More Protests Planned for Weekend in Response to Anaheim Police Shootings and Riots
Categories: Anaheim Police Shooting Desmadre
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| Photo: Jason Zepeda/La Mina Circle |
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In the wake of the two officer-involved shootings last weekend and subsequent protests turning into civil unrest, multiple protests are planned for this coming weekend.
In the wake of the two officer-involved shootings last weekend and subsequent protests turning into civil unrest, multiple protests are planned for this coming weekend.
On Saturday, two different groups are planning protests in front of Disneyland.
On Sunday, the regular peaceful protest by families affected by officer-involved shootings will take place. In addition other groups such as Occupy Los Angeles, Occupy Orange County, citizen vigilante group Anonymous and local Cop Watch groups plan on attending.
A group calling themselves Somos Anaheim are planning a peaceful rally, calling on participants to wear all white and hold signs supporting neither side of the police brutality issue. The demonstrators plan to march from Anaheim City Hall to the Anaheim Police Department as a call for peace in the community that has seen protests heat up by vandalism, multiple fires and riot police shooting less lethal weapons at demonstrators and bystanders.
Friends, family members and neighbors of Manuel Diaz and Joel Acevedo, who were both shot dead by police this weekend, will also be attending this weekend's protests.
Zia Back, a resident of the Guinida neighborhood where Acevedo was killed, says she has talked to people in her neighborhood, as well as the residents on Anna Drive where Diaz was killed, and she says both neighborhoods want peace.
"We don't want to see any violence from either side," she said. "There are families grieving. So we want a way to express ourselves peacefully. On the other hand, we don't want police blocking at us every turn."
The family of Manuel Diaz called for peace at a press conference this week. Theresa Smith, who has been organizing weekly protests outside of the Anaheim Police Department for the past few years, also called on demonstrations to remain peaceful.
Anaheim Police have stepped up patrols since Tuesday's night riot, which saw a over dozen windows of downtown businesses smashed, along with at least four fires in the city.
The Orange County Register reported the department is taking a zero-tolerance approach for city code violations on private property, such as skating and loitering, in an effort to head off large groups from gathering. Mayor Tom Tait has told the media "the city will not tolerate violence."
In other cities, solidarity actions are planned for Friday including actions in Chicago, Harlem, Oakland, Seattle, Portland and San Diego.
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