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Protestors in Westlake Demonstrate for the 4th Night in a Row
Another night, another protest in Westlake over the police shooting death of Manuel Jamines. But this one on Thursday, unlike other day, was truly peaceful, reported the LA Times.
“I know the guy was a threat to the public. He was intoxicated. That’s why the cops were dispatched, but not to kill him,” one demonstrator told the paper. A bigger protest is planned for Saturday morning at 10 a.m.
Others don't believe that, and say Jamines was not even armed.
Meanwhile, Frank Hernandez, the 13-year LAPD veteran who shot Jamines is coming under the microscope as the public learns he's shot two other people. In those cases, however, the suspects survived. The Los Angeles Protective League is standing behind him.
"It is unfortunate that our society has come to the place where a lawful command from an officer goes ignored. Oftentimes, this sets into motion a regrettable series of events, as in this case," said Paul Weber. "As the League has maintained, when an armed individual refuses police orders to end the threat they are posing to the safety of officers and the public, they are subjecting themselves to the consequences of their actions, which may include being shot."
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also stood by the officers. "We've got to go through an investigation, but when it's all said and done, I'll guarantee you what's going to come out is that these guys are heroes and I stand by them," he said Thursday.
That got Officials with the National Lawyers Guild, the ANSWER Coalition and Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition talking. The groups are expected today to condemn the Mayor's and other police leaders' "rush to judgement" to stand behind shooting.
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