Protesters confronted Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti outside his home Monday morning and expressed their anger over the LAPD’s fatal shooting of Ezell Ford, a mentally ill black man.
The encounter occurred about 7 a.m. as Garcetti was leaving Getty House, his official residence in Windsor Square. Demonstrators have been camped in front of the home since Sunday, in anticipation of the Los Angeles Police Commission’s decision on the fate of the two officers involved in Ford’s death. The 25-year-old was unarmed when he was shot in August in South L.A.
“Your officers are killing black people. And brown people. And poor white people,” a man said to the mayor as he entered a black SUV. “I voted for you. I want my vote back.”
A witness’ cellphone video shows members of Garcetti’s LAPD security detail asking protesters to step away from the vehicle as the mayor gets into the passenger seat.
A woman said a police officer then threw her to the ground, but the alleged scuffle is not clearly visible in the video.
“This is very disheartening to them, to know that their mayor was trying to sneak out of the back side of his residence instead of dealing with them,” Jasmyne Cannick, a spokeswoman for the demonstrators.
Sgt. Brian Gura of the LAPD said Garcetti was on his way to a catch a flight at Los Angeles International Airport when his vehicle was blocked by protesters.
Additional officers were called to the location, and the mayor departed after getting into another vehicle.
“We have just been dealing since then with the protesters who are unhappy with circumstances that occurred well before today,” Gura said. “We’re here to protect their right to protest,” while ensuring that the demonstrations “don’t cross into criminal activity,” the sergeant said.
More video:
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