Black Lives Matter Protests in Los Angeles Over Death of Ezell Ford
Black Lives Matter activists camped outside of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Carcetti's house demanding police reform after two officers were not indicted for killing a 25-year-old black man last year, Fusion reports.
Protesters want the mayor to arrest LAPD Chief Charlie Beck. They also want him to compensate families who have been discriminated against by the LAPD.
Ezell Ford was fatally shot in South L.A. around the same time another white police officer killed an unarmed black man named Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Cases like Brown and Eric Garner from New York City have gained national coverage, bringing light to the hundreds of other black men who have shared the same fate.
Protesters rallied for the justice, stemming from Ford's death, after finding out he had mental health issues and that officials were taking too long to release his autopsy report.
"We believe in no more normal business as usual," said Jasmine Richards, founder of the Pasadena chapter of Black Lives Matter.
Protesters are outraged that Beck and the Police Department's watchdog determined that two officers were justified in shooting and killing Ford, Los Angeles Times reports.
Investigators say that officers shot Ford because he was fighting for one of the cop's gun. There were scratches on the hands of Ford and Sharlton Wampler, one of the officers, as well. Investigators say they also found Ford's DNA on the officer's gun.
Officers approached Ford as he was walking down the street and the situation escalated. Although the cops are justified in killing him, there was no explanation on why the officers stopped him.
Yet, officers say they thought he was trying to throw away narcotics as he was walking, but there is no report of narcotics being found on the crime scene.
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