The writer is a high school student and activist in Orange County.
Over 500 people hit the streets in Fullerton, Calif., on Aug. 6, to protest the brutal police killing of Kelly Thomas—the largest action yet in the growing local movement for justice. The tragedy of Thomas’s killing at the hands of the police has captured headlines not only in Orange County, but across the country.
Thomas, a 37-year-old schizophrenic homeless man, was brutally beaten by six Fullerton police on July 5, 2011.
On that date, a witness of the attack reported that two cops had Thomas pinned to the ground and were punching him when four more came to join in. “It was like a rampage … a feeding frenzy,” said the witness. The six officers bashed the head of 130-pound Thomas with their flashlights and tasered him repeatedly. One cop took “knee drops” on Kelly that reportedly crushed his throat and broke his nose as they slammed him into the pavement. Witnesses say the onslaught lasted for a total of 10 to 15 minutes. “It was erratic … just constant … what brought it to an end was when he stopped moving and was silent,” remarked the witness. The only thing Thomas reportedly said was to plead for his father’s help. He cried out, “Dad! Dad!”
Thomas’s father, Ron Thomas, a retired Orange County sheriff’s deputy, got news of the beating after his son was rushed to nearby Saint Jude’s Hospital. There, he saw his son’s face disfigured from the fatal beating.
Until recently, the Fullerton Police Department (FPD) had been stalling the case and controlling what information was released to the public. Protests being held every Saturday at a busy Fullerton intersection began with small numbers of outraged community members. However, these numbers have grown rapidly within the last month, culminating in the Aug. 6 action.
This mass protest began at 9 a.m. and was held outside the Fullerton police headquarters. It was a very diverse action, with a large number of teenagers and families. The residents of Fullerton are joining together to speak out against the vulgar abuse of power by the Fullerton police. Members of the Party for Socialism and Liberation and ANSWER Coalition also mobilized to support the struggle. Fed by sheer outrage, the protest remained lively and passionate for over three hours with chants like, “Justice for Kelly! Jail killer cops!” and “What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!”
The names of the officers that killed Thomas were announced over a megaphone during the protest: “Officer Jay Cicinelli … killer cop! Officer Kenton Hampton … killer cop! Officer Manny Ramos … killer cop! Officer Joe Wolfe … killer cop! Officer James Blatney … killer cop!”
The name of the sixth officer has yet to be revealed. Many Fullerton residents believe it was a sergeant, as policy dictates that a sergeant must be present after the use of a taser.
The FPD has not heard the end of this. The police committed a grave crime and they will not get away with it.
What kind of society do we live in where those who are assigned to protect our cities beat and kill the most vulnerable among us? All police officers should be well aware that when they are dealing with the homeless, there is a possibility that they are dealing with people who are mentally ill.
But facts do not matter to the police. Under capitalism the job of all police officers is to harass working and poor people as a means of enforcing the status quo. Because of this, people like Kelly Thomas suffer violence and harassment at the hands of the police every day.
The fight against those who choose to abuse their power and oppress the working class is a long one. As news of the repulsive attack on Thomas spreads, we will be able to transform our disgust at the inhumane actions of the FPD into motivation to organize and fight for justice.
Justice for Kelly Thomas! Jail the six killer FPD officers now!
