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Protestors marked the one-year anniversary of the police-shooting death of Ezell Ford by briefly interrupting a Police Commission this morning.
Activists began chanting Ford's name and "Black Lives Matter!" after a woman in the meeting spoke in support of the police and spoke of "black-on-black killings," according to the L.A. Times. Just minutes after the meeting started at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Commission president Steve Soboroff called for the meeting to go into recess for about half an hour. An LAPD officer in the room declared the demonstration an unlawful assembly, but no demonstrators were arrested.
"I am scared of you!" 11-year old Thandiwe Abdullah screamed at officers.
Protestors disrupt LA police commission meeting. Meeting recessed. #LAPD #EzellFord pic.twitter.com/OVn1LoD3Nz -abc
— Black Intifada (@BlackRadRiseUp) August 11, 2015
On one-year anniversary of #EzellFord's death, here's what's happening at the Police Commission meeting. pic.twitter.com/M6aBRk9goE
— Kate Mather (@katemather) August 11, 2015
Protestors also called for the two officers involved in the shooting, Sharlton Wampler and Antonio Villegas, and Chief Charlie Beck to stand trial for Ford's death. Beck was not in attendance at the meeting and is currently on vacation.
Ford's mother, Tritobia Ford, gave an interview this morning on KJLH's "Front Page" and said she wanted to see the officers fired and have charges pressed. "Nothing is being done, so you feel like [he] died for nothing," she told KJLH (via ABC 7). "They went from administrative paid leave to sitting at a desk being paid—that's no punishment."
Tritobia Ford was in attendance at this morning's meeting, but left before the demonstration took over.
In June, the Police Commission ruled that Wampler and Villegas acted out of policy during their confrontation with Ezell Ford, leading to his death. But their report also ruled that Villegas was justified in his used of force, shooting Ford in order to protect his partner. The district attorney's is still deciding whether or not to file any charges in the case.
Happening now at the LA Police Commission meeting. Crowd chanting Ezell Ford. pic.twitter.com/T7h3lDMA0s
— Jennifer Thang (@jenniferthang) August 11, 2015
After leaving @lapdcommission, #BlackLivesMatter, #EzellFord demonstrators gathered outside and continued. pic.twitter.com/zMQE3R0YSH
— Joe Serna, LAT (@JosephSerna) August 11, 2015
