NYAPRS Note: On July 5, 2011, police were called to a parking lot to confront a young man named Kelly Thomas said to be tampering with vehicles. Security cameras in the lot captured the horrifying events that followed. Thomas was later taken by ambulance to a hospital after a vicious, lengthy beating by officers left him unconscious. His parents had him taken off life support five days later. A bouncer from the nearby bar who had made the call to police later confessed that his employers had a “zero loitering policy”, and was instructed to lie to police about the transgressions of homeless persons in order to have them removed from the premises. On Monday, the officers shown in the video brutally attacking Thomas were acquitted of all charges against them.
Kelly Thomas had struggled for years with mental health issues and homelessness. His pointless, tragic death has devastated his family, community, and communities of persons with lived experience throughout the US and abroad. His death also brings attention to the misconception that people with a psychiatric diagnosis are violent, whereas evidence shows that they are far more likely to be the victims of violence than the perpetrators of it. The actions taken by the involved police officers is also a stark reminder of how far we are from a system of public safety that values each life equally. Advocates around the country are calling for justice and accountability of our law enforcement to the rights and protection of each and every citizen.
A peaceful vigil honoring the life of Kelly Thomas will be held in Albany on Sunday, 1/19, at 7pm, at the First Unitarian Universalist Society at 405 Washington Avenue. You are welcome to join and grieve for a fellow community member, and share information about further community advocacy. For more information, contact Grace Nichols at mtbluegreen@juno.com
Ex-cops Acquitted in Beating Death of Homeless Man in California
CNN; Chuck Condor, 1/14/14
A jury has acquitted two former Fullerton, California, police officers on trial in the beating death of Kelly Thomas, a mentally ill and homeless man.
The verdict was read in a Santa Ana courtroom Monday afternoon. Eight women and four men began deliberating the case on Thursday.
“I’m just horrified. They got away with murdering my son,” Cathy Thomas, the victim’s mother, told reporters after the verdict was read.
The victim’s father, Ron Thomas, said that everyone now needs to be afraid.
“This is carte blanche to police officers to do whatever they want,” he told reporters.
The beating of Thomas in a transit parking lot was recorded by security cameras on the night of July 5, 2011. The surveillance camera footage shows Thomas being beaten, clubbed and stunned with a Taser by police. The video sparked a nationwide outcry.
Former officer Manuel Ramos was charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. A second former Fullerton officer, Jay Cicinelli, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and excessive use of force.
Both were found not guilty on all charges.
“These peace officers were doing their job. They had no malice in their heart,” said John Barnett, an attorney for Ramos.
When asked about the video, he said it’s “not the entire case.”
In closing arguments, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas told jurors that Ramos bore responsibility for Thomas’s death because he issued a threat to the uncooperative homeless man. Ramos can be seen on the surveillance video putting on gloves and shaking his fist in Thomas’ face.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/13/us/california-homeless-beating-verdict/