Los Angeles police beat and detain British activist protesting new war in Yemen
Antonin Alexander | 03.01.2010 03:29 | Anti-militarism | Repression | Terror War | World
A British national from London (who wishes to not have his name revealed) was viciously beaten by LAPD while attempting a one-man protest against the recent escalating threat of a new US-British front for war in Yemen.
The brief protest occurred near the Federal Building in Westwood, Los Angeles (not on federal property) but within a few minutes LAPD officers had quickly arrived and while not resisting arrest, the activist refused to let go of the red placard that read "No New War In Yemen" and while attempting to exercise his right to freedom of speech, the officers decided to bash his head against the hood of the car and attack his legs with batons.
The activist is a student at UCLA on a scholarship and is currently being threatened with deportation and his family has requested that he not release his name at this moment in time.
However, a complaint has been filed with the LAPD (not by the family, by a friend) and also forwarded to the Los Angeles Times and L.A. Weekly, both of whom have thus far ignored to investigate further.
The LAPD has one of the worst track records in terms of physical abuse and it should surprise no one that the media, including the so-called alternative media, go out of their way to ignore the near-constant abuses.
And it should also surprise no one that some of the worst abuses of the LAPD are against foreign nationals who attempt to exercise their right to protest illegal wars and the corporate takeover of the world.
The most honest and sincere quote I have ever heard from a police officer (and I am sure it is just as true everywhere else): "I don't care what you think or what you think you know. You have no rights. You're nothing. I don't care that you didn't commit a crime. I don't care that you don't have a criminal record or that you pay your taxes or whatever. Right now, right here, you are being belligerent and not following directions. If you don't do what I say and follow my directions, I am going to seriously hurt you and if you still resist and do not follow my directions, I am going to make sure you end up in the hospital for a very, very long time. Do you understand what I am telling you? It's your choice, buddy. You can walk away right now and we'll forget all this or I am going to make your life a living hell. Got it? So, do you want trouble or do you want to go home?"
The activist is a student at UCLA on a scholarship and is currently being threatened with deportation and his family has requested that he not release his name at this moment in time.
However, a complaint has been filed with the LAPD (not by the family, by a friend) and also forwarded to the Los Angeles Times and L.A. Weekly, both of whom have thus far ignored to investigate further.
The LAPD has one of the worst track records in terms of physical abuse and it should surprise no one that the media, including the so-called alternative media, go out of their way to ignore the near-constant abuses.
And it should also surprise no one that some of the worst abuses of the LAPD are against foreign nationals who attempt to exercise their right to protest illegal wars and the corporate takeover of the world.
The most honest and sincere quote I have ever heard from a police officer (and I am sure it is just as true everywhere else): "I don't care what you think or what you think you know. You have no rights. You're nothing. I don't care that you didn't commit a crime. I don't care that you don't have a criminal record or that you pay your taxes or whatever. Right now, right here, you are being belligerent and not following directions. If you don't do what I say and follow my directions, I am going to seriously hurt you and if you still resist and do not follow my directions, I am going to make sure you end up in the hospital for a very, very long time. Do you understand what I am telling you? It's your choice, buddy. You can walk away right now and we'll forget all this or I am going to make your life a living hell. Got it? So, do you want trouble or do you want to go home?"
Antonin Alexander
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