LOS ANGELES: Police Chief Bratton admits he is "disturbed" over his officers beating up on immigrants and news reporters
Ernesto Cienfuegos
La Voz de Aztlan
Los Angeles, Alta California - May 2, 2007 - (ACN) - The Los Angeles Police Department has a horrific history in their dealings with people of color so it is no surprise that police Chief Bratton made some admissions at a news conference today concerning the shocking beatings of immigrants and of at least 5 news reporters at McArthur Park yesterday. It is now confirmed that the LAPD sent at a minimum 10 Angelinos to the hospital which included 5 mainstream news reporters..
The LAPD has quite a reputation for racist police abuses against the Latino and Black communities. Among the major incidents concerning LAPD abuses are the "Rampart Scandal" and the Rodney King incident which caused major riots in the city. Today with Mayor Antonio Villagairosa, a Mexican-American, there is hope that the entrenched racism at the LAPD can be resolved.
The LAPD needs major reforms. Among suggested reforms is the raising of mandatory IQ levels of cadet applicants from 80 to at least 100 which is considered average. Most of the LAPD abuses against racial and ethnic minorities have been perpetuated by officers with below average intelligence or by extreme racists within the department .
The LAPD assault on news reporters yesterday is well documented through videos and photographs. La Voz de Aztlan has obtained the following photographs that depict the unnecessary assault, in sequence, on journalists and other innocent victims:
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| The first squad of an LAPD SWAT Team rushes towards McArthur Park. Who gave the orders for the vicious attack? |
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| McArthur Park was full of immigrant mothers and their babies |
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| As the LAPD arrives at McArthur Park, a father protects the life of his baby son |
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| This elderly Latino becomes one of the first victims of the LAPD. |
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| The LAPD takes aim at news reporters. A Telemundo reporter was shot point blank. Latino press members were the primary victims. |
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| The LAPD shoves a news cameraman to the ground and damages his expensive news camera. |
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| Another view of photo above . |
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| This is one of the most damning photos. It shows the LAPD kicking a TV Channel 11 cameraman to the ground. A "cop" then picks up his camera and throws it. To the right are two Channel 11 women reporters being assaulted. The reporter in the white blouse was identified as Christina Gonzalez. |
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| This is a better photo that shows the Channel 11 women reporters being assaulted. The female reporter with the white blouse suffered a dislocated shoulder from a blow by a police baton. |
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| Closeup of Channel 11 woman reporters being assaulted. |
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| Another closeup of Channel 11 woman reporters being assaulted. |
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| The LAPD SWAT Team approaches the TV Channel 11 news truck and start shooting rubber bullets indiscriminately. A reporter and an innocent bystander go down. |
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| The bystander gets a horrific wound on his torso. Other immigrants suffered similar wounds. |
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| Another reporter goes down in the same area. |
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| The LAPD reaches the area where Telemundo is broadcasting its news. |
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| The LAPD is about to attack Telemundo news reporters |
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| An LAPD cop takes aim at a Telemundo reporter who is taking cover behind the man in the white shirt. |
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| Telemundo anchorman Pedro Sevcec runs for his life. |
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| Telemundo anchorman Pedro Sevcec is in horror. |
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| A terrorized family is guided away from the LAPD rampage. There were many immigrant protesters beaten and seriously injured but are afraid to come forward in fear of the LAPD. |
