The 43rd
Annual Long Beach Police Awards Ceremony was met with protest for the
first time in its decades-long existence as a public relations stunt.
About 40 people formed a picket line outside of the award ceremony to
expose the LBPD for its systematic and racist violence unleashed on
poor and working people in the city.
Demands included justice
for Doug Zerby and other victims of LBPD, an independent
investigation into incidents of police brutality and the arrest of
criminal officers responsible for recent attacks on residents. The
demonstration was a reflection of the city’s diversity with Black,
Latino, Asian, and white students and workers protesting along with
several victims of LBPD violence.
The protest was organized
by the Long Beach Campaign to Stop Police Violence, a project of the
ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), whose members
lead chants including, “No justice, no peace—no racist police,”
and, “When police say get back—we say fight back!” The Long
Beach Campaign to Stop Police Violence formed in response to the
murder of Douglas Zerby by Long Beach Police officers and is
committed to defeating police brutality in the city of Long Beach.
Protesters carried signs
that read, “Medal of Dishonor,” and “LBPD: Guilty” while
picketing the award ceremony and were met with a positive response
from community members that honked in solidarity.
A rally was held where
statements were delivered by organizers and victims of LBPD
brutality, including Elizabeth Bustamante, whose fiancé John Cabrera
was nearly killed by officers who fired blindly through the walls of
his apartment.
Inside the award ceremony,
Mayor Bob Foster and police chief Jim McDonnell made statements
defending the LBPD from public criticism, clearly positioning
themselves in opposition to the protesters and organizers outside.
The statements of city and police officials are evidence of the
mounting public pressure surrounding the issue of police brutality.
The demonstration was
covered on NBC, Press TV, OC Weekly, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Long
Beach Post and other local media. Organizers with the Long Beach
Campaign to Stop Police Violence promised to continue to build the
movement to expose the LBPD and win justice for the Long Beach
community.
