Members of Black Lives Matter united in front of the Los Angeles Police Department today to protest against the killing of multiple community members.
This morning on the steps of the Los Angeles Police Department, community members had a clear message.
Melina Abdullah: And we are here today to call for the removal of Michel Moore as chief of LAPD.
Black Lives Matter Los Angeles gathered with family members of victims shot and killed by LAPD this year. A group of about 20 activists hosted a news conference before packing the police commissioners meeting to put demands on Karen Bass and the police commission to fire chief Michel Moore.
Stephen “Cue” Jn-Marie: And so when there is no responsibility, no accountability and no consequence, it leads to corruption. That’s why it’s time for Chief Moore to go.
That was Pastor Cue, founder of the Church Without Walls congregation in Downtown L.A. Melina Abdullah, co-founder of BLM LA, said that this year 27 Angelenos have been shot by the LAPD, and at least 17 have been killed.
Abdullah: Seventeen people means 17 mothers, 17 people means 17 sisters and daughters, 17 people means 17 fathers and community members, 17 people means heartbreaks for 17 families.
Bianca Palmer is the sister of Jessica Brown, a 35-year-old woman who was shot and killed by police in Tarzana in July. Palmer made an emotional plea to the police commission to be vigilant about mental health. During the news conference, she spoke about her sister’s death publicly for the first time.
Bianca Palmer: She was like a mom to me. We don’t have anyone in California. But, she did the best she could to take care of us.
Community members also demanded that police commission meetings be moved outside of the LAPD headquarters and have more accessible meeting times, like after work hours or on the weekends. BLM Co-founder Abdullah said BLM is launching a petition today to fire LAPD Chief Michel Moore.
For Annenberg Media, I’m Alexandra Goldberg.