BALTIMORE VICTORY
Movement grows to get community control of cops
By Workers World
Baltimore bureau
"This whole incident was a nightmare and could have been
avoided if the cops hadn't come into my house. They cannot be
trusted," said Tangela Bridgers. She was referring to the cops'
brutal attack Sept. 17 on her 67-year-old husband, Liberty
Bridgers.
Called by his 17-year-old daughter after an argument, the
police arrived when Bridgers was sitting down to eat. They
never questioned Bridgers, except to insist that he present
identification in his own home.
Three officers snatched Bridgers from his dinner table,
kicked him, threw him across the room and beat him.
Bridgers wound up with injuries to his head and arms. Police
then charged him with resisting arrest, going for the officer's
gun and child abuse.
Within days, the story received prominent coverage in the
Afro American newspaper with photos showing open gashes in
Bridgers' forehead. The National People's Democratic Uhuru
Movement held a protest action in front of the district police
headquarters Oct. 3.
The protest against police abuse was part of a growing
movement in Baltimore for community control of the police. The
police killing of James Quarles last year brought many
organizations together to form Concerned Citizens for Police
Accountability and Review.
On Sept. 29, Police Commissioner Frazier admitted under oath
that racist policies exist within the department.
The very day after the protest, the district attorney set a
meeting with Bridgers and suggested he plead to a lesser
charge, simple assault. Bridgers refused and another protest
was held Oct. 17.
At court on Nov. 5, all criminal charges were dropped when
Bridgers willingly agreed to go to counseling with his family.
Bridgers is considering criminal and civil charges against
Officer Edward Colbert.
"This is a victory. The state was forced to back down. We
were able to break the media blockade and expose the real
character of the police," said Nanambi of the Uhuru
Movement.
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
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