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We are the 99 percent

LAPD beats and shoots (rubber bullets) at OccupyLA

Posted 11 years ago on July 13, 2012, 1:08 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Update, background from Occupy LA Press Release:

OCCUPY LA’S CHALK WALK AGAINST CHALKING ARRESTS Members of Occupy LA Chalk Up Art Walk in Protest of a Dozen Arrests for Chalk

LOS ANGELES – Members of Occupy Los Angeles plan to occupy this week’s Downtown LA Art Walk with “Free Chalk for Free Speech” after 12 LAPD arrests of Occupiers for water-soluble chalking on the public sidewalks in the last month.

Over six months after Envoys of the United Nations wrote a letter to the Obama Administration, the U.S. government has yet to response to requests regarding local repression of the Occupy movement. Members of Occupy LA plan to push the issue with local and federal governments after alleged increase of Rights violations by LAPD.

Occupiers feel LAPD has targeted them in attempt to silence their dissent and stop their actions. Courtroom witnesses have been threatened with arrest; Occupiers have been arrested for chalk art; and say they say they are victims of police misconduct.

Occupiers claim the LAPD have made 12 Occupy arrests in four weeks for chalking.

In a letter dated June 4, Carol Sobel, a Civil Rights lawyer with the National Lawyers Guild, explained to the Special Assistant for Constitutional Policing for the LAPD that the 9th Circuit unanimously held that “no chalk would damage a sidewalk” in MacKinney v. Nielsen from 1995.

“Given that this decision is now 18 years old, there is no excuse for these arrests,” states Sobel in the letter.

Occupiers say LA’s current graffiti laws do not reflect the Constitutional ruling yet. Activist point out that elected officials and police officers are sworn to uphold and protect the Constitution. However, many Occupiers feel individuals of these entities systematically repress their Rights.

The City of Orlando recently spent $200,000 defending a chalk-art arrest of an Occupier in Florida. The city lost that case and activists say that the City of Los Angeles could waste over $2.5 million dollars defending the 12 chalking arrests this month.

Occupiers believe the LAPD selectively enforces the graffiti laws against them while the City’s own Parking Enforcement officers use chalk on the tires of vehicles they wish to monitor for time restrictions.

The activist also say, that the police did not arrest any activists at an anti-Walmart protest, two weeks ago, in downtown organized by Labor unions and other community groups. From photos of the event, it clearly had plenty of chalk art written on the pavement surrounding the activities.

Activists argue the chalk comes in packaging marketed for sidewalk use and that the water-soluble chalk does not cause damage.

Members of Occupy LA allege that City Officials violate Title 42 Chapter 21, subsection 1, section 1983 for Federal law and California Civil Code 52.1. They say LAPD officers— under the color of law— interfere with their exercise and enjoyment of their Rights by threats, intimidation, and coercion and subjects them to deprivation of their rights.

To avoid prosecution, the City required dozens of Occupy LA arrestees to take a First-Amendment-Rights class administered through the City Attorney’s office. Now, Occupy LA says it is the City that needs a lesson in the First Amendment.

*PLEASE NOTE: This was written by an individual participant in Occupy LA but is not an official statement. All official statements have to have consensus from Occupy LA's general assembly.

Occupy LA is at an event coinciding with a monthly local art fair, Art Walk, they call Chalk Walk.

Live Updates (In EST):

  • 3:04 - Update on those trapped in the hotel: they got out via other exits. Live updates for the night are not expected to continue.
  • 2:43 - the less lethal rounds used may have been sponge grenades.
  • 2:16 - Reports of earlier use of tear gas canisters. Crowds dwindling down.
  • 1:57 - Some occupiers blockaded in a hotel by police. Legally questionable to say the least.
  • 1:30 - CBS still of police
  • 1:15 - Another shot fired, total of 5. (Assumed all to be rubber bullets)
  • 1:09 AM - Picture of occupier's wound

14 Comments

14 Comments


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[-] 2 points by JohnWa (513) 11 years ago

Bullets for protesters has no rhyme nor reason.

Bullets for Bankers makes much more sense

[-] 2 points by Nevada1 (5843) 11 years ago

Police State

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[-] 0 points by dg3b3 (-2) 11 years ago

Peace

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[-] 0 points by shadz66 (19985) 11 years ago

"Police Brutality in America", by Stephen Lendman : http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article25929.htm &

"Occupy Wall Street: Police Violence Reveals a Corrupt System", by Laurie Penny : http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/nov/15/occupy-wall-street-police-violence .

~

Resistance Is Fertile ... and Non-Violence - The Highest Path !!!

~

You are a rainbow made of children,

You are an army, singing songs.

There's no weapon that can stop you

Rainbow love is much too strong !!!

~i~

fiat lux ....

[-] 1 points by jimmycrackerson (940) from Blackfoot, ID 11 years ago

Not even a hydrogen bomb can defeat the magic of rainbows and ponies.

and guitarmys...

fuc latin....

[-] 2 points by shadz66 (19985) 11 years ago

Please don't be a horrid, hard hearted, hippy-hater - maan !!

'A Rainbow Guitarmy On Ponies' -- now there's an idea !!!

pax, amor et lux ...

[-] 1 points by jimmycrackerson (940) from Blackfoot, ID 11 years ago

haha, now that would be a sight to see.

[-] 1 points by shadz66 (19985) 11 years ago

Well at least you've got a sense of humour 'jc' ;-) but alas even IF the 'Pony Riding Rainbow Guitarmy' did turn up to sing :

  • "You are a rainbow made of children ; You are an army, singing songs ; There's no weapon that can stop you ; Rainbow love is much too strong" ...

... what are the odds that they be met by 'Paramilitary Heavy Cavalry' in armoured vehicles with acoustic weapons, stun grenades and other assorted uber-violence accoutrements ?!

verum ex absurdo ...

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[-] 0 points by justiceforzim (-17) 11 years ago

When the start using bullets with lead, let's talk about it.

You know our border patrol down south are given BEAN BAG bullets? Ask Brian Terry's family if you doubt me. You know, the guy shot and killed by Obama's gun program for cartels. And YES, OUR TAX DOLLARS PAID FOR THOSE GUNS

[-] 1 points by fiftyfourforty (1077) from New York, NY 11 years ago

"BEAN BAG bullets? "

Asshole I would love to see you react to getting hit with one of those.

[-] -1 points by beautifulworld (23769) 11 years ago

Pointing a gun at someone is a violent act. It doesn't matter if the bullets are made of feathers.

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[-] -2 points by ABO2012 (-3) 11 years ago

Good God! You know how ridiculous you sound about whining over SPONGE bullets?

Think you need to do some training in Egypt, Syria, China, Yemen , etc then come back with a new grown pair

[-] 3 points by fiftyfourforty (1077) from New York, NY 11 years ago

"SPONGE bullets?"

Asshole I would love to see you react to getting hit with one of those.

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[-] 2 points by Builder (4202) 11 years ago

Not as ridiculous as you sound whining over Bensdad.

Think you need to do some time in a scout camp, rubbing two sticks together.