Community fights police brutality

The Latin@ & Black community took to the streets of South Los Angeles on July 23, marching to the police department responsible for the killing of 19-month-old Susie Peña and her father Jose Peña. Led by the Coalition for Com munity Control Over the Police, demands were non-negotiable: Chief Bratton must be fired, the police commission must be disbanded, federal charges of civil rights violations must be filed against the police, and there must be community control over the police—because the police cannot police themselves. The killing of baby Susie has hit the community of Watts hard, and police excuses for the deaths will never be accepted. The community is demanding to know why the police did not negotiate with the distraught father to save their lives.

Other families of those killed by the LAPD were present, continuing their struggle for justice for their loved ones. While police loomed from roof tops and guarded the doors, community members let their anger be heard. The message of unity between Black and Brown was strong, proving that they did not fear the police and would not tolerate one more killing at the hands of the LAPD.

—Story and photo by J. La Riva