not the time to increase the department budget .
Garcetti said his administration would look for $ 250 million in cuts from city departments , including the LAPD , and steer the funds to invest in job programs , health initiatives and other services supporting the black community and other communities of color .
As part of those reductions , the LAPD would see cuts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said .
Council President Nury Martinez and several of her colleagues proposed the same reductions for the LAPD , which could eliminate the increase planned in Garcetti ’ s budget .
“ While a complete overhaul of the city ’ s budget will take time , we can begin to slowly dismantle those systems that are designed to harm people of color , ” Martinez said .
“ A preliminary cut to the LAPD budget will not solve everything , but it ’ s a step in the right direction.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go far enough .
Meanwhile , leaders of the LAPD ’ s biggest union were furious with Martinez ’ s choice of words , saying they were “ offensive ” and dehumanized police officers .
The City Council , which normally reviews and approves the mayor ’ s budget each year , had allowed Garcetti ’ s citywide spending plan to go into effect on Monday without a vote .
But council members also promised to make changes to his budget in the coming weeks to address a major crunch triggered by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Garcetti ’ s budget , first proposed in April , called for police spending to consume 53.8 % of the city ’ s “ unrestricted ” general fund revenue — taxes that are not earmarked for special purposes or certain fees , fines and grants .
The LAPD makes up 17.6 % of the city ’ s overall $ 10.5-billion budget , a figure that does not include police pensions and healthcare , according to city budget officials .
The amount of police spending in L.A. has long been a source of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles teamed up with other grassroots organizations to survey Angelenos about their budget priorities and draft their People ’ s Budget .
Under their alternative spending plan for the coming year , police would receive only 5.7 % of the city ’ s general fund — a reduction of nearly 90 % compared with the mayor ’ s budget .
Ground Game LA , one of the groups involved in the People ’ s Budget LA coalition , said 9,000 of the LAPD ’ s 10,000 officers should be replaced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health counselors , gang intervention workers and others who could address pressing social needs .
“ I don ’ t think there ’ s any way to get a 90 % reduction without layoffs , and that would be OK , ” said Bill Przylucki , executive director of Ground Game LA .
“ But if they lay them all off and then hoard the money , that ’ s not a solution .
We need to reinvest those dollars in all the right programs.
” Przylucki said the LAPD had shown repeatedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capable of keeping the peace in a way that de-escalates confrontation — and that the skirmishes of the past week only reinforced that lesson .
A coalition of labor and advocacy groups have pushed their own plan , urging Garcetti to cut the LAPD budget by at least $ 250 million .
Neighborhood councils have chimed in as well .
On Monday , the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council to urge the city to redirect money from the LAPD to social services , rent relief and other programs .
Julia Forgie , who sits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which took similar action , said at a meeting this week that she was worried Garcetti would use recent events to bolster support for his budget .
“ It ’ s important that we sort of reframe the conversation preemptively , to make sure that [ city officials ] understand that these events don ’ t indicate that we need more funding for police , ” she said .
Lee Williams , board chairman of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce , voiced alarm at the idea of cutting the LAPD .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , response times will go up , community policing programs will suffer , and the neighborhood will be less safe overall .
“ That would be crushing for San Pedro , ” said Williams , a San Pedro resident himself .
Los Angeles Police Protective League President Craig Lally , whose union represents rank-and-file officers , said defunding the LAPD would leave neighborhoods vulnerable to crime and serve as a “ dream come true for gang members and criminals.
” Such cuts would mean slower responses to 911 calls , stalled investigations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fellow officers need backup , he said .
If the People ’ s Budget proposed by activists becomes a reality , “ the last several nights of mayhem in Los Angeles will be the new normal , ” he said .
Council members have shown little appetite for cutting the LAPD as dramatically as outlined in the People ’ s Budget .
But several said in recent days that they could not shield police officers from cuts when other employees were facing reductions .
Councilman Mike Bonin , who represents coastal neighborhoods , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raises .
Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson , who represents parts of South Los Angeles , said it ’ s hard for him to imagine that anyone following recent events would conclude that “ a lack of police is our problem.
” Asked how many officers the LAPD should have , Harris-Dawson responded : “ I don ’ t think there ’ s a right number .
I ’ m a person who looks at outcomes.
” Reducing the LAPD budget , he said , has to be part of the upcoming budget discussions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ activists on the one side , who raise a very legitimate point , and we have to respond to reality ” — that city officials will likely need to make more cuts to balance the budget , he said .

Emily Alpert Reyes, David Zahniser, Dakota Smith

When Los Angeles was plunged into a budget crisis earlier this year, progressive activists demanded that the City Council slash spending at the Police Department, saying it’s wrong to boost funding for officers while cutting other urgently needed services.
The debate over police spending at City Hall has only intensified after several days of protests against police brutality, the LAPD’s response to those demonstrations and the looting that sometimes followed.
Activists with Black Lives Matter, Ground Game LA and other grassroots groups say incidents in recent days where officers have used aggressive tactics including projectiles and batons only reinforce the need to defund the LAPD.
“This crisis that we are facing now, with police violence, has got people thinking, ‘Is this what we want?’” said Akili, an organizer with Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles, who goes by only his last name.
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Akili touted an alternative spending plan for City Hall, dubbed the People’s Budget, that would cut the vast majority of the LAPD’s funding. But other community leaders, and at least some elected officials, say the recent outbreak in looting, vandalism and arson shows precisely why the city needs the number of officers it has.
“Ten thousand officers were barely able to keep the peace,” said Councilman Paul Koretz, whose Westside district includes Beverly Boulevard, Melrose Avenue and other business districts where looting occurred. “Imagine if we didn’t have the response that we did.”
Mayor Eric Garcetti had originally proposed a 7% spending increase for the LAPD, including a lucrative package of raises and bonuses for rank-and-file officers. But Wednesday, a day after thousands of protesters chanted “defund the police” outside his Windsor Square home, Garcetti said he had changed course, deciding now is not the time to increase the department budget.
Garcetti said his administration would look for $250 million in cuts from city departments, including the LAPD, and steer the funds to invest in job programs, health initiatives and other services supporting the black community and other communities of color. As part of those reductions, the LAPD would see cuts of $100 million to $150 million, he said.
Council President Nury Martinez and several of her colleagues proposed the same reductions for the LAPD, which could eliminate the increase planned in Garcetti’s budget.
“While a complete overhaul of the city’s budget will take time, we can begin to slowly dismantle those systems that are designed to harm people of color,” Martinez said. “A preliminary cut to the LAPD budget will not solve everything, but it’s a step in the right direction.”
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Progressive activists said those actions do not go far enough. Meanwhile, leaders of the LAPD’s biggest union were furious with Martinez’s choice of words, saying they were “offensive” and dehumanized police officers.
The City Council, which normally reviews and approves the mayor’s budget each year, had allowed Garcetti’s citywide spending plan to go into effect on Monday without a vote.
But council members also promised to make changes to his budget in the coming weeks to address a major crunch triggered by the shutdowns that have accompanied the coronavirus outbreak.
Garcetti’s budget, first proposed in April, called for police spending to consume 53.8% of the city’s “unrestricted” general fund revenue — taxes that are not earmarked for special purposes or certain fees, fines and grants. The LAPD makes up 17.6% of the city’s overall $10.5-billion budget, a figure that does not include police pensions and healthcare, according to city budget officials.
Protesters gather outside L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti’s house in Windsor Square on Tuesday. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
The amount of police spending in L.A. has long been a source of frustration for activists. This year, Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles teamed up with other grassroots organizations to survey Angelenos about their budget priorities and draft their People’s Budget.
Under their alternative spending plan for the coming year, police would receive only 5.7% of the city’s general fund — a reduction of nearly 90% compared with the mayor’s budget.
Ground Game LA, one of the groups involved in the People’s Budget LA coalition, said 9,000 of the LAPD’s 10,000 officers should be replaced with tenants’ rights workers, mental health counselors, gang intervention workers and others who could address pressing social needs.
“I don’t think there’s any way to get a 90% reduction without layoffs, and that would be OK,” said Bill Przylucki, executive director of Ground Game LA. “But if they lay them all off and then hoard the money, that’s not a solution. We need to reinvest those dollars in all the right programs.”
Przylucki said the LAPD had shown repeatedly over the years that it was not capable of keeping the peace in a way that de-escalates confrontation — and that the skirmishes of the past week only reinforced that lesson.
A coalition of labor and advocacy groups have pushed their own plan, urging Garcetti to cut the LAPD budget by at least $250 million. Neighborhood councils have chimed in as well.
On Monday, the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council to urge the city to redirect money from the LAPD to social services, rent relief and other programs. Julia Forgie, who sits on the Los Feliz Neighborhood Council, which took similar action, said at a meeting this week that she was worried Garcetti would use recent events to bolster support for his budget.
“It’s important that we sort of reframe the conversation preemptively, to make sure that [city officials] understand that these events don’t indicate that we need more funding for police,” she said.
Lee Williams, board chairman of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, voiced alarm at the idea of cutting the LAPD. If the department has fewer officers, he said, response times will go up, community policing programs will suffer, and the neighborhood will be less safe overall.
“That would be crushing for San Pedro,” said Williams, a San Pedro resident himself.
Los Angeles Police Protective League President Craig Lally, whose union represents rank-and-file officers, said defunding the LAPD would leave neighborhoods vulnerable to crime and serve as a “dream come true for gang members and criminals.” Such cuts would mean slower responses to 911 calls, stalled investigations and fewer officers able to assist when fellow officers need backup, he said.
If the People’s Budget proposed by activists becomes a reality, “the last several nights of mayhem in Los Angeles will be the new normal,” he said.
Council members have shown little appetite for cutting the LAPD as dramatically as outlined in the People’s Budget. But several said in recent days that they could not shield police officers from cuts when other employees were facing reductions.
Councilman Mike Bonin, who represents coastal neighborhoods, suggested asking the police union to postpone raises. Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who represents parts of South Los Angeles, said it’s hard for him to imagine that anyone following recent events would conclude that “a lack of police is our problem.”
Asked how many officers the LAPD should have, Harris-Dawson responded: “I don’t think there’s a right number. I’m a person who looks at outcomes.”
Reducing the LAPD budget, he said, has to be part of the upcoming budget discussions. “We have to respond to the activists on the one side, who raise a very legitimate point, and we have to respond to reality” — that city officials will likely need to make more cuts to balance the budget, he said.
Times staff writer Matt Hamilton contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-06-03--As peaceful protests continue, LAPD budget could be cut by up to $150 million to reinvest in communi

As peaceful protests continue, LAPD budget could be cut by up to $150 million to reinvest in communities of color

As protests over police brutality and the death of George Floyd stretched into a sixth day , Los Angeles officials said Wednesday that they will look to cut $ 100 million to $ 150 million from the city ’ s police budget as part of a broader effort to reinvest more dollars into the black community .
In all , Mayor Eric Garcetti pledged that the city would “ identify $ 250 million in cuts so we can invest in jobs , in health , in education and in healing , ” especially in the city ’ s black community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and women and people who have been left behind.
” Those cuts , he said , would be “ to every department , including the Police Department , because we all have to be part of this solution together .
We all have to step up and say , ‘ What can we sacrifice ?
’ ” Eileen Decker , president of the Los Angeles Police Commission , said that effort includes identifying $ 100 million to $ 150 million in cuts from the Police Department — something City Council President Nury Martinez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier in the day .
The LAPD ’ s total annual budget is $ 1.86 billion .
Garcetti also said the city will impose a moratorium on placing people in a statewide database for identifying and tracking gang members — which reform advocates had lobbied for — and will require officers to intervene when they see inappropriate use of force and report misconduct .
The mayor also said he would support the creation of a special prosecutor to review officer misconduct cases , another demand of activists .
The announcements came as demonstrators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearby Grand Park .
Many chanted “ Black lives matter ” and “ What ’ s the problem ?
The whole damn system !
” as LAPD helicopters orbited overhead .
News of Garcetti ’ s announcement was met with mixed reaction among the demonstrators outside .
Carter Gregory , 26 , said it was a good first step .
“ I think he ’ s listening and needs to keep going , ” he said .
Al Calderon , 26 , said more should be done at the top .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her lack of leadership and care for the people that we lost , ” he said of Los Angeles County Dist .
Atty .
Jackie Lacey , Though Wednesday ’ s demonstrations have so far been peaceful affairs , more than 60 people now face criminal charges in Los Angeles County stemming from their alleged roles in the looting and violent clashes that marred protests this week authorities announced .
Many of the charges filed against the 61 defendants are for alleged looting , according to the L.A. County district attorney ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counts of burglary , robbery , identity theft , receiving stolen property , possession of a destructive device and assault and/or battery upon a peace officer .
“ I support the peaceful organized protests that already have brought needed attention to racial inequality throughout our society , including in the criminal justice system , ” Dist .
Atty .
Jackie Lacey said in a statement .
“ I also have a constitutional and ethical duty to protect the public and prosecute people who loot and vandalize our community.
” Los Angeles County also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day .
County officials opted to begin the curfew at 9 p.m. , three hours later than previous nights , although Sheriff Alex Villanueva said his deputies would not begin enforcement until 10 p.m. — meaning that residents in areas patrolled by sheriff ’ s deputies could be outside until then .
In all areas , however , the curfew ends at 5 a.m. Thursday , and does not apply to law enforcement , first responders , people traveling to and from work and unsheltered individuals .
Villanueva said early Wednesday that officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for another day , noting “ big improvements from previous days ” related to the protests .
County Supervisor Janice Hahn disagreed with extending the curfew .
She said curfews may have been warranted on Sunday and Monday nights , but “ now it seems like they are being used to arrest peaceful protesters.
” “ I don ’ t think they are needed anymore , ” she wrote on Twitter .
Garcetti said that , “ barring a bad night ” Wednesday , the overnight curfew will be lifted in the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Beverly Hills , Torrance and Culver City extended curfews in their cities for another day .
The Santa Monica and Culver City curfews will be enforced from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. Thursday .
The curfew in Torrance will be enforced from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Thursday .
In Beverly Hills , the city is imposing two curfews .
The first , in the city ’ s business districts , will begin at 1 p.m. and last until 6 a.m. Thursday .
The citywide curfew will begin at 4 p.m. and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countywide curfew has sparked widespread criticism from protesters who see the action as an attempt to quell criticism of law enforcement .
On Tuesday , an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter to Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger requesting that she rescind or restrict the curfew order .
ACLU senior counsel Ahilan Arulanantham wrote in the letter that the U.S. Constitution does not permit the county to order such a sweeping restriction on free speech and travel to address “ a few localized attacks on property.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days some individuals have damaged and stolen property in areas where many others have engaged in peaceful protests , but that unlawful conduct can not justify a state of emergency in the entire county that effectively places over 10 million people under house arrest for twelve hours every evening and morning , ” Arulanantham wrote .
L.A. County wasn ’ t alone .
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said a curfew would probably remain in effect in the capital through Sunday .
“ We ’ re keeping it for a few days longer just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters , safe , ” he said .
“ If we continue to see peaceful demonstrations then we can start fresh next week.
” Though there has been little unrest since stealing and vandalism hit Sacramento ’ s downtown area and some suburbs on Sunday night , authorities have not indicated they plan to remove the order , and 500 National Guard troops remain in the city and county to protect critical sites .
More than 100 protesters gathered in front of Anaheim City Hall on Wednesday morning for what was billed as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shortly before 11 a.m. , the group laid down silently on the steps of the civic center for eight minutes to memorialize the amount of time the officer had his knee on Floyd ’ s neck .
In Los Angeles County , more than a thousand peaceful protesters filled the streets outside Los Angeles City Hall early Wednesday evening , while earlier in the day , more than a thousand protesters , many holding signs reading “ Black Lives Matter , ” converged on the intersection of La Cienega and Santa Monica boulevards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honked in support as protesters chanted Floyd ’ s name .
Eventually , the crowd made its way into the street and knelt down , blocking traffic and chanting “ I can ’ t breathe.
” Nick Atkinson repeatedly yelled at sheriff ’ s deputies about how they should be wearing masks and taking a knee and should be held accountable for their actions .
He said he has lived in Los Angeles for 20 years and wants to make it clear that killing black men and women is wrong .
“ Where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t you wearing your masks ?
You ’ re all paid to serve and protect us , ” he yelled .
As marchers made their way through Hollywood , the protest took on a festive atmosphere with many people exchanging hugs or handing out water , masks and hand sanitizer .
In Orange County , several hundred people had gathered along MacArthur Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach by 1 p.m. for the first of several planned demonstrations in the city .
Simran Gaglani , 23 , of Irvine was among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to decry the death of Floyd and denounce police brutality against people of color .
Despite Orange County ’ s history as a haven for conservative politics in California and its embrace of law-and-order politicians , Gaglani said the demonstration highlighted what she believes is a progressive shift in the region ’ s political trajectory .
Fashion Island ’ s entrances on Wednesday were blocked with plastic barricades .
Security guards stood sentry behind them .
A line of Newport Beach police officers watched as protesters marched up and down the sidewalks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waving American flags and a “ Thin Blue Line ” banner , were surrounded by demonstrators chanting , “ Black lives matter.
” For Gale Oliver Jr. , a pastor at the Greater Light Family Church in Santa Ana , a protest against racism and police brutality in one of Orange County ’ s wealthiest enclaves was a sign of the times .
“ It ’ s a blessing that this is going on in Newport Beach , ” Oliver , who is black , said .
“ I mean , this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guess America is finally listening.
” Oliver said pastors in Santa Ana began meeting regularly with Orange County law enforcement officials about five years ago in hopes of ending “ policing from the point of view that they ’ re under attack.
” He said he ’ s seen progress , but more needs to be done .
“ Two men have said , ‘ I can ’ t breathe.
’ One said it eight times , one said it 11 times , ” Oliver said , referring to the deaths of Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t breathe ’ — what that really means is there ’ s things that will suffocate you .
Racism will suffocate you .
Hate will suffocate you.
” Kyle Scallon turned out Wednesday to protest not just Floyd ’ s death , but also a discriminatory approach he believes law enforcement in Orange County has practiced for too long .
Driving in his hometown of Mission Viejo and elsewhere in the county , Scallon , 21 , said he has been pulled over by officers intent on questioning his girlfriend , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m here because I just want cops to realize not everyone ’ s bad , ” he said , standing with a group of protesters on the corner of MacArthur and Pacific Coast Highway .
“ It ’ s become the system , but they need to realize not everyone they meet is bad.
” While the protests in Newport were calm , a television camera captured a scary scene on Balboa Boulevard when a vehicle zipped through a crowd of demonstrators — colliding with a bicyclist .
No one was injured and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the investigation , Newport Beach Police Department spokeswoman Heather Rangel said .
This doesn ’ t appear to have been a deliberate action , she added .
Two other protests were scheduled in Newport later in the evening , one on the pedestrian bridge over San Miguel Drive at Civic Center Park near City Hall , and another at the Back Bay .
Past demonstrations have been met with a large police presence , and officials have raised concerns about looting and vandalism in their communities .
About 25 National Guard service members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Culver City on Wednesday afternoon following several nights of people attempting to gain access to the shopping area to vandalize and loot , City Manager John Nachbar said .
“ Using significant resources , the Culver City Police Department and local law enforcement partners have been successful in fighting off these criminal attempts , including using methods such as using buses to block mall parking lot entrances , ” Nachbar wrote in a letter to the community .
“ In the meantime , other criminals have burglarized or attempted to burglarize other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retail stores have been burglarized in the past several days , and other threats have been made to shops in Culver City , including stores at the mall and the city ’ s two Target locations , Nachbar wrote .
“ These threats have come through social media , law enforcement intelligence , community members , other neighboring law enforcement agencies , and mall management , ” he wrote .
Elsewhere in the county , reports of looting and vandalism appeared to be down compared with previous days .
However , peaceful protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday , which centered in Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles , were largely peaceful compared with earlier demonstrations that devolved into the destruction and looting of businesses .
Hundreds more were arrested , mostly for violating curfew when protesters refused to leave .
But initial reports showed far less looting and vandalism than in recent days .
Still , confrontations with police continued .
Several dozen protesters were arrested downtown after refusing to leave after the 6 p.m. curfew .
On Tuesday , hundreds gathered at Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Floyd .
Eventually , the throng approached a line of several dozen officers holding batons .
“ Let us walk , ” the protesters yelled .
Chants of “ I can ’ t breathe , ” among Floyd ’ s final choked words , echoed throughout the throng of demonstrators .
Aijshia Moody , 30 , held a cardboard sign that read , “ Am I next ?
” Her brother is 14 years old and has many times endured racial profiling in their hometown of Pacoima , she said .
“ He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skateboard , ” she said , adding that she ’ s dealt with racism throughout her life .
“ That ’ s why I ’ m here.
” A crowd surrounded police near Ivar Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard in the early afternoon , after law enforcement received a radio call about armed looters , authorities said .
Protesters began throwing bottles and sticks in response to a growing police presence .
Officers then fired rubber bullets .
As police pushed the crowd down Ivar , they confronted two women in a red pickup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop or put her keys on the dashboard as police tried to pass by , officers said .
She was quickly detained .
Authorities had taken about 2,500 people into custody from Friday to Tuesday morning after a mix of peaceful protests and property destruction rocked downtown , the Fairfax district , Van Nuys and Hollywood , LAPD Chief Michel Moore said .
Booking records reviewed by The Times show the vast majority of those arrested in L.A. County on looting , vandalism and burglary charges are county residents , seeming to refute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fueling unrest .
Heaven Bouldin , 25 , said “ it ’ s ridiculous ” that so many protesters have been arrested when three Minneapolis officers who were present when Floyd died have yet to be held accountable .
“ I ’ ve been protesting for the last 10 years .
I ’ m tired , I ’ m tired , I ’ m tired , ” Bouldin said .
“ My people have been getting killed for the last 200 years .
We ’ re in 2020 and we still can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Somebody has to do something.
” Derek Chauvin , the white police officer who used his knee to hold Floyd on the ground by the neck , was fired last week and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in Floyd ’ s death .
The other officers at the scene when Floyd died — Thomas Lane , Tou Thao and J Alexander Kueng — are being investigated for their roles .
About 1 in 1,000 black men and boys in the U.S. can expect to die at the hands of police , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University researchers .
Protesters have demanded that society at large , and particularly those in power , acknowledge and take action against such manifestations of systemic oppression .
Walking alongside a crush of protesters in Hollywood , community organizer Pete White briefly stopped in front of a Chase bank branch to snap a photo of a scrawled message : “ Chase yo dreams.
” “ State violence brings me out here today , ” said White , a South L.A. resident who turned 49 on Tuesday .
There is no peace without justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you get justice ?
By making sure you defund the police and take all of those resources and put it in schooling , put it in services , in housing , in universal healthcare , ” White said .
“ We ’ re saying we don ’ t need another commission , another study or implicit bias training .
We ’ ve been there and the same thing keeps happening .
Again and again.
” At the downtown L.A. protests , many parents brought their children to experience the historic moment .
Khalil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought their 6-month-old son .
Bass , a football player in high school and college , said he was repeatedly pulled over in Santa Clarita when he would drive his teammates somewhere and the police saw a car full of men of color .
“ I don ’ t want him when he gets his driver ’ s license to be pulled over for no reason and have guns drawn on him , ” Bass said of his son .
Wearing a short-sleeve shirt covered with photos of cats , Gianna Garcia said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters were strong and powerful .
The 8-year-old was perched atop a slow-moving black Jetta with her legs dangling through the sunroof , holding one small clenched fist aloft — high above the sea of protesters stretching as far as the eye could see in either direction on Spring Street .
In her other hand , a white foam board sign said , “ # Charge All Four.
” Her mom , Maureen Maldonado , was in the backseat , holding a list of black people killed by police officers , too long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cardboard .
Maldonado said that she and her daughter had been protesting for four days .
Coronavirus had “ removed all types of childcare ” from the 38-year-old office manager ’ s life , but she also believed that her daughter should be at the protests .
“ At least for me , the only change I can make is that I shape my daughter the right way , ” Maldonado said .
Just after 1 p.m. in Hollywood , dozens of activists chanted at members of the National Guard .
After several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The crowd cheered .
Other protesters encountered a line of police officers and began chanting , “ Walk with us , ” and “ Let us walk.
” The group was trying to reach another crowd of demonstrators farther up Hollywood Boulevard , past Cherokee .
The were met with a line of at least 20 LAPD officers who wouldn ’ t let them pass .
As the group neared the line , their hands up , police began raising their batons to hold them back .
One protester placed a white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The officer threw it to the ground .
Times staff writers Benjamin Oreskes , Matthew Ormseth , James Queally , Laura J. Nelson , Gustavo Arellano , Alene Tchekmedyian , Jaclyn Cosgrove , Anita Chabria , Laura Newberry , Sarah Parvini and Kevin Rector contributed to this report .

Brittny Mejia, Dorany Pineda, Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, Julia Wick, Hannah Fry, Richard Winton, Luke Money, Colleen Shalby

Several hundred protesters take a knee and hold their fists in the air during a moment of silence to honor George Floyd during a peaceful protest march from Manhattan Beach to Hermosa Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti walks out to address protesters and clergy members outside LAPD headquarters on Tuesday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
LAPD Cmdr. Gerald Woodyard takes a knee with clergy members from the Los Angeles area as they participate in a march and demonstration outside LAPD headquarters in Los Angeles. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
Janie Hill,15, from Lawndale, receives a hug from a friend, following an emotional discussion with a Manhattan Beach Police officer, at the conclusion of a protest in Manhattan Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)
Several hundred protesters gather to demand justice for George Floyd at the Manhattan Beach Pier Plaza Tuesday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Mira Ercingoz,16, from Palos Verdes, center in red hat, holds a poster with an image of George Floyd alongside protesters in Manhattan Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)
A young woman reacts to a group chant, while gathered with a couple hundred people to protest the death of George Floyd and in support of Black Lives Matter, near the Manhattan Beach Pier. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)
Jessica Jordan takes a knee as she joins other protesters at Sunset & Vine in Hollywood on Tuesday. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Protestors gather outside Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Hancock Park house as they continue to demonstrate against police brutality. (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)
Terrence Burney, 36, left, and Commander of the LAPD Operation West Bureau Cory Palka, right, talk together peacefully in front of Getty House in Hancock Park. (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)
A woman stands next to an image of George Floyd as hundreds participate in a march against the in-custody death of Floyd in Venice. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
Several hundred protesters take a knee and hold their fists in the air during a moment of silence to honor George Floyd during a peaceful protest march from Manhattan Beach to Hermosa Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Protesters shoot hoops while taking a break from marching against the death of George Floyd by police on Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice on Tuesday. The basketball hoop was attached to the front of a bus that followed the protest for a while. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
Members of the California National Guard flash peace signs after protesters had marched by in support of Black Lives Matter in Venice. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
“Hands up. Don’t shoot,” say hundreds participating in a march against the of George Floyd on Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice onTuesday. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
Hundreds of protesters march throughout downtown ending with many arrested for curfew violations. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Hussain Sharif, left, Mari Drake, and Thomas Rosado chant as they ride along with hundreds of protesters at a downtown demonstration. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Marcus Owen, yells out chants for George Floyd as hundreds of protesters gather outside City Hall in a daylong protest. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Makenzie Anderson, 2, rides on her father, Shawn’s shoulders as they join hundreds of protesters marching throughout downtown. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Bando Kev prays along Hollywood Blvd. in front of the National Guard and near TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Protestors rally on the steps Anaheim City Hall steps against last week’s in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Protestors rally on the steps Anaheim City Hall steps against last week’s in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Protestors rally on the steps Anaheim City Hall steps against last week’s in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Protestors rally on the steps Anaheim City Hall steps against last week’s in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Protesters march through West Hollywood to demand justice for the killing of George Floyd during march on Wednesday. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
Protesters march through West Hollywood to demand justice for the killing of George Floyd during march on Wednesday. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
Hundreds of demonstrators block traffic as they march down both sides of Balboa Blvd. to protest against racism in Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
In a sign of peace, protesters reach out to Riverside County Sheriff deputies, who were there to enforce an 8pm curfew during a demonstration to protest the death of George Floyd’s in Moreno Valley. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Riverside County Sheriff Lt Chris Durham tries to calm nerves after hundreds of demonstrators that marched to the police station protest the death of George Floyd in Moreno Valley. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
A huge crowd gathers in downtown Los Angeles to protest the death of George Floyd and in support of Black Lives Matter. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
Paul Villalobos, 28, from Oakland, joins other demonstrators as they protest on Spring St. in downtown Los Angeles. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
Mustafa-Ali, 27, from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, joins other demonstrators as they protest on Spring St. in downtown Los Angeles. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
A L.A. Sheriff’s deputy watches as protester Annik Chung holds a sign while cheering on marchers along La Brea Ave. in Hollywood. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
Protester Vailing high-fives National Guardsmen as they march through Hollywood to demand justice for the killing of George Floyd in Hollywood. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
Stephen Chang, 32, left, of Silver Lake, with an American flag draped over his head, joins other demonstrators at the intersection of Spring and Temple streets in downtown Los Angeles, as they protest against L.A. Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey and also demand justice in the death of George Floyd. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
Crowds gather in downtown L.A. to protest the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. At 9 p.m., for exactly 8 minutes and 46 seconds, protesters shone lights into the sky. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Gustavo R. Ramirez of Pomona kneels in front of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. statue in Riverside. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
A protester drapes himself with a flag during a demonstration in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
LAPD Chief Michel Moore, left, talks with community leaders outside police headquarters after a candlelight vigil for George Floyd on Friday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Zoe Perkins, 4, of Glendale and her mother brought flowers to the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles to protest the death of George Floyd. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Katyana DeCampos, a citizen of France visiting California, marched with a sign with the words “Anti Racism,” joining nearly 1,000 people gathered to protest the death of George Floyd and in support of Black Lives Matter, in downtown Los Angeles. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)
Mek Bitul held up a sign with the words, “This Is The Tipping Point!!!” in front of City Hall, joining nearly 1,000 people gathered to protest the death of George Floyd and in support of Black Lives Matter, in downtown Los Angeles. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)
A protester lies on the ground under his horse with his hands behind his back as demonstrators including some on horseback rally in front of LA City Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson’s office in Los Angeles Saturday. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
A National Guardsman holds a rose given to him by a protester along Fairfax Ave. during a march Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
A protester yells in front of a Black Lives Matter mural with the names of victims on Fairfax Ave. during a march Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Los Angeles Police Deputy Chief Regina Scott takes knee next to Johnathan Jasper, brother of slain teen Anthony Weber, during a rally in front of LA City Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson’s office Saturday. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
A woman tries to get between Black Lives Matter protesters and pro-Trump counter protesters during a demonstration at the intersection of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach on Saturday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
A family member of Breonna Taylor, right, is hugged by another woman after speaking to protesters in Beverly Hills Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Elijah Estrada, 6, holds up his fist for 8:46, the length of time George Floyd was held down by Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, at the conclusion of a peace ride and walk with the Compton Cowboys at Compton City Hall on Sunday. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)
Houston Rockets star Russell Westbrook speaks to the crowd of protesters and the Compton Cowboys at the end of a peace walk at Compton City Hall on Sunday. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
The Compton Cowboys ride horseback down South Tamarind Avenue, joining thousand of protesters Sunday during the Compton peace ride, which ended at City Hall. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)
Protesters march, raising fists and signs in the air, on La Brea Avenue in Hollywood on Sunday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Protesters hold up signs at the All Black Lives Matter march, which was organized by Black LGBTQ leaders and organizations in place of a previously planned event by the group behind LA Pride. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Jason De Puy of West Hollywood wears a mask that reads “Black Trans Lives Matter” as people fill Hollywood Boulevard during a solidarity march called All Black Lives Matter on Sunday, June 14. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Thousands hold up signs and march in the All Black Lives Matter solidarity protest on Hollywood Boulevard. The procession started at Hollywood and Highland and moved into West Hollywood. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
A protester waves a rainbow flag on Sunset Boulevard during the All Black Lives Matter march on Sunday. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
People participate in the All Black Lives Matter march in West Hollywood on Sunday, June 14. Thousands of demonstrators marched for racial justice and LGBTQ rights. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Deborah Jay Winams cries after singing a song at a Black Lives Matter Los Angeles rally to call for justice in the fatal shooting of Kenneth Ross Jr. by Gardena police in 2018. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
A protester dances on top of Donald Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during a demonstration by members of Refuse Fascism who are calling an end to the Trump administration on June 20, 2020. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
As protests over police brutality and the death of George Floyd stretched into a sixth day, Los Angeles officials said Wednesday that they will look to cut $100 million to $150 million from the city’s police budget as part of a broader effort to reinvest more dollars into the black community.
In all, Mayor Eric Garcetti pledged that the city would “identify $250 million in cuts so we can invest in jobs, in health, in education and in healing,” especially in the city’s black community “as well as communities of color and women and people who have been left behind.”
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Those cuts, he said, would be “to every department, including the Police Department, because we all have to be part of this solution together. We all have to step up and say, ‘What can we sacrifice?’”
Eileen Decker, president of the Los Angeles Police Commission, said that effort includes identifying $100 million to $150 million in cuts from the Police Department — something City Council President Nury Martinez and other council members had called for earlier in the day. The LAPD’s total annual budget is $1.86 billion.
Garcetti also said the city will impose a moratorium on placing people in a statewide database for identifying and tracking gang members — which reform advocates had lobbied for — and will require officers to intervene when they see inappropriate use of force and report misconduct.
The mayor also said he would support the creation of a special prosecutor to review officer misconduct cases, another demand of activists.
The announcements came as demonstrators filled the streets outside City Hall and nearby Grand Park. Many chanted “Black lives matter” and “What’s the problem? The whole damn system!” as LAPD helicopters orbited overhead.
News of Garcetti’s announcement was met with mixed reaction among the demonstrators outside.
Carter Gregory, 26, said it was a good first step. “I think he’s listening and needs to keep going,” he said.
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Al Calderon, 26, said more should be done at the top. “The D.A. should be held accountable for her lack of leadership and care for the people that we lost,” he said of Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey,
Though Wednesday’s demonstrations have so far been peaceful affairs, more than 60 people now face criminal charges in Los Angeles County stemming from their alleged roles in the looting and violent clashes that marred protests this week , authorities announced.
Many of the charges filed against the 61 defendants are for alleged looting, according to the L.A. County district attorney’s office, but some people also face counts of burglary, robbery, identity theft, receiving stolen property, possession of a destructive device and assault and/or battery upon a peace officer.
“I support the peaceful organized protests that already have brought needed attention to racial inequality throughout our society, including in the criminal justice system,” Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey said in a statement. “I also have a constitutional and ethical duty to protect the public and prosecute people who loot and vandalize our community.”
Los Angeles County also extended its sweeping curfew for a fourth day.
County officials opted to begin the curfew at 9 p.m., three hours later than previous nights, although Sheriff Alex Villanueva said his deputies would not begin enforcement until 10 p.m. — meaning that residents in areas patrolled by sheriff’s deputies could be outside until then.
In all areas, however, the curfew ends at 5 a.m. Thursday, and does not apply to law enforcement, first responders, people traveling to and from work and unsheltered individuals.
Villanueva said early Wednesday that officials were assessing whether to continue the curfew for another day, noting “big improvements from previous days” related to the protests.
County Supervisor Janice Hahn disagreed with extending the curfew. She said curfews may have been warranted on Sunday and Monday nights, but “now it seems like they are being used to arrest peaceful protesters.”
“I don’t think they are needed anymore,” she wrote on Twitter.
Garcetti said that, “barring a bad night” Wednesday, the overnight curfew will be lifted in the city Thursday.
On Wednesday, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Torrance and Culver City extended curfews in their cities for another day. The Santa Monica and Culver City curfews will be enforced from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. Thursday. The curfew in Torrance will be enforced from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Thursday.
In Beverly Hills, the city is imposing two curfews. The first, in the city’s business districts, will begin at 1 p.m. and last until 6 a.m. Thursday. The citywide curfew will begin at 4 p.m. and last until 6 a.m. Thursday.
The countywide curfew has sparked widespread criticism from protesters who see the action as an attempt to quell criticism of law enforcement. On Tuesday, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter to Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger requesting that she rescind or restrict the curfew order.
ACLU senior counsel Ahilan Arulanantham wrote in the letter that the U.S. Constitution does not permit the county to order such a sweeping restriction on free speech and travel to address “a few localized attacks on property.”
“We recognize that in the last few days some individuals have damaged and stolen property in areas where many others have engaged in peaceful protests, but that unlawful conduct cannot justify a state of emergency in the entire county that effectively places over 10 million people under house arrest for twelve hours every evening and morning,” Arulanantham wrote.
L.A. County wasn’t alone. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said a curfew would probably remain in effect in the capital through Sunday.
“We’re keeping it for a few days longer just to keep the community, including the protesters, safe,” he said. “If we continue to see peaceful demonstrations then we can start fresh next week.”
Though there has been little unrest since stealing and vandalism hit Sacramento’s downtown area and some suburbs on Sunday night, authorities have not indicated they plan to remove the order, and 500 National Guard troops remain in the city and county to protect critical sites.
More than 100 protesters gathered in front of Anaheim City Hall on Wednesday morning for what was billed as a peaceful sit-in to honor Floyd.
Shortly before 11 a.m., the group laid down silently on the steps of the civic center for eight minutes to memorialize the amount of time the officer had his knee on Floyd’s neck.
In Los Angeles County, more than a thousand peaceful protesters filled the streets outside Los Angeles City Hall early Wednesday evening, while earlier in the day, more than a thousand protesters, many holding signs reading “Black Lives Matter,” converged on the intersection of La Cienega and Santa Monica boulevards in West Hollywood.
Cars driving by honked in support as protesters chanted Floyd’s name. Eventually, the crowd made its way into the street and knelt down, blocking traffic and chanting “I can’t breathe.”
Nick Atkinson repeatedly yelled at sheriff’s deputies about how they should be wearing masks and taking a knee and should be held accountable for their actions.
He said he has lived in Los Angeles for 20 years and wants to make it clear that killing black men and women is wrong.
“Where are your masks? Why aren’t you wearing your masks? You’re all paid to serve and protect us,” he yelled.
As marchers made their way through Hollywood, the protest took on a festive atmosphere with many people exchanging hugs or handing out water, masks and hand sanitizer.
A moment of silence at Hollywood and Highland for those who had been killed. pic.twitter.com/gSk7p7L5gp — Benjamin Oreskes🦅 (@boreskes) June 3, 2020
In Orange County, several hundred people had gathered along MacArthur Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach by 1 p.m. for the first of several planned demonstrations in the city.
Simran Gaglani, 23, of Irvine was among the crowd that gathered near Fashion Island to decry the death of Floyd and denounce police brutality against people of color. Despite Orange County’s history as a haven for conservative politics in California and its embrace of law-and-order politicians, Gaglani said the demonstration highlighted what she believes is a progressive shift in the region’s political trajectory.
“It’s a new generation,” Gaglani said.
Fashion Island’s entrances on Wednesday were blocked with plastic barricades. Security guards stood sentry behind them. A line of Newport Beach police officers watched as protesters marched up and down the sidewalks of Pacific Coast Highway.
Two counterprotesters, waving American flags and a “Thin Blue Line” banner, were surrounded by demonstrators chanting, “Black lives matter.”
For Gale Oliver Jr., a pastor at the Greater Light Family Church in Santa Ana, a protest against racism and police brutality in one of Orange County’s wealthiest enclaves was a sign of the times.
“It’s a blessing that this is going on in Newport Beach,” Oliver, who is black, said. “I mean, this is going on in Newport Beach? I guess America is finally listening.”
Oliver said pastors in Santa Ana began meeting regularly with Orange County law enforcement officials about five years ago in hopes of ending “policing from the point of view that they’re under attack.” He said he’s seen progress, but more needs to be done.
“Two men have said, ‘I can’t breathe.’ One said it eight times, one said it 11 times,” Oliver said, referring to the deaths of Floyd and Eric Garner. “‘I can’t breathe’ — what that really means is there’s things that will suffocate you. Racism will suffocate you. Hate will suffocate you.”
Kyle Scallon turned out Wednesday to protest not just Floyd’s death, but also a discriminatory approach he believes law enforcement in Orange County has practiced for too long. Driving in his hometown of Mission Viejo and elsewhere in the county, Scallon, 21, said he has been pulled over by officers intent on questioning his girlfriend, who is Creole.
“I’m here because I just want cops to realize not everyone’s bad,” he said, standing with a group of protesters on the corner of MacArthur and Pacific Coast Highway. “It’s become the system, but they need to realize not everyone they meet is bad.”
While the protests in Newport were calm, a television camera captured a scary scene on Balboa Boulevard when a vehicle zipped through a crowd of demonstrators — colliding with a bicyclist.
No one was injured and the driver stopped and is cooperating with the investigation, Newport Beach Police Department spokeswoman Heather Rangel said. This doesn’t appear to have been a deliberate action, she added.
Two other protests were scheduled in Newport later in the evening, one on the pedestrian bridge over San Miguel Drive at Civic Center Park near City Hall, and another at the Back Bay.
Past demonstrations have been met with a large police presence, and officials have raised concerns about looting and vandalism in their communities.
About 25 National Guard service members will deploy to protect the Westfield mall in Culver City on Wednesday afternoon following several nights of people attempting to gain access to the shopping area to vandalize and loot, City Manager John Nachbar said.
“Using significant resources, the Culver City Police Department and local law enforcement partners have been successful in fighting off these criminal attempts, including using methods such as using buses to block mall parking lot entrances,” Nachbar wrote in a letter to the community. “In the meantime, other criminals have burglarized or attempted to burglarize other retail stores around Culver City.”
Ten retail stores have been burglarized in the past several days, and other threats have been made to shops in Culver City, including stores at the mall and the city’s two Target locations, Nachbar wrote.
“These threats have come through social media, law enforcement intelligence, community members, other neighboring law enforcement agencies, and mall management,” he wrote.
Elsewhere in the county, reports of looting and vandalism appeared to be down compared with previous days. However, peaceful protests showed no signs of ending.
Demonstrations on Tuesday, which centered in Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles, were largely peaceful compared with earlier demonstrations that devolved into the destruction and looting of businesses.
Hundreds more were arrested, mostly for violating curfew when protesters refused to leave. But initial reports showed far less looting and vandalism than in recent days.
Still, confrontations with police continued. Several dozen protesters were arrested downtown after refusing to leave after the 6 p.m. curfew.
On Tuesday, hundreds gathered at Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street to march through the streets in honor of Floyd. Eventually, the throng approached a line of several dozen officers holding batons.
Jessica Jordan takes a knee as she joins other protesters at Sunset Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
“Let us walk,” the protesters yelled. Chants of “I can’t breathe,” among Floyd’s final choked words, echoed throughout the throng of demonstrators.
Aijshia Moody, 30, held a cardboard sign that read, “Am I next?” Her brother is 14 years old and has many times endured racial profiling in their hometown of Pacoima, she said.
“He can’t even get on his skateboard,” she said, adding that she’s dealt with racism throughout her life. “That’s why I’m here.”
A crowd surrounded police near Ivar Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard in the early afternoon, after law enforcement received a radio call about armed looters, authorities said. Protesters began throwing bottles and sticks in response to a growing police presence. Officers then fired rubber bullets.
As police pushed the crowd down Ivar, they confronted two women in a red pickup. The driver did not want to stop or put her keys on the dashboard as police tried to pass by, officers said. She was quickly detained.
Authorities had taken about 2,500 people into custody from Friday to Tuesday morning after a mix of peaceful protests and property destruction rocked downtown, the Fairfax district, Van Nuys and Hollywood, LAPD Chief Michel Moore said.
Booking records reviewed by The Times show the vast majority of those arrested in L.A. County on looting, vandalism and burglary charges are county residents, seeming to refute perceptions that “outside agitators” were fueling unrest.
Heaven Bouldin, 25, said “it’s ridiculous” that so many protesters have been arrested when three Minneapolis officers who were present when Floyd died have yet to be held accountable.
“I’ve been protesting for the last 10 years. I’m tired, I’m tired, I’m tired,” Bouldin said. “My people have been getting killed for the last 200 years. We’re in 2020 and we still can’t bring an end to this.... Somebody has to do something.”
Derek Chauvin, the white police officer who used his knee to hold Floyd on the ground by the neck, was fired last week and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death. The other officers at the scene when Floyd died — Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J Alexander Kueng — are being investigated for their roles.
About 1 in 1,000 black men and boys in the U.S. can expect to die at the hands of police, according to a 2019 analysis by Rutgers University researchers.
Protesters have demanded that society at large, and particularly those in power, acknowledge and take action against such manifestations of systemic oppression.
Walking alongside a crush of protesters in Hollywood, community organizer Pete White briefly stopped in front of a Chase bank branch to snap a photo of a scrawled message: “Chase yo dreams.”
“State violence brings me out here today,” said White, a South L.A. resident who turned 49 on Tuesday.
There is no peace without justice, he added.
Marcus Owen, with bullhorn, leads a moment of silence for George Floyd as hundreds of protesters gather outside L.A. City Hall. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“How do you get justice? By making sure you defund the police and take all of those resources and put it in schooling, put it in services, in housing, in universal healthcare,” White said. “We’re saying we don’t need another commission, another study or implicit bias training. We’ve been there and the same thing keeps happening. Again and again.”
At the downtown L.A. protests, many parents brought their children to experience the historic moment.
Khalil Bass, 30, and his wife brought their 6-month-old son.
Bass, a football player in high school and college, said he was repeatedly pulled over in Santa Clarita when he would drive his teammates somewhere and the police saw a car full of men of color.
“I don’t want him when he gets his driver’s license to be pulled over for no reason and have guns drawn on him,” Bass said of his son.
Wearing a short-sleeve shirt covered with photos of cats, Gianna Garcia said that people needed to know that the protesters were strong and powerful.
The 8-year-old was perched atop a slow-moving black Jetta with her legs dangling through the sunroof, holding one small clenched fist aloft — high above the sea of protesters stretching as far as the eye could see in either direction on Spring Street. In her other hand, a white foam board sign said, “#Charge All Four.”
Her mom, Maureen Maldonado, was in the backseat, holding a list of black people killed by police officers, too long to fit on a single piece of cardboard.
Maldonado said that she and her daughter had been protesting for four days. Coronavirus had “removed all types of childcare” from the 38-year-old office manager’s life, but she also believed that her daughter should be at the protests.
“At least for me, the only change I can make is that I shape my daughter the right way,” Maldonado said.
Just after 1 p.m. in Hollywood, dozens of activists chanted “Take a knee” at members of the National Guard. After several minutes, at least two Guardsmen complied. The crowd cheered.
Other protesters encountered a line of police officers and began chanting, “Walk with us,” and “Let us walk.” The group was trying to reach another crowd of demonstrators farther up Hollywood Boulevard, past Cherokee.
The marchers were met with a line of at least 20 LAPD officers who wouldn’t let them pass. As the group neared the line, their hands up, police began raising their batons to hold them back.
One protester placed a white flower in an officer’s pocket. The officer threw it to the ground.
Times staff writers Benjamin Oreskes, Matthew Ormseth, James Queally, Laura J. Nelson, Gustavo Arellano, Alene Tchekmedyian, Jaclyn Cosgrove, Anita Chabria, Laura Newberry, Sarah Parvini and Kevin Rector contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-06-04--California lawmakers promise to set rules for police use of rubber bullets amid George Floyd protest

California lawmakers promise to set rules for police use of rubber bullets amid George Floyd protests

Alarmed at numerous reports that protesters in recent days have been seriously injured by rubber bullets fired by police officers , a group of California lawmakers said Thursday they will introduce legislation to set clear standards for when the projectiles can be used .
Four lawmakers proposed revising current policy on use of the projectiles in response to incidents reported throughout the country by those who have been protesting the death of George Floyd , who was killed when a Minneapolis police officer used his knee to pin Floyd ’ s neck to the ground .
Injured protesters include a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left eye after being hit by a so-called less-lethal projectile , according to the Dallas Morning News .
In California , protesters have been bloodied and bruised when hit with rubber bullets .
This week , Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said he had directed the LAPD to minimize the use of projectiles when dealing with peaceful protesters .
“ No one who is simply exercising their right to protest should face possible injury or death because officers are indiscriminately firing rubber bullets into a crowd , ” said Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in announcing the legislation by Democratic Assembly members Shirley Weber of San Diego and Ash Kalra of San Jose , along with state Sen. Scott Wiener ( D-San Francisco ) .
Although the legislation has not yet been drafted , comments by lawmakers indicated their goal is to curb the use of rubber bullets for crowd control against peaceful protesters and those breaking city-imposed curfews .
Gonzalez cited a 2017 study by researchers from schools including UC Berkeley that indicated 15 % of people hit by rubber bullets were seriously injured , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said current regulations do not require manufacturers to keep records on injuries from their products in development , field trials or actual use .
The legislation , which has not yet been introduced , would also address lawmakers ’ concerns that the state does not currently require law enforcement to collect data on injuries from rubber bullets or document their use of such projectiles , both issues that will be addressed in the legislation .
Currently , the state leaves it up to individual law enforcement agencies on whether to use rubber bullets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a spokeswoman for the state Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training .
The commission does have recommendations on crowd-control strategies , but they are general and cite court rulings , advising : “ In all situations , the force used must be objectively reasonable under the totality of the circumstances.
” The California Police Chiefs Assn .
has asked for the bill language when it is developed and will review it then , said Leslie McGill , executive director of the organization .
“ Agencies should have policies guiding the use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McGill said .
The lawmakers said they are developing the bill language based on what they are learning from the last week of protests .
“ As lawmakers , we can not stand by idly while people are being brutalized as they are exercising their free speech , ” Kalra said .
“ Rubber bullets should not be used to suppress freedom of assembly , peaceful protest or to facilitate curfews and disperse people demonstrating .
”

A protester runs for safety after being shot with a foam round by LAPD officers at 3rd Street and Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles on Saturday.
Alarmed at numerous reports that protesters in recent days have been seriously injured by rubber bullets fired by police officers, a group of California lawmakers said Thursday they will introduce legislation to set clear standards for when the projectiles can be used.
Four lawmakers proposed revising current policy on use of the projectiles in response to incidents reported throughout the country by those who have been protesting the death of George Floyd, who was killed when a Minneapolis police officer used his knee to pin Floyd’s neck to the ground.
Injured protesters include a Dallas man who said he lost his left eye after being hit by a so-called less-lethal projectile, according to the Dallas Morning News.
In California, protesters have been bloodied and bruised when hit with rubber bullets. This week, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said he had directed the LAPD to minimize the use of projectiles when dealing with peaceful protesters.
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“No one who is simply exercising their right to protest should face possible injury or death because officers are indiscriminately firing rubber bullets into a crowd,” said Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), who was joined in announcing the legislation by Democratic Assembly members Shirley Weber of San Diego and Ash Kalra of San Jose, along with state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco).
Although the legislation has not yet been drafted, comments by lawmakers indicated their goal is to curb the use of rubber bullets for crowd control against peaceful protesters and those breaking city-imposed curfews.
Gonzalez cited a 2017 study by researchers from schools including UC Berkeley that indicated 15% of people hit by rubber bullets were seriously injured, and some injuries were fatal.
The legislators said current regulations do not require manufacturers to keep records on injuries from their products in development, field trials or actual use.
The legislation, which has not yet been introduced, would also address lawmakers’ concerns that the state does not currently require law enforcement to collect data on injuries from rubber bullets or document their use of such projectiles, both issues that will be addressed in the legislation.
Currently, the state leaves it up to individual law enforcement agencies on whether to use rubber bullets or not, said Meagan Catafi, a spokeswoman for the state Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.
The commission does have recommendations on crowd-control strategies, but they are general and cite court rulings, advising: “In all situations, the force used must be objectively reasonable under the totality of the circumstances.”
The California Police Chiefs Assn. has asked for the bill language when it is developed and will review it then, said Leslie McGill, executive director of the organization.
“Agencies should have policies guiding the use of such types of less-lethal force,” McGill said.
The lawmakers said they are developing the bill language based on what they are learning from the last week of protests.
“As lawmakers, we cannot stand by idly while people are being brutalized as they are exercising their free speech,” Kalra said. “Rubber bullets should not be used to suppress freedom of assembly, peaceful protest or to facilitate curfews and disperse people demonstrating.”